For better or worse, relationships are among the most important ingredients in life. When a relationship is bad, the stress is literally corrosive. When a relationship is strong, few things are more meaningful.
Reactions happen quickly; attitudes and feelings polarize, leading to tension or disconnection. In many ways, you’re not just interacting in the present — the past is in the mix as well. There is no way to remove these tensions — but there are ways to work through them to improved empathy, communication, and connection.
(*I write ‘couples (etc)’ above because the couples therapy process works for business partners, bandmates, friends, parent/child, triads, squares, etc.)
I work with couples (and other relationship forms) who want to cooperate towards a shared reality that is meaningful, alive, and connected (or appropriately disconnected as in the deliberate decision to separate or divorce).
Informed by Emotion Focused Therapy and Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy, my assumption is that all relationship problems are opportunities to learn and grow. These challenges are always productive, if attended to well. If you choose to stay in the relationship, you choose to be responsible for your own growth and to support the growth of your partner(s).
In that spirit, Couples Therapy sessions are a balance between individual and shared work. We will make use of supplemental one-on-one meetings as needed, so that each individual feels fully engaged and understood. I also draw a fair amount on my experience as a team coach to provide communication coaching and systems (e.g. creative problem-solving or decision making tools).
Common areas of focus include:
closeness and connection
conflict resolution and negotiation
repair of the past
proactive relationship design or re-design (pre-marital or otherwise)
I am available for therapy sessions for Washington State residents via video-conference/phone. In my experience, and according to the research, remote sessions are equally impactful to in person meetings.
I'm a Licensed Psychologist in Washington State: License PY60382108.
Your insurance may cover some/all of my fee as an out-of-network provider.