Strengthen your relationship

Couples therapy

Feelings have been lost, communication has broken down, there is more distance and conflict. Perhaps there is lack of intimacy, doubt or another person. Or one of you is on the verge of breaking up. Couples therapy can help you navigate these serious challenges.

Strengthen your relationship

Couples therapy

Feelings have been lost, communication has broken down, there is more distance and conflict. Perhaps there is lack of intimacy, doubt or another person. Or one of you is on the verge of breaking up. Couples therapy can help you navigate these serious challenges.

What are the benefits of couples therapy?

Couples therapy maps out the obstacles and possibilities of your relationship. Creates space for love and desire, fun, and depth. And helps you talk things through, prevent a breakup and rekindle the fire. Sometimes it makes couples realise it is better to separate, which brings relief.

The sooner couples start therapy, the greater the chance of success. Most couples wait too long, allowing emotions to run high, disappointment to fester, and minor problems to escalate. It is best to go into therapy as soon as problems are structural and they undermine your connection or joy.

In search of - Ilja & Fleur + birds

Couples therapy has advantages and disadvantages:

● It helps partners work through structural issues, such as recurring fights, unfinished incidents, or emotional distance.
● It takes relationships to the next level. It creates space for more intimacy, more fun, better communication and a deeper connection.
● It opens up the heart. Not showing emotions can be exhausting and creates distance, which in turn makes it harder to share feelings.
● It increases well-being. Relationship problems can lead to worries, stress, sleep problems and unhealthy habits. Strong relationships actually help you live longer and healthier.
● The disadvantage is that couples therapy costs time, money and energy, can be challenging and requires self-reflection. Couples that avoid therapy because of this, can see their problems escalate.

Couples therapy with two therapists

We – Fleur and Ilja – work as a couple with couples. The devotion and affection we have for each other provides a safe and inspiring foundation for couples that struggle.

Also, we are more effective together than on our own. Our skills and approaches complement each other, and we bring a masculine and feminine perspective to the table. Outside of the session we work to ensure that the couples and individual sessions are aligned.

At the same time, we bring our individual gifts. Fleur is musical, gentle and adaptive, Ilja has a keen sense of language and is grounded and firm. Fleur is inspired by the work of Gurdjieff and Rudolf Steiner and is training in eurythmy. Ilja is inspired by the Japanese martial art Aikido. Read more about us.

What is our approach to couples therapy?

By the time a couple comes in, a lot has happened and tensions run high. That is why during the three sessions of the intake, we listen carefully and consider all your feelings, experiences and points of view.

Careful intake

Session 1

In session 1 we start with a joint conversation (with the four of us), in which we discuss the strengths, challenges and history of your relationship, as well as your needs. Back home after the session you fill out two questionnaires.

Session 2

In session 2 you have an individual conversation with one of us, separate from each other. This way, you receive undivided attention for your side of the story and we can zoom in on your personal history. Our clients say this clarifies a lot of things.

We then analyse the interviews and questionnaires. We identify (un)healthy dynamics, personal needs, obstacles and strategies for growth. Based on this, we design our plan of action, a tailor-made process to help you achieve your goals.

Session 3

Session 3 is a joint conversation in which we share our analysis and plan of action. This gets to the heart of the matter and provides a path ahead. You will receive two copies of a printed version to take home.

The intake is not designed to solve any issues just yet, but it does offer new insights and provide clarity about the path ahead. This gives our clients peace of mind, confidence and hope.

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Follow-up process

Structured follow-up process

While some couples find the intake gives them the answers they need, most follow our plan. This has a clear structure consisting of four to seven blocks, each addressing an aspect of your relationship through a combination of individual sessions (1-on-1) and couple sessions (with the four of us).

Individual sessions

Relationship problems are often the result of old patterns that each of us (unknowingly) brings into the relationship. They stem from our earliest childhood, where we learned lessons – often painful – about love, connection, conflict, boundaries, needs, feelings, validation, safety, autonomy and attachment.

In the individual sessions we tackle these patterns. Clients heal their pain, learn healthy coping mechanisms and develop as human beings. In our experience, this makes them freer, calmer and stronger, and allows them to live in accordance with their values, feelings and needs.

Couple sessions

In the couple sessions we feed this individual growth back into the relationship. With a deeper understanding and freer from old limitations, you work to solve your relationship problems and strengthen your foundations.

We may work on intimacy, meeting needs, and clear communication. We also look at things like trust, commitment and friendship. Sometimes it is necessary to heal old wounds, release pent-up feelings and restore confidence. We often teach couples how to have conflict in a safe and connecting way.

We also pay attention to MBTI and the Enneagram, two powerful and complementary approaches to personality type. This provides insight into each of your qualities and coping mechanisms, and offers a powerful framework for better communication.

Throughout the process we offer assignments that will deepen your (self)knowledge and skillset.

Start couples therapy quickly

We can usually start couples therapy within seven days. To book a session call Fleur or Ilja or email us.

You may also first book a free online introductory call. During the half-hour call we can discuss what therapy can offer you and see if there’s any chemistry between us. Book your introductory call here.

It is hard to say in advance. The intake can be completed within 2 weeks and for some couples that is enough. But the reality is that real change takes time and that quick fixes for structural problems do not exist. Personal growth and the development of new relationship patterns take time, as well as courage, commitment and some trial and error. We see that if couples are committed to the process and they prioritise sessions and homework assignment, good results can be achieved in a few months

The intake requires an investment of approximately €1635. This includes €495 for the analysis and tailor-made action plan and two couples and two individual sessions, each around 1.5 hours. We invoice the sessions based on actual time spent, based on an hourly rate of €140 for individual sessions and €240 for joint sessions, both including 21% VAT. We do not work with health insurers.

We believe that relationships can only thrive in freedom. You can therefore cancel at any time, no strings attached.

We do not have a waiting list and can usually start quickly.

We are equally committed to helping both of you. We neither judge nor blame, or use (often stigmatizing) diagnoses as is customary in government-paid mental health care. Instead, we are warm, dedicated and honest.

It goes without saying that we handle your private data carefully and discreetly. For example, we do not share data with insurers or general practitioners and our data security is in order. More about this can be found in our Privacy Policy

Our practice is light, quiet and comfortable.
You immediately feel at ease.

De tuin van In Search Of

Personal and discreet.

Our practice is light, quiet and comfortable.
You immediately feel at ease.

De tuin van In Search Of

Personal and discreet.