Couples Counseling To Get Your Relationship To A Better Place
Welcome! Below please find my approach to providing counseling for couples, available to clients in Oregon, New York, Vermont and Colorado.
Intro
My philosophy is that our relationships need to be in a calm, connected place for the rest of our lives to work well, and even for our brains to work well! Because of this, couples therapy is some of both the most challenging and the most potentially fruitful work people can sign up for and I would be honored to walk you through it.
We Have Never Been To Couples Counseling, How Does It Work?
My job as a couples counselor is to balance my attention and listening evenly between all partners, helping everyone to feel safe and understood while also helping to bring central questions and challenges in the relationship to the forefront to be worked with.
Couples therapy is so powerful but because of that can also be emotionally intense, so my job will also be to help all partners stay calm and regulated as we do the work. Sometimes mindfulness and relaxation strategies come into play here, and quite often humor finds its way into my sessions as a way to work more easily with difficult truths.
Do You Help Gay, Lesbian, Trans Or Other “non-traditional” Couples?
Absolutely! Queerness is a part of my personal story (I have a non-traditional queer family and quite a bit of fluidity in my general way of being), and an area of personal and professional interest for me.
Because of that, I tend to read and think quite a bit about the cultural and historical context of queerness. I also think a lot about the risks inherent in holding too rigidly to any kind of heteronormative approach in the world of psychology, education, and any pursuit where liberation is the goal.
I use a mix of structural family therapy, emotion focused therapy and internal family systems therapy in my approach which tends to work well for both monogamous and non-monogamous relationship structures. I adore celebrating and helping clear blocks to healthy happy queer love.
Can You Help Couples Where Someone In The Partnership Is Autistic Or ADHD ?
Absolutely! I really enjoy working with folks who are neurodivergent (a term that can include autism and ADHD. You can read more about my approach here
I align with the social model of disability. This means that I see neurodivergence not as an impairment, but as a true difference that the world needs! These differences can cause problems when the needs of the neurodivergent person run against the expectations of a world that often assumes that everyone is neurotypical. These differences can also present unique opportunities as well as challenges in close relationships that I can help you navigate.
We Are Not Sure We Want To Stay Together. If Breaking Up Is The Best Step, Can You Help Us Part In A Healthy Way?
Yes. I firmly believe that relationships do not have to last forever, or do not have to look the same way forever, in order to have been a success. I also believe that even a breakup can align with agreements or vows we may have taken to help serve the best interests and highest potential of our partners.
If you are in a place where your relationship needs to end or change form, I can help you make meaning out of this and grieve in a healthy way that can honor the strength and depth of your connection with your partner.
What If My Partner Doesn’t Want To Come To Couples Counseling? Can You Help Us If Just One Person Attends?
Yes! If you are the person in your partnership willing to attend therapy, then I would direct you to my individual therapy. Individual therapy for one partner can often benefit the relationship as a whole, however it would focus primarily on the person in the therapy room.
Do You Offer In-person And Virtual Counseling?
I offer primarily virtual counseling, with limited availability for in-person sessions for clients based on Portland, Oregon. My virtual license extends to Oregon, New York, Vermont and Colorado. If you are in any of those states and interested in couples counseling, please reach out.
What Does Counseling Cost?
My rate is $200 per session, and I can help you submit for out-of-network benefits if your plan provides those. Under certain circumstances I am also able to offer sliding-scale with some flexibility on cost.
Do You Offer In-person And Virtual Counseling?
I offer primarily virtual counseling, with limited availability for in-person sessions for clients based on Portland, Oregon. My virtual license extends to Oregon, New York, Vermont and Colorado. If you are in any of those states and interested in couples counseling, please reach out.
What Does Counseling Cost?
My rate is $200 per session, and I can help you submit for out-of-network benefits if your plan provides those. Under certain circumstances I am also able to offer sliding-scale with some flexibility on cost.
How Can I Get Started?
If you would like to have a chat to explore working together, please reach out by email at gillianboudreau@gillianboudreauphd.com, or by phone at 802-671-4037.
You can also find answers to common questions about my practice can be found here
How Can I Get Started?
If you would like to have a chat to explore working together, please reach out by email at gillianboudreau@gillianboudreauphd.com, or by phone at 802-671-4037. You can also find answers to common questions about my practice can be found here