Couples Therapy

Couples Therapy, in English

I work with English-speaking couples in Oslo and across Scandinavia. If you're stuck in the same arguments, feeling disconnected, or trying to decide whether to stay or go, I can help you find clarity and a way forward.

Andi Kerr Little, Psychotherapist
Qualifications BSc Psychology · MSc Applied Behaviour Sciences
Native English speaker Scottish. I understand your cultural world.
10 years in Oslo Lived expat experience in Norway
In-person & Zoom Oslo · All of Scandinavia online

I work from an integrative psychotherapy approach, which means I draw on different therapeutic models depending on what's most helpful for you as a couple. The focus is on understanding the patterns you're stuck in, why they keep repeating, and what each of you needs to feel safe, seen, and valued in the relationship.

Most couples come because communication has broken down. You're having the same argument over and over, or you've stopped talking about the difficult things altogether. My role is to slow that process down, help you understand what's happening underneath the surface, and find a way to talk to each other that doesn't end in defensiveness or shutdown.

I also bring a particular understanding of what it's like to live as an expat couple in Scandinavia. The cultural isolation, the lack of extended family nearby, the pressure to adapt while holding onto your own identity, all of that affects relationships in ways that aren't always obvious until something breaks. I get that, and I can help you navigate it.

Most of the couples I work with aren't failing, they're exhausted from trying the same thing and hoping for a different result.

Why Couples Therapy in English Matters

If you're an English-speaking expat couple living in Scandinavia, finding a therapist who truly understands your world is rare. Language matters, but it's more than that. It's about cultural context, about understanding the specific pressures of building a life far from home, and about being able to speak freely without translating your thoughts or your feelings.

I'm a native English speaker from Scotland. I've lived in Oslo for over 10 years, and I work exclusively with expats and international couples. I understand what it's like to navigate a relationship when you're far from your support system, when the culture around you doesn't always make sense, and when the isolation of expat life puts extra strain on the relationship. That lived experience shapes how I work.

Most of the couples I see are dealing with issues that would be difficult anywhere, communication breakdowns, trust issues, parenting disagreements, intimacy struggles. But living abroad adds layers of complexity. One partner might be thriving while the other feels lost. The language barrier might affect one person's confidence or career. Cultural differences that seemed manageable before can become flashpoints when you're stressed or disconnected. I can help you untangle those layers and find a way forward that feels real.

What We'll Work On Together

Every couple is different, but the core of the work is similar. We'll focus on understanding the patterns you're stuck in, what triggers the arguments, what keeps you distant, what makes it hard to feel close. I'll help you both feel heard, not just by me, but by each other. That's often where the shift starts.

We'll also look at what each of you needs to feel safe and connected in the relationship. Sometimes those needs are mismatched, and sometimes they've never been clearly articulated. My role is to create a space where both of you can say what's difficult, where defensiveness can soften, and where you can start to see each other's experience without feeling blamed or attacked.

If trust has been broken, through an affair or through repeated patterns of disconnection, we'll work on whether and how that can be rebuilt. If you're at a crossroads, unsure whether to stay or go, we'll explore that question honestly. Sometimes couples therapy leads to reconciliation, sometimes it leads to clarity about separation, and sometimes it just leads to a relationship that feels less exhausting. All of those are valid outcomes.

In-Person in Oslo or via Zoom

I offer couples therapy both in-person at my practice in central Oslo and via Zoom. The in-person option works well if you're based in Oslo and prefer face-to-face sessions. The Zoom option works well if you're elsewhere in Norway, or in Sweden, Denmark, or anywhere else. Many of the couples I work with are scattered across Scandinavia, and Zoom allows us to work together without the logistics of travel.

The process is the same regardless of format. You'll both need to be in the same physical space during the session, whether that's my office or your living room. Sessions are 60 minutes, and we'll usually meet weekly or fortnightly depending on what's most useful for you. If you're not sure which format would work best, we can talk through the options during the free consultation call.

Questions People Ask Before Starting

Starting couples therapy can feel uncertain. Here's what helps people decide if it's the right step for them.

How do we know when couples therapy would help us?

If you're having the same argument repeatedly without resolution, if one or both of you feels unheard or unseen, if trust has been broken, or if you're considering separation but aren't sure, couples therapy can help. It's not about fixing someone or proving who's right. It's about understanding the patterns you're stuck in and finding a way forward that feels less exhausting for both of you.

What happens in a first couples therapy session?

The first session is about understanding your story. I'll ask both of you what brought you to therapy, what you're struggling with, and what you're hoping might change. I'll also start to notice the patterns between you, how you talk to each other, where the tension sits, what's not being said. It's not about solving everything in one session, it's about getting a sense of the landscape so we know where to focus.

Is couples therapy more effective before or after things reach a crisis?

Earlier is usually better, but crisis can also be a powerful catalyst for change. If you're noticing patterns you don't like, recurring arguments, growing distance, resentment building, that's a good time to come. You don't have to wait until things are falling apart. That said, many couples do wait until there's a crisis, and we can still do meaningful work at that stage. The question is whether both of you are willing to engage.

What if my partner is reluctant to come to therapy?

Reluctance is common, often because one partner feels blamed or worried the therapist will take sides. Sometimes it helps to frame therapy as working on the relationship together, not fixing the person who's "the problem." If your partner is unsure, the free consultation call can be a low-pressure way for both of you to ask questions and get a sense of whether it feels right. If they're still unwilling, coming alone can sometimes shift the dynamic enough that they become more open later.

How does being an expat couple create specific relationship pressures?

Living abroad removes many of the external supports that help relationships function. You don't have extended family nearby to help with childcare or just to give you a break from each other. You might not have a strong social network, so you're relying on each other for everything. Cultural differences that seemed minor before can become flashpoints when you're stressed. One partner might be thriving while the other feels lost or invisible. All of this can create a pressure cooker effect that's hard to navigate without support.

Can couples therapy help even if we're considering separating?

Yes. Sometimes couples therapy helps you decide with more clarity. If separation is on the table, the work becomes about exploring that question honestly rather than avoiding it. We'll look at what's driving the impulse to separate, whether there's a possibility of repair, and what each of you needs to feel like you've genuinely tried. For some couples, that leads to reconciliation. For others, it leads to a more conscious, less damaging separation. Both are valid outcomes.

What makes a couples therapist the right fit for us?

Fit matters as much in couples therapy as it does in individual work, maybe more. You need to feel like the therapist understands both of you, that they're not taking sides, and that they're comfortable holding difficult conversations without rushing to fix things. Cultural context matters too. If you're an expat couple, working with someone who understands that experience can make a real difference. The free consultation call is a good way to get a sense of whether we're a good match before committing to the full work.

Where I Work

Couples therapy in Oslo and across Scandinavia, in-person or via Zoom.

What People Say

We'd been stuck in the same fight for years. Andi didn't take sides, didn't tell us we were broken, just helped us see what we were actually doing to each other. For the first time in a long time, I felt like my partner actually heard me. It wasn't a magic fix, but it gave us something to work with.

LM
Laura M.
Couples Therapy, Oslo

Being expats in Norway added layers to everything. One of us was thriving, the other felt invisible. We couldn't talk about it without it turning into blame. Andi understood that dynamic in a way that felt rare. She didn't just focus on communication skills, she helped us see how isolation and cultural disconnection were affecting us. That shifted something.

JT
James T.
Couples Therapy, Zoom

I was ready to walk away. My husband wanted to try therapy, but I was skeptical. Andi didn't push us toward staying together or splitting up. She just created space for us to be honest about what wasn't working and whether we actually wanted to fix it. In the end, we decided to separate, but the process helped us do it with less damage and more clarity. I'm grateful for that.

SC
Sophie C.
Couples Therapy, Oslo
Andi Kerr Little
About Andi

Scottish Psychotherapist in Oslo

I'm originally from Scotland and have lived in Oslo for over 10 years. I work exclusively with English-speaking expats and internationals, mostly people who've moved to Scandinavia for work, family, or a fresh start, and are finding it harder than expected.

I trained in integrative psychotherapy in Oslo and have additional training in Compassionate Inquiry with Dr. Gabor Maté and the Safe and Sound Protocol. My approach is relational, direct, and grounded in the belief that most people already know what they need, they just need space to access it.

BSc Psychology, University of Glasgow
Masters in Applied Behaviour Sciences
Integrative Psychotherapy training, Oslo
Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner (Dr. Gabor Maté)
Safe and Sound Protocol Provider (Unyte)
10 years in private practice
More About My Approach

Common Questions

I work with couples across a wide range of issues. Communication difficulties and recurring arguments are the most common reasons people come, often when you're stuck in patterns that keep repeating no matter how hard you try. I also work with couples navigating trust issues after an affair, mismatched expectations about the relationship, intimacy or sexual difficulties, cultural differences or adjusting to life abroad, parenting disagreements, and differences in how you manage stress or conflict. Some couples come because one partner is struggling with anxiety, depression, or burnout, and the relationship is feeling the strain. Others are at a crossroads, trying to decide whether to stay together or separate. Whatever brings you, my role is to help both of you feel heard, understand what's driving the patterns, and find a way forward that feels real.

Ideally, both of you attend, but I understand that's not always possible at the start. If your partner is reluctant or refuses, coming alone can still be useful. Individual work on how you show up in the relationship can shift the dynamic, sometimes enough that your partner becomes more open to joining later. I can help you understand your part in the patterns, what you need, and how to communicate that more clearly. That said, couples therapy requires both people in the room to be most effective. If your partner is completely unwilling to engage and the relationship is in crisis, we might also explore whether individual therapy focused on your own decision making and clarity is a better fit for now. The goal is always to support what's most helpful for you.

In individual therapy, the focus is on you, your experiences, your patterns, and your needs. The therapist is entirely on your side. In couples therapy, I'm not on either person's side. I'm on the side of the relationship. My role is to help both of you feel heard, to understand the dynamic between you, and to help you find a way forward together. The work is about the patterns you're both stuck in, not about who's right or wrong. That means I'll challenge both of you at different points, and I'll ask you both to take responsibility for your part. Some people find individual therapy more helpful when they need to work through their own history or emotional wounds first. Others find couples therapy more helpful when the issue is genuinely relational, when the same arguments keep happening and you can't seem to get out of them alone. Sometimes both are useful at different stages.

There's no fixed timeline. Some couples come for a few months to work through a specific issue, communication difficulties or recovering from a betrayal, and then feel ready to continue on their own. Others stay longer, particularly if there are deeper patterns to untangle or if the relationship has been struggling for years. I usually suggest committing to at least six to eight sessions before deciding whether it's working. That gives us enough time to get past the surface issues and start addressing what's really going on underneath. After that, we can reassess. Some couples shift to less frequent sessions once things stabilize, coming monthly or as needed. Others prefer to stop and come back if something flares up again. The pace and duration depend on what you're working on, how much both of you engage, and what feels right for your relationship.

Yes, in general. Couples therapy works best when both of you are present. The process is about understanding the dynamic between you, and I can't do that effectively if one person isn't in the room. That said, there are occasional exceptions. If one of you is traveling or unwell, we might do a session with just one partner, but that's not the norm. If one person consistently can't or won't attend, we'd need to reassess whether couples therapy is the right approach at this stage. It's also worth noting that I don't do individual sessions with just one partner outside of the couples work. That can create imbalances and make the other person feel like I'm taking sides. If you need individual support alongside couples work, I'd recommend finding a separate therapist for that.

Couples therapy sessions are charged at the same rate as individual sessions, currently 1400 NOK per 60-minute session. Payment is made after each session via bank transfer or Vipps. I don't work through the Norwegian health system, so couples therapy is private pay. This means you have flexibility in scheduling and no waiting lists, but it also means the cost is out of pocket. Some people find it helpful to think of therapy as an investment in the relationship, particularly if the alternative is separation or years of ongoing conflict. That said, I understand cost is a real factor. If finances are a concern, let me know. I can sometimes adjust the frequency of sessions or we can discuss other options that might work better for your situation.

Yes, I offer couples therapy both in-person in Oslo and via Zoom. Many of the couples I work with are based outside Oslo, elsewhere in Norway, or in other parts of Scandinavia, so Zoom is a practical option. It works well for couples who prefer the convenience of meeting from home or who don't have access to English-speaking couples therapists locally. The process is the same as in-person work. You'll both need to be in the same room together during the session, with a stable internet connection and a private space where you won't be interrupted. Some couples find Zoom slightly less intimate, but most adapt quickly and find it just as effective. If you're in Oslo and able to attend in person, that's an option too. The choice is entirely yours.

Start with a free 20-minute consultation call. You can book that through the website or email me directly at Andikerrlittle@gmail.com. Either one of you or both of you can join the consultation, whichever feels easier. We'll talk briefly about what's bringing you to therapy, what you're hoping for, and whether couples therapy feels like the right fit. If we decide to move forward, we'll schedule your first full session, either in-person in Oslo or via Zoom. The first session is an opportunity for me to hear both of your perspectives, understand the patterns you're stuck in, and start thinking about how we might work together. There's no pressure to commit beyond that first session. We'll take it one step at a time.

Other Ways I Can Help

Ready to Start?

Book a free 20-minute consultation to talk through what's going on and whether couples therapy feels like the right fit for you.

Book Free Consultation +47 906 02 994