In my work with couples I aim to create an environment where both members can safely explore their emotions, understand each other more deeply, and bring about desired change and growth.I do that by helping you develop the necessary skills to listen non-defensively and speak with more sensitivity and compassion. I focus on helping each member of a couple fully understand their partner's perspective. Mutual recognition of each other's experience is a good place to start working on the problems that brought you into therapy.
Areas of Specialty: • Intimacy
and Relationship Issues: helping couples navigate
the challenges of a blended family - addressing the specific challenges of raising step-children.
• Premarital, marital and relationship counseling. • Parenting
Issues. When parents stop working together.
• Sexual
Issues. Lack of desire, lack of satisfaction, premature
ejaculation, vaginismus, performance anxiety, anxiety and
dissociation during sexual contact.
• Infidelity
and commitment issues.
•Disagreements
about money. •Problems
managing relationships with each other's extended families. • Issues
unique to bi-cultural couples. Understanding the impact of
culture on your relationship.
• Learn
to support each other's unique development and personalities. • Resolving
excessive anger and ineffective communication.
When to Seek Couples Counseling: Conflicts can be enlivening, only if they resolve. It might be time to consider seeking professional help if: • conflicts between you do not resolve • you find yourself avoiding talking about more and more things because you feel the conversation can degenerate into excessively painful interactions •there are topics that every time you try to address you get nowhere •and/or conflictual topics lead to excessive anger in one or both of you It is also a very good idea to consider therapy before things get out of hand.
Benefits You Can Expect: • Reduced anger and feelings of disconnection during times of conflict • Become more skillful at managing conflict •Become more decent towards one another • More satisfactory sexual life •More ability to think creatively about problematic emotional experiences • Make a decision to commit, start a family, or get back together • Realize a relationship is over and work out how to best end things •Understand yourself more deeply •Feel happier
A relationship is much more than the sum of its parts. When your primary attachment is healthy, supportive and interesting it becomes a source of profound joy and meaning. It makes your life much better than you could have made it on your own. It is also true that when your primary attachment is overwhelmed with destructive emotions it can be a source of profound distress and alienation. There are times when outside consultation and help are necessary to resolve difficult and vulnerable issues; or come to terms with how to best end a relationship and move on.
I would be happy to speak with you on the phone to help assess your situation and determine if it would be helpful to begin working together. If not, I can provide you with a number of suitable referrals you can pursue. Feel free to contact me at (415) 595-3841 or [email protected] I look forward to speaking with you.