Who We Are

DRS. PHYLLIS R. KOCH-SHERAS AND PETER L. SHERAS

Peter Sheras and Phyllis Koch-Sheras are clinical psychologists who have been treating couples for more than two decades, and they have been married to each other for nearly as long. Together, they have Written several books and articles, including "New Frontiers in Treating Couples" in Innovations in Clinical Practice: A Source Book (1998), The Dream Sharing Sourcebook (1998), and The Dream Sourcebook Journal (1996). They are co-organizers of "Couples Coaching Couples," a nationwide movement providing mutual support to couples in their communities.

Peter and Phyllis often give interviews on radio and television and in newspapers and magazines regarding relationships, including a regular segment on couples on their local radio talk show. Together, they provided the psychological commentary for "The Spiritual Homepage," a national cable television series, and they have co-hosted the local cable television show, "The Couple Power™ Half Hour." Trained in couples, family and sex therapy at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Palo Alto, California, they now serve on the faculty of the University of Virginia. Peter and Phyllis have two children and live in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Phyllis R. Koch-Sheras, Ph.D., is a practicing clinical psychotherapist and co-author of several books on dreams and couples, including The Dream Sourcebook (1995) and Dream on: a Dream Interpretation and Exploration Guide for Women (1983). She is founder and president of the Creative and Healing Arts Institute, a non-profit organization in Charlottesville promoting healing in the community, past president of the Virginia Applied Psychology Academy and president of the Virginia Psychological Association. Dr. Koch-Sheras received her doctorate from the University of Texas and has worked in state hospitals, university counseling centers, and private practice. She is an adjunct faculty member in UVa's Curry School of Education.

Peter L. Sheras, Ph.D, ABPP is a clinical psychologist and has co-authored several publications on couples, dreamwork, brief therapy, youth violence and adolescent development, including Your Child and Clinical Psychology: a Social Psychological Approach (1979). He has a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Sexologists and past president of the Virginia Psychological Association, and has presented over 30 workshops in the past five years. He appears frequently as an expert in the media on topics of couples, adolescents and families. He received his doctorate from Princeton University and is a professor in UVa's Curry Programs in Clinical and School Psychology.

WHAT IS COUPLE POWER™?

Couple Power™ is an approach developed by clinical psychologists Phyllis Koch-Sheras and Peter Sheras for creating and maintaining profoundly fulfilling relationships. The cornerstone of the approach is the power of language and speaking to create the vision that sustains a relationship. We are not our feelings or our needs. We have the power to choose what we do and how we are in our relationships. Couple Power™ teaches couples how to get beyond their own individual needs and create a vision that empowers the couple as a single entity.

The Couple Power™ approach addresses the paradox at the root of our cultural belief system: Couples are expected to commit to a long-term relationship, but they are also led to believe that happiness can only be found through self-gratification and individual achievement. This false dichotomy leads to self-indulgence and stress in relationships, and all too often ends in separation and divorce.

By applying the Couple Power™ approach, people don’t have to give up their own sense of identity. On the contrary, a couple becomes an avenue for enhancing individual personhood. Falling in love becomes an opportunity for each person to see and reinforce the best in each other, supporting a stronger sense of the self.

This approach is based on principles of positive psychology which focus on reinforcing what’s possible not what’s wrong with a relationship. Rather than dwelling on dissatisfactions or dysfunctions of the past, couples are taught to give attention to their intention for the relationship and to “co-create” new possibilities for the future together. The Couple Power™ program enables people to stay on track in their relationship while learning to inspire each other rather than conspire against each other.

When the positive perspective of the couple as an entity is combined with the developmental model of the Four C's, a new matrix of relationship possibility is created. The manifestation of this new possibility is what we call Couple Power™, a state of being related where more joy is possible for couples than they could ever have imagined.

Through workshops and consultations the Couple Power™ approach can be taught to individuals, couples, professionals and organizations. Times and places can be scheduled by contacting: sherfam@aol.com, calling 434-971-4701, or using this website.

WHAT IS RELATIONSHIP POSSIBILITIES, INC.^SM

Relationship Possibilities, Inc.^SM is an organization dedicated to the creation and maintenance of profoundly satisfying and fulfilling relationships in the world. Through workshops, lectures, books, CDs, manuals, music and the healing and performing arts, Drs. Phyllis Koch-Sheras and Peter Sheras, clinical psychologists and a couple married for more than 25 years, provide their unique “Four C's” approach to relationship enhance- ment: Commitment, Cooperation, Communication and Community.

The approach has been demonstrated to achieve remarkable results for couples, families, professionals, businesses, organizations, schools, churches and even individuals, creating remarkable breakthroughs in happiness and effectiveness. Their innovative techniques can be used in marital and family treatment, divorce and separation therapy, pastoral and couples counseling, relationship enrichment and business and organizational consultation. They produce measurable changes in satisfaction and empowerment leading to increased problem solving, enhanced communication and community building skills. Couples especially report increased joy and feelings of intimacy. Using a variety of teaching formats such as their Couple Power™ Program, Couples Coaching Couples, as well as dreamwork and visioning, Drs. Koch-Sheras and Sheras provide real possibilities for truly awesome relationships.