Our relationships are where we experience the joys of happiness, laughter, love and the positive vulnerability of emotional intimacy. These great depths of connection also often become the place where hurt, anger, confusion, and fear emerge and express. Often these emotions can leave us feeling lonely, wounded, and/or despondent.

Couples counseling helps create space where the charged issues in relationships can be explored in an emotionally safe manner. It is also a place where friendship, romance, physical and emotional intimacy, and communication can be nurtured and revived within your relationship. Our relationships are living entities that thrive on the positive time and efforts we put into them.

It's the small things done often that make the difference. - John Gottman, PhD

As individuals, we bring differences of wants, needs, and perception to all of our encounters. Therefore, understanding your partners perspective is essential to managing the moments of conflict that are bound to be present between two individuals. Couples counseling teaches tools to manage conflict with healthy expression and understanding of each others dreams within the conflict. Threats of divorce, infidelity or cheating betrayals, substance abuse, fighting, anxiety, and emotional withdrawal are all challenging issues that can emerge within relationships. And with guidance and support, these are also challenges that can be navigated and often healed within relationships.

Conflict is an opportunity to learn to love our partner better over time. - Julie Gottman, PhD

I am extensively trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and currently pursuing certification to be able to train other therapist in these research based interventions and therapeutic framework. This approach to couples counseling is based on over 40 years of rigorous research with happy and unhappy couples. It looks at the role of perception, biology, and behavioral interactions have in the quality of successful relationships. Gottman Method Couples counseling provides a structure and framework through which we will navigate the communication skills, trust, conflict management, and affection within your relationship. During our time, we will also be reviving and strengthening your friendship and emotional intimacy.

Couples counseling sessions begin with a joint session, followed by a take home research based assessments, and an individual session culminating in a feedback session where we look at the strengths of your relationship and where the opportunities for growth lay. From here we will begin the healing journey of your couples counseling. Each couples session is 80-minutes in length to provide space to honor each of your perspectives.

I provide counseling to couples of all levels of commitment, relationship structure, and beliefs. Including: married, life partners, dating, LGBTQ, polyamorous, and all facets of religious/ spiritual foundation.