Healthy intimate relationships are at the core of happy human functioning. Despite the pressure in our culture to be strong independent individuals, our healthy biological functioning depends on our empathic, intimate connections with others. We are truly dependent on other humans for our bodies and minds to function effectively. Thus, the strong desire for successful and meaningful relationships, via a committed intimate partner, strong bonds with our parents and/or children  or via friendships, community, and extended family, is an instinctual part of our nature. Given this, it is no surprise that many of our most challenging times are those in which our relationships are not functioning in a fulfilling manner.

Therefore, whether I am working with a couple or an individual struggling with relationship issues, I work to support the need for, and experience of, healthy relationship. In our work together we will use your current daily relational struggles and successes as windows into your patterns within relationship. We will look to understand your automatic ways of responding and acting in relationship and work to uncover which of these are nourishing and which are not serving you. From this place of deep looking we can develop new strategies for relational interactions that better meet your relationship desires.

When I am working with a couple, we will take time during sessions to explore your personal experiences in relationship, your partners experiences in relationship and to observe your interactions in the room. In addition to this deep looking that we will do together, I encourage couples to do ‘homework’ outside of the sessions to practice new ways of reflecting upon their own experiences in relationship and to act in new ways that may serve the relationship more effectively. It is through this homework practice that couples can actively work to evolve their relationship dynamics.