Understanding Transformative Couples Therapy
A tailored approach to healing historical trauma and restoring connection
What Is Transformative Couples Therapy?
David Mars, PhD, MFT began developing Transformative Couples Therapy® (TCT) in the 1980s. TCT is a psychotherapy approach that promotes healing historical trauma that interferes with fulfilling lives.
In TCT, your psychotherapist is not working from a manual when treating you. In treatment, your psychotherapist continuously evaluates you and tailors treatment to your needs with the original goal in mind.
Through this model, you will experience safety with your partner. Through the experience of safety, walls that block your connection will soften and leave space for a new and loving experience felt through all your senses.
From this safe and loving place, you and your partner can tap into unconscious memories that contribute to the unproductive patterns that brought you to couples therapy. This ultimately promotes a new experience that supports holistic healing.
What Can TCT Help With?
Recurring conflict and unproductive relationship patterns
Loss of emotional or physical connection
Difficulty feeling safe or vulnerable with your partner
Trust ruptures and cycles of blame or withdrawal
Past trauma that continues to shape the relationship today
What to Expect in a Session
Because TCT is not manualized, your sessions will be shaped around you and your partner rather than a fixed script. Your therapist will continuously assess what is happening between you in the room, moving at a pace that supports felt safety before deeper material is explored. Over time, this safety creates room to access the deeper patterns and memories driving disconnection, and to build a new, shared experience of trust.
Is This Right for You?
Speak with your therapist to find out whether TCT may be a good fit for you and your partner.
Questions? Contact us at (209) 659-3350 or visit familylegacytherapy.com to learn more or schedule an appointment.