Videos, Testimonials & Stories

About | Method | Checkup | FAQ | Fees | Stories

Steve + Kahla

When people meet us, they see a power couple. 4 kids by 30,  2 foster kids, a restaurant, careers, homeschooling – plus we love to entertain, and we still LOVE each other – Super couple right? True, our journey together has been one deeply rooted in a commitment to making love work – but with one of us being a survivor of childhood trauma, and the other a survivor of domestic abuse in a previous relationship, we brought some significant weight into our young, married relationship from the outset. 

As the years progressed, and kids kept coming, life kept happening, circumstances unraveled – it was clear that no amount of commitment was able to help us make our love for one another enough to heal the underlying wounds, histories and stories that continued to build walls, create quick escapes, and cause damage. We hit rock bottom – the burnout was real and people were getting hurt: we were getting hurt, and our kids were getting hurt. 

LifeApp lead by Jonathan and Teresa Penner, had been doing some amazing things in our community, and we knew these people could help us live love well.  During a very desperate time, they took on our marriage in a coaching capacity and in a few short weeks began to use their gifts, skills, expertise and life experience to help coach us to a place of internal self-love, begin the process of healing and be able to turn towards one another. 

With intention, workable steps, committed care and a true sense of the value of love, Jonathan and Teresa have helped us to find hope and create breathing room in our busy life to keep our marriage at the forefront and remember to live love well throughout all aspects of our lives. Truly, we wouldn’t be here without them. 

David + Amanda

Over the last few years we'd been through a lot as a family, constantly bouncing from challenge to challenge and stress to stress. With three young kids and a rapidly expanding business it was difficult to find the time to work on 'us', but coming into this year we knew there was nothing more important and finally took the plunge, engaging Jonathan & Teresa to coach us as a couple. 

Jonathan & Teresa made themselves available to us every single week for a session with the four of us, and sometimes would break it out into one on one meetings. They also made themselves available to us when we were facing conflict. Having both a male and female at the table really helped avoid any sense of bias. I don't know any other organization that offers that kind of engagement! 

The benefits we've seen have been enormous. We were both fairly guilty of what they call 'negative sentiment override' when we started working with them, often assuming the worst of each other, but utilizing a few different exercises that's changed drastically. These are the kinds of ruts that couples struggle to get out of often, but Jonathan & Teresa knew just how to prompt the change we needed. 

Every week they showed up with a plan, it was different from other counsellors where often they allow the participants to dictate the direction. Obviously they listen to us, but it's more active than passive. They both bring their own personalities and experience to the table, along with Gottman training which was an excellent springboard for conversation. 

Overall, I'm really glad we pressed in so intentionally with them this year. I believe we'll continue to work with them in the years to come, perhaps just once a month rather than every week, but this intensive period has been enough to alter our trajectory as a couple and give us both hope for the future. 

If you're looking for someone to help you process your challenges and stress, or just to help navigate the kind of struggles every couple has, I can't think of anyone better. They truly do have a unique approach that's proved enormously valuable for our family.

Jessica

In the midst of our legal separation, my ex-spouse and I found ourselves in an argument that we just couldn’t find resolution on. Out of desperation for a solution, we Facetimed Jonathan and Teresa who then led, guided and supported us through the Aftermath of a Regrettable Incident virtually. 

It was in one of the final stages that my ex-spouse had a huge breakthrough. It was the first time that he connected the dots between his past, and his present. 

It was overwhelming. emotional. painful. beautiful. heartwarming. 

For the first time in years, I could see him. The real him. The him that had been hidden behind closed doors for so long. All of a sudden, he didn’t feel like such a stranger. 

I have never felt more connected to him than I did in that moment. It’s still hard to believe, even to this day, considering how much hatred I had towards him through our separation. 

For us, we sadly waited much too long to ask for the help we needed. Our relationship was past the point of saving. 

But it is for this reason, that I encourage everyone to reach out and ask for the help, support and guidance they need in relationship. Ask early. Don’t wait until it’s too late. 

There’s a whole side of your partner that you’ve yet to connect with. Allow conflict to be the door that guides you there. Healing conflict in a healthy way can bring you closer than you ever could have imagined. 

No matter where you are in the world, I highly recommend working with Jonathan and Teresa. They have heavily influenced my healing journey, and guided me on my path to living love well. And surely, since meeting them, my walls are finally coming down! 

Wendy

Excellent listeners. Skilled to ask questions that lead to understanding what’s underneath the surface.

Teresa is Intuitive, which helps her know which direction to take with us as a couple. Jonathan has the ability to look at a problem from a completely different perspective that we couldn’t see. 

I like the way they communicate with us, extremely empathetic and kind, even though what they’re saying can be painfully honest. I appreciate their honesty. They are relatable, sharing some of their struggles they’ve had. I felt very safe, and understood. 

The help that they’ve given us has been more beneficial than counselling we’ve had in the past.  I’m so grateful for them, they are a rare mix of skilled communication, empathy, and brilliance when it comes to coaching couples or individuals. 

About | Method | Checkup | FAQ | Fees | Stories