Couple & Family Therapy

Relationships are sacred ground. While nothing replaces Self understanding, how we are seen in the eyes of another matters so deeply to our life experience. And yet, misunderstandings easily arise. The pain of all that can come between people who are trying to be close and live intimate, connected lives is what has motivated my work for many years. The joy and security that can occur from closing the gap, from exploring and finding understanding in the pain, and allowing individuals to flourish in relationships is worth it. ​I am an Emotionally Focused Couples therapist, who incorporates Internal Family Systems and sex therapy principles when appropriate. For families I use a blend of family systems models, with Attachment Focused Family Therapy as my base model. 

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Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT), developed by Dr. Sue Johnson, is a research-based approach that helps couples strengthen their emotional bond by identifying and reshaping the patterns that lead to disconnection. Rooted in attachment theory, EFCT views love as an emotional bond built on safety, responsiveness, and trust. Rather than focusing on communication skills alone, this process invites partners to explore and express their deeper emotions and needs, fostering new moments of connection and healing. Through this work, couples learn to turn toward each other with openness and security, creating a resilient and lasting relationship.

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Watch the creator of EFT describe it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQCg-jC25fo

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Attachment-Focused Family Therapy (AFFT), developed by clinical psychologist Daniel Hughes, is an evidence-based therapeutic approach designed to help families heal from trauma, behavioral difficulties, and attachment disruptions. This model recognizes that  restructuring attachment relationships allows for experiences of safety, attunement, and connection. AFFT therapists work to help parents develop a stance of Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy (PACE) which allows them to remain emotionally present and regulated even when their child is struggling. During sessions, the therapist supports co-creating new narratives about difficult experiences while fostering emotional co-regulation and mutual understanding. By helping parents become a secure base for their children, AFFT facilitates lasting change in family dynamics and children's capacity for emotional regulation, trust, and healthy relationships.​​