Is Your Relationship Struggling?

Are you and your partner fighting more frequently? Do you feel like you're drifting apart? Has a secret or a betrayal rocked your faith in the one you love? If so, couples therapy can help.

In couples therapy, you and your partner can work to:

• Improve communication: Learn effective speaking and listening skills to express your needs and understand your partner's perspective.
• Resolve conflicts: Develop healthy ways to manage disagreements and find common ground.
• Strengthen emotional connections: Deepen your emotional bond and create a stronger foundation for your relationship.
• Address underlying issues: Explore the root causes of relationship problems and develop strategies for healing.

As a licensed marriage and family therapist with over a decade of experience, I believe that strong relationships are an essential foundation for joy, meaning, and good mental health. I’ve seen time and again how, with the professional support of a skilled therapist, even couples who seem on the brink of breaking up can strengthen their relationship, co-parent more effectively, and adapt to new life situations.

My Approach:

In my work with couples, I use Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT), a research-backed, empirically validated form of therapy for couples that was created by Dr. Sue Johnson in the 1980s. Many studies have found it to be the most effective couples therapy to date. EFCT focuses on de-escalating negative interaction patterns, and then helping you identify and navigate around blocks to trust and emotional safety with your partner.

What to Expect:

• The Assessment Phase: I will meet with you and your partner, either in person or online (as long as you’re in the state of California) for two to three sessions. We’ll talk about your history as a couple, your struggles, and your goals. We’ll also talk about who you are as individuals and if your goals for your relationship are aligned.
• The De-escalation Phase: We will meet regularly and will begin to talk through the details of your situation. When conflicts arise, we’ll slow things down to identify the underlying, often unspoken emotional needs and fears that are fueling the conflicts. This will help us begin to see how miscommunications and stuck points occur. 
• The Change Phase: I will help you and your partner engage with each other in different, more vulnerable ways. This helps reduce confusion and misunderstanding and helps enhance the likelihood that you can each be there to support one another during life’s hard moments.
• The Consolidation Phase: We review the new things that are working and talk about how to maintain your positive progress without regular therapy.

How Long Does the Process Take?

The initial assessment process typically takes two to three sessions. After that, it’s best to attend couples therapy sessions weekly or every other week to see progress. You should expect to see improved communication with your partner after about three to six total months of couples therapy. 

There are sometimes special circumstances that require a slower process. If you or your partner are struggling with addiction, major mental health challenges, or unresolved trauma, then you may need a bit more time in sessions before you can expect things to feel better. Also, if there has been a betrayal of trust, such as an affair, then therapy may need to proceed with more care at first as you learn to trust each other again and make amends for any transgressions.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Contact me today to strengthen your relationship and create a happier, more fulfilling life with the person you love.