Learning to Build a Relationship—Paths to a Fulfilling Partnership: A Couples Therapy Self-Awareness and Practice Group

For many people, a fulfilling romantic relationship is the most important source of life satisfaction. We long for closeness—for someone who will be there for us in difficult times, offer comfort, and provide emotional support—and with whom we can share the beautiful aspects of life.

After the initial infatuation, however, many couples experience something quite different: distance, a lack of understanding, criticism, and recurring conflicts. What once seemed easy and natural suddenly becomes exhausting and painful. People often break up at this point, hoping that everything will be different with a new partner. But similar patterns frequently repeat themselves in the next relationship as well. Living in a relationship is an art that must be learned and practiced. Role models and positive experiences are often lacking. Very few people have been fortunate enough to have parents who lived in a mature, healthy relationship. That is what makes couples therapy so meaningful. It offers a safe and secure setting in which both partners can find the courage to show vulnerability, recognize entrenched patterns, and experience new levels of closeness, understanding, and connection.

The couples therapy group offers a good mix of self-awareness exercises, theory, practical activities, and individual sessions with couples outside the group, if desired. Couples learn a great deal about themselves and how they can shape their relationship more consciously and take greater responsibility for their own happiness. The group experience provides great relief in knowing that one is not alone with one’s difficulties and offers the opportunity to be inspired by and learn from the other couples. This often facilitates a deeper and more honest connection—one that rarely develops even among long-time friends.

You will:

• Explore your own attachment style and your own experiences of attachment trauma; understand how your childhood relationship experiences affect your current relationship
• Learn to interpret unproductive conflict patterns as unconscious protests against the loss of intimacy; become familiar with and practice various forms of communication within a relationship (check-in conversations, guided dialogue, etc.)
• Learn methods for healing attachment wounds; write a “care guide” for your relationship
• gain important insights for a fulfilling sex life
• If desired: develop a better understanding of the issues and topics related to open and polyamorous relationships

Led by: Mag. Christian Brüser, psychological counselor, couples therapist (emotion-focused couples therapy), certified Shiatsu practitioner, spiritual guide. Trainer in Gestalt therapy in Germany.

Jana Eversmeier, systemic organizational consultant, trained in systemic
body therapy and Gestalt therapy, with several years of training in Tantra.

10 sessions: Every Wednesday, 7:00–9:30 p.m.
October 7 and 21, november 4, 18, and 25, January 27, February 10 and 24, and
March 3 and 17.

Cost: €500 per person for the entire series (€50 per evening). For
To register, please transfer the full amount for the entire series.
Minimum number of participants: 5 couples; maximum: 8 couples.