Therapy for Couples
Relationships bring out the best and the worst in us. Navigating the space between love and heart-break not only challenges us but can reopen our earliest traumas. Sometimes, our partners become strangers to us. Sometimes, we become strangers to ourselves--numbing out from our feelings or exploding in anger as if out of our bodies. I work with gay and straight, monogamous and polyamorous couples on a wide spectrum of issues. I utilize somatic therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy and AEDP to help individuals find safety, emotional connection, intimacy and passion in their relationships.
Common Issues
Ambivalence
Are you or your partner having difficulty committing to each other? Or perhaps you've made a commitment, but now feel uncertain about your person? Many couples find themselves stuck in relationships marked by indecision and guilt—unable to fully stay or leave. This can be painful for both partners: the one unsure, and the one waiting to be chosen.
I work with ambivalent couples to explore the dynamics at play in the relationship and the attachment wounds that may be keeping each person stuck. It’s important to recognize that both partners are often struggling—not only the one who can’t commit, but also the one who is holding on tightly, hoping for change.
Through therapy, I help couples either build the clarity and strength to separate with compassion, or rediscover the connection and passion needed to make a wholehearted commitment.
Conflict/Communication
Are you surprised by how small disagreements can quickly spiral into big arguments? Do old wounds seem to intensify current conflicts? Maybe you interpret neutral comments as critical or hostile. There are many ways partners unintentionally hurt one another—through words, tone, silence, or body language. Most couples who come to therapy describe these dynamics as “communication issues.” But often, what’s happening runs deeper.
In my work with individuals and couples, I help identify whether conflict stems from differing communication styles or from deeper, unresolved emotional wounds. Reactivity is often tied to earlier experiences—trauma from childhood, past relationships, or attachment injuries.
Together, we work to loosen the grip of emotional triggers and build internal stability—the foundation for open and heartfelt communication. I support couples in creating a safe space to express their true feelings, feel heard, and reconnect. Individuals learn to recognize and interrupt escalation patterns, and to speak in ways that foster trust, closeness, and understanding.
Broken Trust/Cheating
Whether in monogamous or open relationships, partners sometimes step outside the bounds of their agreements. One partner feels betrayed, while the other offers explanations—or doesn’t. “We never clearly defined the rules.” “You weren’t meeting my needs.” “You’ve cheated too.” “It didn’t mean anything.” Or, “I fell in love.”
In the wake of broken trust, how do you move forward?
Healing from betrayal—or facing one's urge to stray—is a deeply personal process that often involves both relational and individual work in tandem within the sessions. I work with each partner to redefine the relationship they hope to rebuild and to foster compassion for each other and themselves. Together, we create a safe and respectful space to explore the deeper emotional and relational needs, access grief and tap into each person's resilience and confidence. Couples develop the capacity to forgive, rebuild trust, and imagine a new path forward—whether that means recommitting or redefining the relationship.