Couples Work

Whether you need to create new patterns of behavior, or just need to refine your skills, I'm available to help you get through the rough times. With individual or couples counseling, we will work together to develop positive relationship skills. A better life is possible for you and the ones you love. I am a solution-focused counselor, which means I help clients set goals for their relationships and help them identify tangible steps toward reaching those goals.

I use a lot of the relationship research education of relationship expert Dr. John Gottman, author of books including "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work" and "The Relationship Cure:A Five Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships." I have completed the Gottman Level I training. I also have found great value in the emotionally focused work of Dr. Sue Johnson and her book, "Hold Me Tight" as well as Dr. Esther Perel’s work including her book, “Mating in Captivity.”

I have helped couples in a variety of situations find more peace, happiness and fulfillment through counseling and education. When you come to me for couples counseling, we will work together to find solutions. I offer traditional, 50 minute sessions as well as full day intensives. The intensive work allows us to dive deep into the relationship without the challenge of attempting to wrap things up in a 50-minute session.

We will look at the patterns of communication you were taught from your families of origin and how they lead you toward success or failure in your current relationships. I look at our time together as a co-creation of what you want to achieve in therapy, which depends upon what you bring in to each session. We focus on what you want to achieve.

I don't have a "one size fits all" approach to couples counseling. Instead, I listen carefully to what each couple brings to each session. Through hearing what is important to each party, I help you get where you want to go, regardless of tool or technique. I enjoy working with all different types of relationships including same-sex relationships, polyamorous and open relationships, and non-monogamous relationships. Together we explore conflict resolution, healthy communication around difficult issues, rebuilding trust, and emotional and sexual intimacy.

My approach to therapy includes SFBT techniques. These techniques focus on your best hopes for yourself and those you love, and looks at what is working in your life instead of concentrating on what is not working. However serious your problems are, we can work together to identify what does and what will help you get to where you want to be. At the very least, we can work to identify the coping skills that are assisting you in keeping your head above water. We all have wisdom to generate solutions to our problems but sometimes we forget our own power. I can help your rediscover what you might have once known about who you truly are. In our counseling sessions, I will ask thought-provoking questions that aid in remembering your past solutions and help you understand how to use past solutions to handle problems in the future.