Great Couples Counseling in Mercer Island, WA. Therapy to heal relationships.

Try relationship coaching! You can have support and guidance in order to enhance your relationship or learn how to have a healthy and fulfilling relationship. Experience the power of having an open dialogue as we work on communication. Coaching with me can facilitate the connection you two have and help you have a more loving and joyful relationship.

Relationships are complicated, to say the least. Even healthy relationships experience moments of doubt and hardship. I’ve helped couples overcome a wide-range of issues including mistrust, infidelity, guilt, poor communication, intimacy issues, and life changes. Building a life with someone is difficult. Sometimes it helps to have a mediator who can offer unbiased support and guidance. We’ll talk about your concerns, needs, and future goals. If you’re thinking about counseling, then there’s still hope. You obviously care deeply about your partner. I can offer help undoing negative patterns and behaviors so the both of you can build a happy future together.

The couple relationship is a dynamic, challenging landscape that requires communication, understanding, and commitment to navigate. Whether you are looking to improve an already healthy relationship or confronting painful issues that have led you to the brink of divorce, I can work with you and your partner to find the most growth and healing possible in your situation.

Do you or your partner suffer from social anxiety and it's affecting your relationship? Social anxiety is a fear of negative judgment from others and it can lead to reduced levels of intimacy, suppressed emotions, feelings of isolation and loneliness and lack of communication. If one or both of you feels anxious socially, your relationship may be suffering too. Contact me for ways in which you can move past social anxiety to a fuller, intimate, richer, relaxed more authentic relationship.

I specialize in working with couples on their relationships issues, and I am certified in a Couples Communication Program. I work with couples on issues such as: Communication Barriers, Intimacy Issues, Restoring Trust, Infidelity Issues (including sex addiction and internet pornography), Developing Healthy Boundaries, and Preparing for Marriage / Premarital Counseling.

Couples come with all sorts of problems. Maybe there's no sex in your life (or not enough). Maybe there's been infidelity (or one or both of you is considering it or suspecting it). Maybe you find it difficult to talk with one another. Maybe it's in-laws or your partner's friends that don't quite mesh well with you. Regardless of what the problem is, I can help you reignite the passion in your life for one another. Come talk to me.

As couples counselors we utilize counseling theories from Dr. John Gottman, Dr. David Schnarch, and Dr. Sue Johnson all of which feature very different approaches to couples work - conflict de-escalation, differentiation and attachment. Depending on the couple we may borrow from one theory more than other. Our goal in therapy with couples is to be a third ear in the conversation and to help encourage my clients to say the things they need to say to their partner. We may begin to point out to areas where one partner may not be hearing the other well. In all cases we try to help clients listen to each other.

Every couple is unique- what works for some, does not work for all. In a nonjudgmental and non-pathologizing space, I help couples of all kinds to create the relationship that will meet both partner's needs. Through thoughtful, heartfelt and insightful discussions, we will arrive together at the model that works best for you and your relationship, and together we can resolve old wounds to help you come together again to support one another with love and kindness.

Relationships are difficult and many relationships can be healed if given the opportunity. I believe in addressing core issues in a relationship that address the couple itself. Why is the couple acting in this cycle and what can I do to help you identify your cycle and find a healthy way of interacting. I draw much of my work from Dr. John Gottman's research on healthy relationships and am not afraid of giving frank feedback when I feel couples are being verbally or emotionally abusive to each other. I believe in setting clear boundaries so couples learn to fight fairly so both sides can communicate their needs with each other without feeling shamed, degraded, or criticized.

Our work together encourages open and honest relating • increases listening without judgement and speaking without anger • decreases fighting, bickering and cold shoulders • enhances intimacy, sexuality and satisfaction • dissolves hurtful and dysfunctional patterns of behavior. The process is available to anyone willing to invest time and energy. All that is required is an open mind.

I'm trained as an Individual Therapist and have lots of experience providing family therapy, including Family Systems training for nonprofit organizations. I've provided marriage preparation counselling for a Church. I enjoy working with couples to improve communication and achieve goals. It is an honour to participate in helping two people create a beautiful relationship.

You don't have to be on the brink of break up to get guidance from a professional; it takes consistent effort to maintain a healthy relationship, and it's normal to feel a bit lost when pinpointing exactly how to do that. Therapy provides a safe, responsive place to discuss issues and concerns. Our therapists help couples develop healthier means of relating, use effective tools in communication & restructure a strong foundation for their relationship to flourish.