Mary Bruce-Owenby (she/her)

Couples Counseling

Gaining a deeper understanding of yourself and your partner, learning how to co-regulate, practicing how to listen differently and respond more effectively, collaborating, cooperating, and relating through experiments that mirror your struggles and challenge your patterns--are just some of what you will actively work on.

Psychodynamic 

This approach explores the impacts that early relational patterns with first caregivers have on later life, when they show up in the couple. I have completed five years of specific training in psychoanalytic/psychodynamic theoretical frameworks (Object Relations) under the supervision of contemporary psychoanalysts and psychologists.

Gestalt

I have trained in Gestalt therapy, a strengths-based, non-pathologizing approach, for the past eight years with the Gestalt Therapy Training Center Northwest (GTTCNW). Gestalt's emphasis on the importance of being aware of and accepting your current emotions without judgement and paying attention to here-and-now experience lays the groundwork for co-regulation and interactive regulation, a process we focus on in couples work that helps partners stay attuned and connected.

Somatic Therapy (Body Centered)

An important part of our work together is somatic (relating to the body) in its focus, and we explore what happens when big emotions, like anger, frustration, or sadness come up. During these moments, it can be extremely difficult to regulate feelings, pay attention, and stay connected to each other. We often act out of our survival instincts, with automatic, lightning-fast reactions, which make it hard to stay present, understand, or empathize.

Attachment Theory

I use the PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy), a model that incorporates attachment theory as it relates to couples. Attachment theory focuses on our human need to form close, emotional bonds, and the impact of our first experiences of closeness with our caregiver on future relationships. There are attachment styles that emerge from this early experience that show up in our later relationships, and understanding them is key for becoming even more knowledgeable about your partner.

Relationship / Marriage Issues

I help with understanding and navigating conflict, learning how to reconnect after disconnection, betrayals and repairs, issues coming up around commitment, and resolving historical anger, among many other issues.

Premarital Counseling

I help couples work through and resolve struggles coming up that they want to resolve before deepening their commitment.