Couples Counseling in California, Illinois, & Florida

Couples sessions typically last 90 minutes. This allows enough time for both partners to fully participate in the conversation and for us to work through issues in a meaningful way.

No. My role is not to decide who is right or wrong.

Instead, I help both partners understand each other’s experiences, identify patterns that are creating distress, and develop new ways of interacting that strengthen the relationship.

It’s very common for one partner to feel unsure at first. Many people worry that therapy will turn into blame or criticism.

Couples therapy is designed to help both partners feel heard and respected, and the goal is always to improve the relationship—not to judge either person.

Couples counseling may not be appropriate in certain situations.

For example:

• Ongoing domestic violence or physical safety concerns

• Active substance abuse that is not being addressed

• One partner is currently involved in an ongoing affair and unwilling to end it

• One partner has already decided to leave the relationship and is unwilling to work on it

• Severe untreated mental health conditions that require individual stabilization first

In these situations, individual therapy or specialized treatment may be more appropriate before beginning couples work.

If you’re unsure whether couples therapy is right for your situation, we can discuss that during a consultation.

Many couples come to therapy after feeling disappointed by past counseling experiences. In some cases, previous therapy focused mostly on discussing problems without providing a clear structure or practical tools for change.

My work with couples uses the Gottman Method, a research-based approach that teaches specific skills for improving communication, managing conflict, and rebuilding trust.

In addition, I have specialized training in trauma and PTSD, which can be especially important when relationships have been affected by experiences such as:

• Affairs or betrayal trauma

• Long-standing emotional wounds

• Chronic conflict that triggers fear or shutdown responses

• Childhood experiences that influence how partners react during disagreements

When trauma is part of the relationship dynamic, partners may experience intense emotional or nervous system reactions that make communication much harder. My approach helps couples understand these responses and develop tools to regulate them so conversations can become safer and more productive.

Many couples find that addressing both relationship skills and underlying trauma responses creates progress that wasn’t possible in previous counseling.

Yes. In addition to weekly couples therapy, I offer weekend couples intensives for partners who want to make meaningful progress more quickly.

These are focused therapy sessions lasting 1–3 days, designed to help couples work through important issues without waiting weeks between sessions.

Intensives can be especially helpful if you:

• Feel stuck in the same conflict patterns

• Want to rebuild trust after an affair or betrayal

• Are in a period of high relationship stress

• Have busy schedules that make weekly therapy difficult

• Prefer to address issues in a more concentrated, immersive way

During an intensive, we spend extended time together working through communication patterns, emotional triggers, and practical relationship skills. This format allows us to move beyond surface-level discussions and address the deeper dynamics that often keep couples feeling stuck.

Many couples appreciate the opportunity to step away from daily routines and focus fully on their relationship in a structured, supportive environment.

Couples therapy can be done either in person or online.

Many couples appreciate the convenience of online sessions, especially when balancing work schedules, childcare, or living in different locations. I offer secure telehealth sessions through HIPAA-compliant video software, allowing you to participate from the comfort and privacy of your own home.

Online couples therapy is available to clients located in Illinois, California, and Florida, where I am licensed to practice.

Both online and in-person sessions follow the same structured approach and are equally effective for many couples. If you’re unsure which format would work best for you, we can discuss options during a consultation.

The first step is to schedule a free consultation. During this call we can briefly discuss your concerns, answer questions, and determine whether couples counseling is a good fit.