Here you are, looking into couples' counseling! Depending on where you're at in life, this might feel anywhere 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- I want to be clear that relationships of all sizes and shapes are welcome in my practice. 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.
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.