Here you are, looking into couples' counseling! Depending on where you're at in life, this might feel like anything from super normal to totally terrifying. Let's cover a few bases and see if I might be a good fit for your needs. 

Common reasons I see couples for counseling: 

• Building communication skills

• Mental health challenges in one or both partners

• Processing a recent difficult event, including infidelity

• Making a challenging decision

• Discernment counseling: deciding whether to stay together

• Coming to terms with a shifting identity in one or both partners (e.g. coming out, new diagnosis)

• Parenting challenges: while I support parents with children of any age, I have a special focus on parents of teens

• Addressing power imbalances, discrimination, and oppression, whether external or inside the relationship

• Sexual connection, boundaries, and intimacy

• Kink

Sometimes use the word "couple" on my site, because it is what's commonly used- and I want to be clear that relationships of all sizes and shapes are welcome in my practice (read more about my work with polyamory here). Many of the relationships I see are LGBTQIA+, fat, interracial, and/or interabled. You are so, so welcome here, and it's my life's work to provide truly high quality therapy to everyone. 

I primarily use Emotion-Focused Therapy in my work with couples. This approach is evidence-based and rooted in attachment theory. I also have training in the Gottman Method (Level 1). Sometimes I will draw from other evidence-based strategies, when called for. Read more about my approach on my FAQ page. 

Logistical notes:

I do relationship sessions for 70 minutes as I find the longer session time allows a fuller experience. I have flexed this for specific situations e.g. clients who have young children. Please feel free to reach out and ask; in these cases I have billed a prorated fee.

It is my custom to do a 70min intake session with all members present, the next week do separate 50min individual assessment sessions, and finally rejoin for treatment moving forward. Occasionally I will do one-off individual sessions if clinically appropriate and agreed upon by all members.