SPACE FOR YOUR RELATIONSHIP
Couples Therapy in Strasbourg
When communication breaks down, the same arguments keep returning or a crisis strains your connection, it can be difficult to find your way back to one another. Couples therapy offers space to put each person’s experience into words and understand what is happening in the relationship. I currently work with couples online, in French or English.
When might you seek couples therapy?
You do not have to wait until your relationship is on the verge of breaking down. Difficult conversations, recurring arguments or emotional distance can already leave you feeling unable to connect.
Jealousy, a loss of trust or infidelity can also make it painful to talk. Difficulties around sex, desire or intimacy can be explored here, with respect for each person’s pace and boundaries.
Having a child, adjusting to a blended family or going through a major life change can unsettle the balance of a relationship. If you are considering separation or have already begun that process, sessions can help you clarify what each of you wants and think about what comes next.
Whether you are facing a crisis or have quieter concerns, relationship therapy for people in Strasbourg, currently offered online, provides time to focus on your relationship.
For further reading, explore when to seek couples therapy and why relationship patterns repeat.
Understanding what happens between you
An argument may seem to be about a small everyday issue, while the hurt lies elsewhere: feeling forgotten, rejected, unrecognised or alone in the relationship. Each partner brings their own history, earlier emotional wounds and expectations of closeness, security or independence.
These attachment needs can show up in very different ways. One partner may need to talk straight away for reassurance, while the other withdraws to avoid feeling overwhelmed. The more one pushes for a conversation, the more the other pulls away. This pattern can repeat even when both want to feel closer.
Defence mechanisms are ways of protecting ourselves: shutting down, attacking, minimising or avoiding certain topics. They may help in the moment while making it harder to hear one another. Our work involves noticing these responses and understanding what they protect, without reducing either partner to a role or label.
What happens in a couples therapy session?
The first session is a chance to get to know one another, hear what has brought you here and discuss what each of you hopes for. We also talk about the framework for sessions and consider whether working together is appropriate for your situation.
The aim is not to decide who is right or wrong, or to take sides. My role is to help you understand what is happening between you and create space for a conversation in which each person can speak and be heard.
Over time, we look at specific situations: what was said, how it was understood, what each person felt and how the exchange unfolded. We agree on the focus together. It may involve communication, trust, each partner’s place in the relationship or a decision you need to clarify.
My approach
A psychoanalytic approach helps us explore each person’s history, expectations of the relationship and recurring patterns. It offers a way to reflect on experiences that may be replayed within the couple without either partner being fully aware of them.
Cognitive behavioural therapy offers practical ways to notice thoughts, emotions and responses in everyday interactions. We may work on expressing a need, recognising rising tension or approaching a difficult conversation.
Some NLP tools may be used alongside this work to explore each partner’s perspectives or clarify a goal. They are not presented as medical treatment. These approaches are not applied automatically: we discuss their relevance to your needs, without promising a particular outcome.
You can read about my background and how I work before booking an appointment.
Couples sessions: practical information
Sessions currently take place online by video. Each session lasts 45–50 minutes and costs €55 per couples session. Sessions are available in French or English.
Choose a quiet, private space and make sure you have a stable internet connection. We discuss the practical arrangements together so that each person can participate comfortably.
Looking for an English-speaking couples therapist in Strasbourg? You can book an appointment online to begin talking about your situation.
Frequently asked questions about couples therapy
Do we both need to attend the first session?
For couples work, it is preferable for both partners to attend from the first session so that each person’s perspective can be heard. If that is not possible, or you are unsure, please contact me before booking so we can discuss the appropriate framework.
Can we attend if only one partner wants to save the relationship?
Your expectations may differ: one partner may want to continue the relationship while the other is unsure. A session can help you put these positions into words, provided both of you agree to take part. It cannot make a partner stay. If the other person does not wish to attend, individual support can be considered within a separate framework.
Is couples therapy only about preventing a separation?
No. It can help you reconnect through conversation, understand a difficulty or clarify a decision. It can also support you when separation is being considered or is already under way, helping you think about what comes next with respect for each person.
Can we seek therapy after infidelity?
Yes. Infidelity can bring anger, pain and a loss of trust. Sessions offer space to hear what each person is experiencing, understand the issues within the relationship and discuss what you want for the future, without requiring forgiveness or promising that the relationship will be rebuilt.
Can sessions take place in English?
Yes. Couples sessions are available in French or English. We agree on a language in which both partners feel comfortable enough to express themselves.
Can we attend from elsewhere in the Bas-Rhin?
Yes. Sessions currently take place by video, so you can join from Strasbourg or elsewhere in the Bas-Rhin, provided you have a private space and a reliable connection. In-person appointments at a physical practice are not currently offered.
How can we choose a professional for couples therapy?
Alongside reviews, consider the practitioner’s background, approach and arrangements for sessions. People searching for a psychologist for their relationship may have different needs. Gloria Ralambo is a psychoanalyst and CBT and NLP therapist; she does not hold the title of psychologist. You can read about her background and ask questions before beginning therapy.
GLORIA RALAMBO
Time to
reconnect.
45–50 min · €55 · Currently online
In French or English