Building Bridges to Healthy Relationships

Psychotherapy for Couples, Individuals, and Families

Relationships can be the greatest source of comfort and safety in our lives. We all yearn for closeness, understanding and fulfilling attachment with others.  Humans are relational beings but too many of us have been taught that these traits make us dependent or broken. We may have some deep relationships in our lives but inevitably there are also some which are unhappy or disconnected.

When relationships feel aligned, we are filled with great joy. When they feel disconnected, we can experience tremendous unhappiness, hopelessness, depression and anxiety.

About Catherine Morris, MFT

For the past 25 years, I’ve helped couples, individuals and families transform painful relationships.  My desire is to help people learn to understand, be understood and communicate clearly with those who are important to them.  In my practice I use Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) as my working model.  EFT is a highly researched model of therapy that has been proven to be quite successful in helping couples, individuals and families heal from the difficulties that they are facing.  I’ve been involved with the EFT Community for the past 18 years.  I also have additional training working with grief and loss, trauma, as well as mediation and conflict resolution for communities and parental custody agreements.

Areas of Expertise

  • EFT is a highly researched, effective and evidence-based theory that helps couples understand and respond to each other’s needs. EFT has been validated by over 30 years of empirical research. Research shows us that when there is understanding of why people act in a particular way there is more willingness to work together to repair the connection.  Ultimately, you’ll be able to create a new, positive cycle which is comfortable to all participants.

  • For nearly 20 years I have helped many, many couples repair their marriages and create great, lasting relationships. I provide Couples Counseling to people who are married, living together, or engaged. Since the Bay Area is a unique melting pot my practice is filled with couples that come from various walks of life and many different cultures. If you have been saying to yourself, “I need help for my relationship,” look no further. I can help you and your partner rebuild the bridge of love back to each other.

  • Using Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) I can help you learn to manage the conflicts that feel like they are tearing your family apart. Emotionally Focused Family Therapy begins focusing first on where the immediate pain is in the family and the underlying patterns that have formed from this pain. I will help the person who is hurt, angry, feeling alienated or misunderstood to be heard by those that they feel have hurt them.

  • My practice includes work with individuals, many of whom struggle with anxiety or depression. A great many people are affected by these disorders and don’t seek help to live a fulfilling life. They suffer silently and may feel that they are in a hopeless situation. There is hope! I have many years of experience helping clients with both anxiety and depression management and I would like to help you.

It’s possible to turn your relationship around more quickly than you ever imagined

  • Understand the pattern of repetitive arguments that have caught you and your partner or family members

  • Respond effectively when you’ve been triggered

  • Ask the right questions to understand each other’s intentions

  • Successfully work together to resolve the problems that arise between you

  • Resolve conflict and create harmony

  • Communicate with love, care and respect so each of you feels heard

  • Learn how to ask for your needs to be met

  • Understand your differences and enhance the areas you have in common

  • Re-establish love and deepen intimacy

  • Regain a secure, safe attachment with your partner or family members

What is Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy?

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) is a model of couple’s therapy based on the science of adult love and bonding. Developed in Canada in the 1980s by Clinical Psychologist Dr. Susan Johnson, the approach helps couples understand one another and transform their patterns of communication. Dr. Johnson came to see that couples were focusing on each other’s behavior but were unaware of the deep emotions and needs lying beneath those behaviors.