Couples therapy at Willowstone Psychological Services is an integrative, relational process focused on strengthening connection, improving communication, and helping partners understand each other with greater clarity and compassion. I begin by meeting with both partners together and separately so I can gain a full picture of your relationship history, current concerns, individual experiences, and hopes for change. This assessment allows me to formulate a treatment plan that is responsive to both partners’ needs and the unique dynamics of your relationship.
I work with couples navigating challenges such as:

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• Communication difficulties

• Repeated or escalating conflict

• Emotional distance or reduced connection

• Trust or intimacy concerns

• Grief, trauma, infertility, or other stressors affecting the relationship

In the work itself, I draw primarily from Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT) and Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy (IBCT), which offer structured, evidence-based approaches to addressing conflict, understanding interaction patterns, and fostering greater emotional attunement. My approach is also informed by a broad body of relationship research, including the work of John and Julie Gottman, whose decades of empirical study have shaped much of what we know about healthy and distressed relationships. In addition, I have received training in PAIRS (also known as Warrior-to-Soulmate within the VA healthcare system) which focuses on communication skills, emotional literacy, and strengthening relational bonds.

Therapy typically involves helping couples identify problematic patterns, increase empathy for one another’s perspectives, and communicate in ways that feel clearer, safer, and more constructive. We work to develop agreements that are mutually beneficial, foster shared meaning, and support both partners’ needs. I also emphasize the importance of connection, creating opportunities for more quality time, appreciation, and fun together, so the relationship can feel not only more resilient but also more enjoyable. Through this integrative, research-backed approach, couples gain a deeper understanding of each other, tools for navigating conflict, and a stronger foundation for long-term partnership.