How Does Couple Therapy Work in Dubai, UA.E.? A Guide to the Process and Its Benefits
- Sarah El Nabulsi, M.Sc.,M.A.,M.A.
- Sep 2, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 6, 2025
Introduction
Couple therapy can be a powerful transformative intervention that can take your relationship from conflict to harmony, from isolation and lack of connection to a secure bond that invigorates your life. If you’ve been recognized signs that your relationship might benefit from professional help, you may wonder how the process works. This blog will take you through what to expect in and of couple therapy.
One thing to keep in mind is the importance of finding the right therapist with the right approach. I'll discuss here my personal method and approach that I have used to help countless couples reclaim peace, build a secure bond and rejoice in connection and love away from endless conflict patterns on repeat.
My method is founded in culturally sensitivity, being able to shift between multiple perspectives has been key in helping me understand the uniqueness of each couple's pain points and struggles. The treatment approaches I use are eclectic, as in I will draw from the latest research nin Psychotherapy the techniques and tools that would be most suitable for your unique couple characteristics & challenges. That said, I frequently select the techniques from the Gottman Method and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy because of how well they have worked with my couples, the key thing here is I focus on personalizing treatment early on to increase engagement and begin to provide releif as soon as possible.
Who Should Consider Couple Therapy?
Before diving into the process, let’s go over who might benefit from couple therapy:
Couples experiencing constant arguments or explosive or unresolved conflicts.
Couples with trust issues or communication breakdowns.
Partners feeling emotionally distant or disconnected.
Those facing major life transitions or stressors.
Anyone considering separation or divorce but wanting to explore all options first.
If any of these resonate with you, couple therapy could be the right step.
How Does Couple Therapy Work?
Couple therapy typically involves the following steps:
Initial assessment:
The first few sessions focus on listening to your concerns from your perspectives, understanding the dynamics of your relationship, identifying the main issues, which will help with how we will be prioritizing the goals for therapy.
This is a crucial stage where both of you will have an opportunity to express your concerns, perspectives, and learn quite a bit from this process, about yourself and your partner.
Identifying patterns & psychoeducation:
Throughtout the initial phase I would be analysing patterns in behavior, beleif, conflict dynamics and more and when it's suitable, I will begin to bring them to your attention. We will highlight the strenghts as well as help you identify the negative patterns that are undermining your relationship are leading to the distress, miscommunication and conflict.
As we grow in recognizing these patterns, I will share my knowledge and experience with you so that you begin understanding them; this is a powerful step to finally changing them.
We will rebuild effective communication :
Effective communication is key to any successful relationship. We will understand were the fallouts happen and work on improving your communications by developing your skills in techniques such as Active Listening, “I” statements, validation and more.
Conflict Resolution:
No relationship is devoid of conlfict, in fact conflict is natural and healthy to have. from my perspective as long as both individual are still engaged in conflict, there is hope. That said, of course we will learn to express ourself and hear each other well enough to actually make a change. Gottman method has many tools here that help us build your skills in this.
Rebuilding Trust and Intimacy:
If trust has been broken, therapy will focus on rebuilding that foundation. This can involve exercises to enhance emotional intimacy, forgiveness practices, and setting boundaries.
For couples struggling with intimacy, I may suggest specific activities to rekindle the emotional and physical connection.
Ongoing Support:
Couple therapy is not a one-time fix; it’s can be ongoing process. Regular sessions help maintain progress, address new issues, and reinforce the skills you’ve learned.
Scientific Evidence Supporting Couple Therapy
Couple therapy has consistently shown its effectiveness in improving relationship satisfaction and communication. Peer-reviewed research indicates that evidence-based methods, such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) can lead to significant improvements of about 75% of couples, fostering deeper emotional bonds and resolving conflicts more effectively. diverse populations and relationship dynamics, with improvements maintained over time.
The Gottman method is built with over 40 years of research and clinical experience and has been found to significantly enhance conflict resolution, emotional attunement and profound intimacy; with changes lasting in the long term.
These approaches, rooted in decades of scientific study, not only can help you navigate challenges but also empower you to build stronger, more resilient relationships.
Conclusion
Couple therapy is a transformative process that can help you rebuild trust, connection and peace where it matterns the most; at home.You and your partner will learn alot during this process, you will learn about yourselves and each other;
Hope this helps, please feel free to send me any questions that might come up!
Sarah El Nabulsi, M.Sc.,M.A.,M.A.
DHA Licensed Clinical Psychologist. & Founder of SNHA
References:
Johnson, S. M., & Greenman, P. S. (2006). The path to a secure bond: Emotionally focused couple therapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62(5), 597–609.
DOI: 10.1002/jclp.20239
Wiebe, S. A., & Johnson, S. M. (2016). A review of the research in emotionally focused therapy for couples. Family Process, 55(3), 390–407.
DOI: 10.1111/famp.12229
Gottman, J. M., & Silver, N. (1999). The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. New York: Crown Publishing Group.
Babcock, J. C., Gottman, J. M., Ryan, K. D., & Gottman, J. S. (2013). A component analysis of a brief psycho-educational couples’ workshop: One-year follow-up results. Journal of Family Therapy, 35(3), 252–280.
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