WHEN A RELATIONSHIP BREAKS DOWN, EVEN TOGETHER CAN FEEL LONELY.
Marriage and Couples Counselling in Ancaster and Online
Find out how we can help you develop a Deeper Connection and a Healthier Relationship.
WHEN A RELATIONSHIP BREAKS DOWN, EVEN TOGETHER CAN FEEL LONELY.
Marriage and Couples Counselling in Ancaster and Online
Find out how we can help you develop a Deeper Connection and a Healthier Relationship.
Reconnect, Heal & Grow — Because Every Relationship Deserves Care
Even strong relationships can drift. Busyness, stress, and misunderstandings can create distance — and deeper attachment injuries like affairs or broken trust can shake the foundation.
We offer a safe, compassionate space to pause, reconnect, and heal.
Restructure Your Bond
When relationships begin to feel distant or tense, many couples assume they’ve grown apart. But more often, what’s happening is that the emotional bond between partners has been strained, not broken. Couples therapy can help you find your way back to that secure connection.
Our therapists use Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT), helping partners move…
- FROM patterns of conflict, blame, or withdrawal
- TOWARD moments of safety, understanding, and emotional closeness.
We slow down the cycle — those familiar arguments or silences — to uncover the deeper emotions beneath. Often, what looks like anger or disinterest is a deeper need for closeness, reassurance, or love.
Understanding Your Protective Cycle
In EFCT, the pursue/withdraw cycle describes a common pattern where one partner becomes more anxious, reactive, or demanding (the pursuer) while the other shuts down, pulls away, or avoids conflict (the withdrawer).
Both partners are actually protecting the relationship — just in different ways, fearing disconnection or conflict.
Over time, this cycle leaves both feeling alone, unheard, and unsafe. EFCT helps couples slow down, understand the vulnerable emotions underneath, and create a more secure, connected way of relating.
Helpful Resources
Sue Johnson, whose research led to the development of EFCT, has authored a number of resources for couples.
Sample Pursue / Withdraw Cycle
Every couple’s cycle is unique. If you want to understand yours, a free consultation can get you started. We would be so happy to work with you.
Let’s talk about your cycle.
The Process for Couples Counselling
- Step 1
We usually begin with a free 30-minute consultation, similar to a mini session. Afterward, clients often feel confident and clearer about what to expect from the therapy journey.
- Step 2
Before your first session, we’ll send you intake and consent forms so we can learn a bit more about your unique situation.
In the first session, we will explore your story as a couple and begin to identify your cycle.
- Step 3
The next two sessions are individual, where the therapist explores the personal history of each partner. This helps us understand how your internal cycle got started and will act as an additional guide for therapy.
- Step 4
Then, we work to shift the cycle.
First, we de-escalate – understanding the patterns that cause conflict. Second, we restructure your interactions – expressing emotions safely and responding with empathy. Third, we consolidate – practicing new ways of connecting to build a lasting, secure bond.
The length of therapy varies, guided through ongoing conversation and collaboration between you and your therapist.
Book a Consultation
If you are seeking relationship or couples counselling that will help you break your negative cycle, heal, and reconnect, we invite you to take the first step. A consultation will help you explore whether our couples therapy is a fit for you.
Professional, Compassionate Support
Susan and Peter strive to offer compassionate, thoughtful spaces where clients feel seen and supported. Our work is grounded in attachment-based and trauma-informed therapy, helping people make sense of their emotions and move toward meaningful change.
Many clients come to therapy feeling unsure. Over time, they report greater clarity, emotional relief, and stronger relationships.
Getting Started
In person sessions
- Meet face-to-face in a quiet, welcoming therapeutic space
- Benefit from being fully present and away from daily distractions
- Ideal for those who prefer a more traditional, in-room therapy experience
Virtual sessions
Availability throughout the week for online sessions. Daytime, evening, and weekends using a secure platform.
- Attend sessions from the comfort and privacy of your own space
- Eliminate travel time and make therapy easier to fit into your schedule
- Access care from anywhere in Ontario while maintaining a strong therapeutic connection
Take the First Step – Book a Free Consultation