becoming relational
“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I’ll meet you there.”
Couple Therapy
(Not currently accepting new couple clients.)
Coming into couple therapy is a vulnerable space, one in which we can recognize holds many truths. As you consider this option for your relationship, it’s important to know that I hold space for all realities to be seen and heard. In couple therapy, there are often three realities in the room - your’s, your partner’s, and mine. What you experience in your relationship may differ from your partner, recognizing this may also be a source of healing.
Together, we build comfort and trust in the room as we identify key symptoms and issues arising in your personal and mutual experiences with one another. We talk through relevant information about mental health and options for interventions as well as assess readiness for couples work. Research shows us that untreated mental health issues are a limitation to effective couple therapy, it is highly recommended and encouraged that each of you also be actively participating in regular individual therapy in tandem with couple work.
As we begin work together, it is common to meet with each partner of the relationship individually, at times for multiple sessions, to develop an understanding and perspective of your relational dynamics. This is essential for gathering information, accessing underlying material, and appropriately supporting change in your patterns of interaction.
Identifying areas of discomfort and cultivating feelings of acceptance or neutrality welcomes stability necessary for deeper work to take place. Exploring core beliefs and fears, narratives and meaning making, and patterns of behavior that challenge your connection, intimacy, and trust will allow for shifting to come into perspective. We have no ability to force individuals to change, this is also where couple therapy and individual therapy can offer greater capacity for clarity in moving forward. It’s common for there to be communication between providers for this reason and we discuss this in your care as well.
Over time, we reflect on major shifts in your relationship and perspective with one another. We may notice a strengthened sense of Self in the partnership and the ability to show up for one another in the way that you decide. I hold no preconceived notion of how your relationship is to be and you hold all authority of choosing how your relationship evolves.
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A healing and trusting relationship with your therapist that provides space for self-exploration, development of reality, and validation of lived experience.
A partnership for defining your goals and getting clear on action steps to achieve them.
A fully present mental health professional who cares for you.
A safe, non-shaming, inclusive space in a private, professional setting.
Gentle self-discovery, understanding, clarity, and connection.
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An open mind and willingness to learn about yourself, your relationships, and your behaviors.
A readiness for change and accountability for yourself.
Active participation in honest conversation and expression of your lived experience.
Effort outside of scheduled sessions to engage in self-awareness and mindfulness practices.
Self-compassion to explore unfamiliar emotions, discomfort, and harmful patterns of behavior.
Commitment to the therapeutic partnership and trust in the process.
To honor and abide by agency policies and payment for services. This includes sharing any complaints, issues, concerns, or questions up-front as soon as they arise.
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To take a gentle approach as we uncover areas of personal pain and suffering.
To ask uncomfortable questions at times. I would rather ask and possibly offend you than never ask and possibly never allow space for you live in your true authentic self.
I will tell you the truth.
I will honor your boundaries.
To sit with you through hard moments, hold space for big emotions, accept you for who you are, and celebrate your uniqueness.
To be committed to continued learning and professional evolution in therapeutic practice. This includes techniques and modalities, areas of interest, and theoretical frameworks to enrich our work.
To stay aligned within my field of knowledge and redirect you for areas that are not within my scope.
Scheduling and Consistency
Your first session is a 90-minute appointment during which we review your pre-submitted intake paperwork, discuss your goals and needs, and talk about the structure of our work together. All consecutive sessions, you have the option of 50 or 80-minute appointments.
It is highly recommended to plan for weekly to bi-weekly 80-minute sessions with couple therapy. Weekly sessions are strongly encouraged for the first three to six months to establish a foundation of care, cohesion, and development of resources to begin shifting in your relationship and life.
Additionally, it is common and recommended to plan for individual sessions with me at the beginning of our work together in couple therapy so that I may gain perspective and understanding to effectively support each of you in our work. I offer routine scheduling options for consistency and ease of planning.
