I specialize in helping couples improve their connection and communication. Here are some common questions people have about my relationship therapy services. I hope this is helpful in assessing whether my services may be a good fit for your needs.
Rates
My rates are $250 for 50-minute individual therapy sessions and $350 for sessions for relationship and family therapy. I do not take insurance but I am happy to provide a super bill for my services.
I also offer immersion relationship therapy - currently, this is the only service I am offering to clients, I am not able to take new weekly clients at this time. Learn more about my immersion relationship therapy services here.
Frequency
At the end of our first consultation session, if we decide to work together, I might suggest that I schedule an individual session with each of you so that I can better understand your individual needs and be sensitive your personal history. Typically after the solo sessions (or immediately, if we decide solo sessions are not needed), we typically all three meet together for future sessions. I prefer that we start with more intensive (longer) appointments in order to move into the core issues that need to be addressed to help facilitate change, and then determine what "dosage" of a follow-up plan would best fit your unique situation.
I find that intensive therapy sessions (3-6 hours with breaks) can be an amazing way to facilitate openness, awareness and options for change that often take twice as long as shorter and less frequent sessions. If working more immersively like this is of interest to you, let's talk about that as part of our plan.
Duration
As in deciding frequency, together we would decide on what length of therapy is right for you, with each of you as the ultimate guide for what is the right amount to meet your relationships goals. If there is not a long history of hurt or betrayal, I find that after 20 to 24 joint sessions, many couples feel they have more skills and a better understanding of difficult patterns in their relationship (as well strategies for how to deal with those patterns). Twenty-four to thirty sessions is the typical course of treatment for most couples therapy modalities that have been researched to show effectiveness. However, when there are more complicated relationship dynamics or deeper injuries that need healing, some couples stay in therapy for much longer. Again, this is a choice we would explore together and that you determine what is best for you.
Style of Therapy
In my practice, I use a variety of evidence-based therapy methods in my work with couples, such as: Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), Gottman Method™ Couples Therapy, as well as Mindfulness techniques to help clients regulate physiology during periods of intense emotion or conflict. The primary philosophical foundation that I use is Bob and Rita Resnick’s Model of Coupling partnered with a phenomenological framework. The largest challenge most couples face is "dealing with difference", in particular engaging with their partner's different worldview and different ways of being. As part of the Gottman Method and the EFT treatment models, I video record all of my sessions to improve my skills and to help me provide you with better therapy. If recording is a concern, please address this before scheduling. If you have any questions about my methodology or how I work, I welcome your email or call.
Typical issues that couples counseling can help you with:
Poor communication that leads to escalated conflict, avoidance, or both
Aloneness, isolation within the relationship
Unresolved conflict
Having a passionless relationship
Infidelity
Anger
Conflict about child-rearing
Conflict about sex or sexuality
Blended families
Premarital or preventative couples counseling. This is for newer couples who are devoted to each other and wish to either stop bad habits before they cause damage and/or learn skills to deal well with differences and the ups and downs of long term commitment
What couples typically achieve in couples counseling:
The delicate art of balancing your needs for autonomy and connection
Improved communication - feeling heard, understood, and staying close
When feeling hurt, the refractory period shortens, meaning less time fighting and more time being friends
Resources I find useful when working with couples:
