Couples & Marriage Counseling in Lafayette, CA
Couples come to therapy at all kinds of moments — after a crisis, during a slow erosion of connection, before a major life decision, or simply because they want to invest in the relationship before things deteriorate. All of those are legitimate reasons to come.
My work with couples focuses on the patterns underneath the surface arguments. Most couples who are struggling are not fighting about what they think they are fighting about. There are usually older, deeper dynamics at play — around attachment, communication, unspoken expectations, and the different ways people learned to handle conflict and closeness growing up.
I work with married couples, engaged couples, and long-term partners. I also work with couples navigating particular cultural and religious dimensions of their relationship — including couples from different backgrounds, couples managing family pressure around marriage, and couples where faith plays a significant role in their values and expectations.
What brings couples to therapy
Communication breakdown — conversations that escalate or never happen at all
Disconnection and growing distance
Conflict around parenting approaches
Navigating in-law and extended family dynamics
Cultural or religious differences between partners
Recovering from betrayal or breach of trust
Premarital counseling and preparing for marriage
Major transitions: a new baby, relocation, career change, loss