Couples & Relationship Therapy

Relationships Are Complex. Your Therapist Should Get That.

If you're looking for a couples therapist, you've probably already noticed that most of them operate from a pretty narrow framework: two people, monogamous, heterosexual, and struggling with "communication issues." And while communication is almost always part of the picture, relationships are so much more nuanced than that, especially when your relationship doesn't fit the conventional mold.

In my practice, I work with couples and relationship groups of all identities, orientations, and configurations. Monogamous, polyamorous, open, consensually non-monogamous, kink-involved, or still figuring it out. All are welcome here. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, an AASECT member, and a queer therapist with deep experience navigating the unique dynamics that arise in non-traditional partnerships. You won't need to explain what polyamory is or justify your relationship structure before we get to the actual work.

What Brings Couples to Therapy

Every relationship is different, but there are common threads in the work I do with couples and relationships. Here are some of the issues I see most often:

Communication Breakdown

You love each other, but you can't seem to talk without it turning into an argument, or worse, a cold silence. Maybe one of you shuts down while the other escalates. Maybe you're both so conflict-avoidant that nothing ever gets resolved. I help partners understand their communication patterns, identify the emotions underneath the surface-level fights, and build new ways of connecting that actually feel good.

Trust and Infidelity

Whether it's a betrayal of an agreed-upon boundary, an emotional affair, or a sexual infidelity, breaches of trust can shatter the foundation of a relationship. Recovery is possible, but it requires honest and difficult work from everyone involved. I provide a structured, compassionate space to process the pain, understand what happened, and if both partners choose it, to rebuild trust on a more authentic foundation.

Intimacy and Desire

Desire discrepancy is one of the most common issues in long-term relationships, and it's one of the most shame-laden. Whether you're navigating differences in sexual desire, struggling to maintain emotional intimacy, or feeling disconnected from your relationship in ways you can't quite articulate, I help couples explore what intimacy means to them, not what you’ve been told it should look like.

Navigating Non-Monogamy

Opening a relationship, managing jealousy, establishing boundaries, negotiating time and emotional energy across multiple partnerships are all real challenges that deserve real therapeutic support. Whether you're newly exploring non-monogamy or have been practicing it for years, I offer a knowledgeable, non-judgmental space to work through the relational complexities that come with it.

Life Transitions

When you reach a new stage in life, sometimes the way you related to each other in one phase of life doesn't translate to the next. Major life transitions, like moving in together, getting married, having kids, career changes, loss, and aging, can strain a relationship. I help couples renegotiate their partnership as their lives evolve, so that growth brings you closer rather than pulling you apart.

My Approach

I draw from multiple evidence-based modalities, including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, and attachment theory, while staying attuned to the specific needs and dynamics of each unique relationship. My approach is warm but direct. I’ll call out patterns I see, ask the hard questions, and hold space for the messy emotions that come with relational work.

I also bring a trauma-informed lens to couples therapy. So often, the "stuck" patterns in a relationship are rooted in much older wounds. Attachment injuries, family-of-origin dynamics, or unprocessed trauma often gets activated in intimate relationships. When appropriate, I integrate EMDR and somatic approaches to help partners understand not just what they're doing, but why.

Importantly, I'm not here to take sides or assign blame. My role is to support the relationship system in whatever form it takes, and to help everyone involved feel heard, understood, and empowered to create the partnership they actually want.

What to Expect

In our first session, I'll meet with all partners together. I want to hear each person's perspective on what's happening in the relationship, what's working, and what feels stuck. I'll ask about your history both as a couple and individually, because understanding how you got here is essential to figuring out where you want to go.

From there, I often schedule individual sessions with each partner to get a fuller picture before we dive into joint work. This is standard practice and helps me understand each person's inner world without the pressure of the other partner(s) in the room.

Is This Right for You?

Couples therapy with me might be a good fit if:

1. You're stuck in the same arguments and can't seem to break the cycle
2. You've experienced a betrayal or breach of trust and want to explore whether and how to repair it
3. You feel disconnected from your partner(s) either emotionally, sexually, or both
4. You're navigating a major life transition and it's straining the relationship
5. You're exploring or practicing non-monogamy and want support from a therapist who understands it
6. You want a kink-affirming therapist who won't pathologize your sexual expression
7. You're considering whether to stay in or leave the relationship and need a neutral space to explore that
8. You want a therapist who works with all relationship structures without treating yours as exotic or unusual

If you're ready to start or even if you're just curious about what couples therapy looks like, book a free 15-minute consultation. It's a chance for us to connect and see if I'm the right fit for your relationship.