Marital and Couples Therapy in Albany, CA

Marital and couples therapy provides a safe and supportive space for couples to strengthen their relationship, improve communication, resolve conflict, and build greater emotional safety, connection, and trust.

At the beginning of the therapy process, I conduct a thoughtful assessment of the couple’s relationship dynamics, attachment experiences, family background, and goals for therapy. Some couples come to therapy because their relationship feels “okay” but they sense something is missing and want to deepen their connection and intimacy. Others seek therapy because their relationship feels strained, disconnected, or emotionally painful and they need support navigating challenges and repairing injuries within the relationship. Some couples may also come to therapy uncertain about the future of their relationship and wanting greater clarity about their goals and desires moving forward.

Couples often seek therapy to improve communication, find healthier ways of navigating disagreements and conflict, increase emotional and physical intimacy, strengthen friendship and fondness, and better understand each other’s emotional needs and experiences. Couples may also struggle with issues related to sex, finances, jealousy, infidelity, parenting, illness, in-laws, or major life transitions.

While resolving problems is important, couples also need to learn how to emotionally attune to and regulate one another during moments of stress and conflict. When couples become emotionally overwhelmed or dysregulated, communication often breaks down and one or both partners may shut down, withdraw, become reactive, or leave the interaction entirely. Over time, repeated unresolved conflicts and emotional injuries can create increased insecurity, misunderstanding, emotional distance, and loss of safety within the relationship.

Marital and couples therapy helps couples learn healthier ways of responding to one another so they can work through difficulties while maintaining emotional safety, connection, and security within the relationship.

My goal is to help couples cultivate a relationship characterized by lasting affection, trust, emotional intimacy, and secure functioning.