THERAPY LISBON

Couples Therapy Lisbon: Professional Support for Your Relationship in the times of trouble.

Are you in a challenging moment in your relationship? You are in the right place to try to change the course of your life together.

A secure anchor in a loved one is the most powerful resource a human being has.

Sue Johnson couples therapy Lisbon inspiration

Sue Jhonson

EFT Founder

THERE IS HOPE

You are together but something is pulling you apart? Why do couples fight (or go silent)?

What we hear from our couples in our sessions is often about not being appreciated, not being heard, not having enough sex or emotional intimacy. For some some couples it’s about house chores, money, and child care. For others it might be about jealousy, affair or time spend with friends.

Imagine that these are different ways of shouting “Where are you!?”. We are made to experience connection and when our partners drift away our alarms go on: “Where are you!”. Left alone for too long we become frustrated, angry and in the end resentful. We might choose “house chores” to comunicated that we feel alone but the basic longing is for conection. Without it we are not safe. We will help you to focus on bringing the safety back.

Couples therapy offers a safe space to bridge that gap and rebuild the foundation of your relationship.

Can you hear me?

What is couples therapy?

Often when couples first come to us they have problems listening to each other. We’ll help you to clarify your needs, limits and make sure you both can hear each other very well.

Couples therapy is a professional, collaborative process designed to help partners navigate the complexities of their relationship and resolve deep-seated conflicts in a safe, neutral environment. Rather than simply managing arguments, it focuses on identifying the underlying negative cycles and attachment needs that often lead to emotional disconnection. To achieve this, we utilize a diverse and integrative approach, drawing from evidence-based frameworks like Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to repair bonds and the Gottman Method to provide practical communication tools. By incorporating psychodynamic insights and CBT techniques, we explore how individual attachment styles and past experiences influence current behaviors.

This tailored approach empowers partners to transform their automatic “dance” from one of distance into a secure, resilient, and loving partnership.

Can you notice your negative cycle?

The trigger

A small moment – a look, a tone, or undone chores —signals a loss of connection. Your brain’s “attachment alarm” goes off: Are you there for me?

The Protest / Pursuing

To deal with the fear of losing you, one partner “pursues.” It feels like criticism or anger, but it’s actually a desperate plea to be seen and heard.

The Withdrawal / Defending

Feeling overwhelmed or “not enough,” the other partner pulls away. They go silent or stay busy to avoid more conflict. Under the surface, they are protecting the relationship by hiding.

The loop

The more one partner pushes for connection, the more the other withdraws to stay safe. You’re caught in a loop where everyone feels alone, and no one wins.

I like to work with the EFT -Emotionally Focused Therapy approach. I hold monthly “Hold Me Tight” groups for couples.

My approach to couples combines dynamic therapy and ISTDP. I value empathy, clarity and timely confrontation.

Couples Therapy Lisbon Team

Together we bring a powerful set of tools, approaches and therapeutic experience.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way

Therapeutic Approaches We Use In Couples Therapy

In our team we bring together a wide range of training, education and therapeutic approaches. Thanks to our team supervision we can draw from each other’s experience to better help our couples. Some of our favorite approaches:

EFT

Emotionally-Focused Therapy

Gotman's Method

We draw from Gotman's research. His method is known for great tools!

Psychodynamic therapy

We are trained to listen "psychodynamically" for latent content. Ex. "You need to earn more!" = "Where are you?"

CBT

We are inspired by cognitive-behavioral therapy so be sure you will get some homework!

Couples therapy lisbon

Favorite master therapists!

We were trained by exceptionally talented therapists. We learned from many good teachers and got inspired by outstanding authors. We aspire to apply their attitude, perspective and tools in a skillful manner.

Our favorite teacher! 50+ years of experience! Bringing ISTDP to couples work. Thanks to Josette we have more clarity on what’s going on in couples dynamics.

Thanks to Sue Johnson we know much more about couples and attachment. Her book “Hold me tight” inspired our couples training group! Listen to her and you will learn a great deal – link.

Great author, therapist and a TV star! Best known for her Couples Therapy Show. Watching it with your partner can be a great place to start.