Intercultural couples show that love knows no borders. At the same time, it can happen that intercultural couples, in addition to the "normal" challenges of a relationship, are also concerned with cultural and/or religious issues and reach their limits. This requires a lot of patience, mutual understanding and openness to the wishes and expectations of the other person. If there is also a language barrier, existing challenges are even more serious. In the Intercultural Psychology Office, I attend couples in this process. In addition to my professional formation and experience in the field of couples therapy, my own background gives me a culturally sensitive attitude that I use in my work.

 

What are the most common reasons for couples who come to my office?

In my work with binational couples, I focus on the emotional relationship. Many of the couples I see in my office argue and fight constantly or feel distant and disconnected. Others come because of sexual problems (unbalanced sexual desire between both people) and others because of one or more infidelities.

 

What do couples want, who come to a therapy?

The difficulties that binational couples who come to my office may not be only related to the difference in languages and/or cultures, although it can be an obstacle and also an enrichment factor. In the most intimate interpersonal relationships is where we want to feel more understood, more secure, and when this does not happen, conflicts appear.

In most cases, what couples who come to my office want is a change in their relationship; they want to have a harmonious, pleasant relationship again, in addition to wanting to feel safe and emotionally reconnected. Together we detect the negative dynamics that have been established between the couple over time, in order to be able to stop them and if we understand them, they can be modified. In addition, I give them guidance to strengthen the emotional connection, with exercises to strengthen their emotional bond at home. I help them detect and express their most basic needs in a clear and transparent way, so that they can understand, express and accept each other.

 

How many appointments do couples need in my consultation?

Generally, couples come between 8 and 18 sessions, but it depends on the problem. At the beginning, we arrange appointments every two weeks and then once a month and each session lasts an hour and a quarter. Before the first session begin, I will send you a questionnaire, which I ask you to send me before we meet for the first time.