Couples counseling requires special skills of the therapist.
If you’ve tried couples counseling before and have seen little to no change, or have no clarity about why you’ve stayed stuck, you may have worked with a therapist who trained primarily in individual therapy, which is markedly different from couples therapy. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I provide an interactive, systemic approach that helps individuals and couples get to the heart of their issues, improves the quality of their relationships, and empowers them with the tools necessary for a happy, healthy life.
I am committed to using empirically based methods and strategies to help my clients reach their goals. The techniques I use are informed by the work of Dr. John Gottman, who is world-renowned for his extensive research and model of couples therapy. Drawing on my specialized training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, I’ll provide you with practical tools and concrete solutions to your relationship struggles and concerns. In short, I use what has been proven to work.
Behind every complaint is a deep personal longing.
– John Gottman
Click here for more information about Gottman Method Couples Therapy.
I approach therapy from a systemic perspective.
I have thorough knowledge of family systems theory. I believe that people work in relationship systems, and each individual in the relationship affects the balance of the relationship. As a couples therapist I’ll help you recognize the emotional dance you’ve created with your partner that keeps you stuck in the same toxic communication patterns. I’ll teach you how to communicate and offer a plan for fostering a stable connection between you and your partner. My goal is to help you begin resolving past issues and decrease resentments, allowing you to deepen your friendship and increase your affection for each other.
I am culturally sensitive and work with all kinds of couples.
I incorporate cultural sensitivity into my work to accommodate differences in opinions, values, and attitudes of people from all walks of life. I appreciate and respect issues related to diversity, including age, ethnicity, gender, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, spirituality, and socioeconomic status. See my LGBTQ Couples Counseling page here.
Are you ready for change in your relationship?
When your relationship isn’t working, everything feels more difficult. Anger, fear, guilt, worry, and loneliness keep you from fully enjoying life. Whether you’re facing the crisis of infidelity, having the same arguments with no resolution, feeling disconnected from your partner, or contemplating divorce, I can help. Many couples come to counseling after a major incident or life transition. A new job, the birth of a baby, children leaving the nest, a move, financial issues, infidelity, talk of divorce, or a medical diagnosis are some of the common issues I treat.
How Marriage and Couples Counseling Works
A thorough assessment is key to effective treatment.
Typically, couples’ problems fester over time, so I use the first three sessions to take a thorough relationship history and get each partner’s perspective. Meeting together first and then in separate sessions gives me a more complete picture of your relationship.