Relationship & Couples Therapy

Relationships can be incredibly fulfilling, but they can also be one of the places where we feel the most hurt, misunderstood, or stuck. Sometimes people come to therapy because they keep having the same argument with their partner and don't know how to get out of the cycle. Other times they're navigating a breakup, feeling disconnected in their relationship, questioning whether they want to stay, or noticing that the same patterns continue to show up no matter who they're dating.

I also work with many people who come to therapy on their own, not because they're currently in a relationship, but because they're curious about the relationships they've had and the ones they hope to build in the future.

One of the things I enjoy most about relationship work is slowing these experiences down enough to better understand them. Instead of focusing only on what happened, I'm interested in how each person experienced it. What did you make that interaction mean? What emotions came up? What were you hoping your partner understood? What felt threatening about that moment?

How I approach relational challenges

When I work with individuals or couples, I'm not looking for someone to blame or trying to determine who was "right." Most of the time, both people are reacting to something much deeper than the topic they're arguing about. Maybe one partner experiences distance as rejection while the other experiences conflict as overwhelming and shuts down. Maybe one person has learned that asking for their needs leads to disappointment, while the other has learned to become overly responsible for everyone else's emotions.

These patterns usually don't appear out of nowhere. They're often shaped by our families, past relationships, cultural experiences, attachment histories, and the ways we've learned to protect ourselves over time. Understanding those patterns doesn't excuse hurtful behavior, but it can help us approach ourselves and each other with more curiosity and compassion. Once we understand the cycle we're caught in, it becomes much easier to create something different.

Why I use an integrative model

People often ask what type of therapy I practice, and the honest answer is that it depends on what you need.

Some couples benefit from learning practical communication skills. Others find themselves wanting to understand why conflict feels so activating in the first place. Sometimes we'll explore family-of-origin dynamics or attachment patterns that continue to influence your relationship today. Other times, unresolved trauma or anxiety may be making it difficult to feel emotionally present or connected.

Rather than using the same approach with everyone, I integrate different therapeutic modalities—including psychodynamic therapy, attachment-based work, EMDR, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman Method interventions, mindfulness, and somatic approaches—to meet you where you are.

My goal isn't simply to help you communicate better. It's to help you understand yourselves and each other more deeply so that communication, trust, and connection can begin to feel different naturally.

Therapy with me

I tend to be an active therapist. I'll ask questions, notice patterns, and share observations that you may not have considered before. At times I'll challenge you, and at other times I'll simply sit with you in something difficult. Therapy with me isn't about giving advice or telling you how your relationship should look. It's about creating a space where we can become curious together about what's happening, why it's happening, and what change might look like.

I also don't think therapy has to feel overly clinical. Some sessions are emotional. Some are reflective. Some involve laughter. My hope is that our work feels authentic enough that you don't have to worry about saying the "right" thing or presenting the "best" version of yourself.

Whether we're working together as a couple or individually, my goal is to help you build relationships that feel more intentional, connected, and aligned with the kind of life you want to create. My offices are conveniently located in Studio City and Santa Monica, making in-person therapy accessible for clients throughout the San Fernando Valley and Westside, including Sherman Oaks, Toluca Lake, Valley Village, Burbank, Encino, Brentwood, Venice, Mar Vista, Culver City, West LA, and Marina del Rey. I also provide telehealth therapy throughout California