Counseling for Couples
Are you tired of having the same fight over and over?
Have you lost your romantic and or intimate connection?
Couples therapy can assist you both in finding new ways to reconnect that match your unique love story
Reaching For Connection With Each Other
If you have been in a long term relationship or marriage, you know very well that relationships have highs and lows. When you are experiencing a low point as a couple, it is common to view your partner as the problem.
Using the John and Julie Gottman Approach
I will be utilizing the Gottman Method during our couple therapy sessions. The Gottman Method was developed by two nationally recognized psychologists Drs John and Julie Gottman. Over the last 40 years , Drs John and Julie Gottman developed scientifically proven techniques that have helped more than 100,000 couples (Gottman Institute).
Questions Couples Often Ask
What is your specialty in working with couples?
I enjoy working with couples from cross cultural backgrounds and various sexual orientations. LGBTQ+ I specialize in affair and betrayal recovery. For couples who are considering Ethically Non-Monogamous Relationships (ENM), I start with the Relationship Checkup to insure that their current partnership is strong in the areas of friendship, conflict management, and honest communication sessions.
What is Gottman Relationship Checkup?
The first step of the Gottman Method is for me to conduct a comprehensive couple assessment which includes interviews and an online tool; the next step is for me to offer you as a couple a series of effective research based interventions based on your unique relationship needs based on your assessment results.
How is Relationship Checkup used in couples counseling?
I will share a written summary of the Relationship Checkup with you and we will review it in detail together. Then, we will collaborate to set appropriate, behavioral goals to meet your relationship needs and wishes. After the assessment feedback session, I use the Gottman interventions with standard handouts in counseling session and demonstrate new ways to connect with each other for more understanding.
How do couples use Gottman approach?
Starting couples therapy is the first step towards making changes. All it takes is a willingness to look at yourself and your relationship in a new way; an openness to learning new tools for connection which we will practice in the therapy sessions. Learning to disagree in healthy ways is a common goal for many couples that contact me. A typical pattern for a couple is to engage in the “blaming and defending” style during conflict. I teach couples to understand each other’s subjective experience during a conflict and then learn to make a sincere apology to each other.
I have completed the Level 2 Training
in Gottman Method Couples Therapy in January 2019.
Couples who are dealing with the aftermath of an affair
Those who are in crisis or a frequently fighting with they partners
Affair Recovery
You may identify with couples who are all striving for a deeper connection with each other in the midst of a crisis. Repairing the damage done after an affair is possible if both individuals are wiling. Esther Perel states in this video: “Good can come out of an affair.” She defines an affair as containing these three elements: a secretive relationship, an emotional connection, and sexual alchemy. Besides being a betrayal, one aspect of an affair is the longing for emotional connection or aliveness.
An affair does not mean separation or divorce. Often couples jump to this negative conclusion because they do not know how to recover on their own. These couples realize they are in need of immediate help which is a good sign.
Individuals and couples who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ)
LGBT Issues
First of all, this is time to acknowledge that our current socio-political environment outside of the San Francisco Bay Area is challenging for sexual minorities.
In working with lesbain, bisexual, gay, and transgender clients, I understand the role of stigma in the LBGT experience as a sexual minority. As with all my clients, I create a sense of a safety net for the individual in the counseling session. I am aware that my lesbian, bisexual, gay or transgender clients are the expert on their subgroup culture. Affirming their sexual orientation, I provide supportive counseling to reach their fullest potential.
“I think being gay is a blessing, and it’s something I am thankful for every single day.” ~ Anderson Cooper
Hybrid Model of Psychotherapy
Video sessions and/or in person sessions
For individuals using short-term therapy
For couples utilizing the Gottman Method of Couples Therapy
LYRA HEALTH PROVIDER
For employees covered under Lyra Health — no cost for therapy sessions
Individual and couples therapy
I provide clinically appropriate short-term therapy using evidence-based treatment to clients.
Clients in crisis may call 877.505.7147.