Couples & relationship therapy

I work with adult couples and relationships of all genders, sexual-orientations, and relationship statuses. I focus on the connections between people, while exploring the individual and relational dynamics at play. Working with affects like love, joy and excitement are just as valuable as working through the more challenging emotions and conflicts that arise in relationships; this can be difficult, however, if a couple has gone a long time without feeling these more positive affects with or towards one another. Through intentional communication techniques, explicit communication, and accessing core emotions, we can work through what is showing up on the surface. The surface symptoms may look like patterns or cycles of arguments that seem to repeat on end. There can be deep hurt from past harm that just doesn’t seem to go away, or the feeling that the wellbeing of the relationship is all on one person’s shoulders. I also offer pre marital/pre long-term-commitment counseling, addressing specific goals of the relationship as well as looking at value systems and long-term issues the relationship may face later on.

 I take a systemic, whole-person in-context (of society, culture, and the relationship) approach to my work. Input from you on how we work together and where we go with that work is a huge part of our process. I openly acknowledge the inherent power dynamic in the therapeutic relationship, and work to shift that into true relational work. We work as a team.

I use Transformative Couples Therapy (formerly Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) for Couples). Within this work, I utilize somatic-based methods such as focusing, sensing and body scanning to help identify core emotions and deeper processes. By moving slowly, paying attention to the felt experience, and engaging in active listening with each other, the relational connection can thrive. The overarching goal for most relationships is to maintain the bond between them, especially when they are going through something challenging. When there is a goal of ending a committed relationship, I work with you using the same modalities and structure for the therapeutic relationship, establishing uncoupling goals, boundaries and communication that works for you, depending on your unique life and family situations.