Relationship Counseling

In Seattle, Washington and Houston, Texas

 

You may be feeling depressed, alone, or stuck in a relationship that isn’t working. I understand, and I’m here to help. I help individuals identify what they want out of their romantic relationships. Plus, I help them practice the interpersonal skills they need to get there. If you’re ready to feel better, schedule a complimentary consultation with me today.

My approach to Relationship Counseling

Are you lacking clarity in your romantic life? Perhaps you're currently in a relationship, but it's not going quite how you thought it would. You may have noticed that you're having trouble trusting your partner(s). This happens to a lot of people after previous relationships have gone awry. 

Sometimes when clients reach out to me, what they’re really looking for is a breakup therapist. You might be looking for someone to bounce ideas off of as you search for a mature, healthy exit strategy. You might not yet know if you’ve put in enough effort with your partner before you can justify calling it quits.

If you're not currently in a relationship, the dating world can be an intimidating one. You might find yourself feeling a lot of pressure to present yourself a certain way. Online dating puts pressure on superficial things like physical appearance. Worrying about these things can affect your body image or how you eat.

On top of all these issues, you may have a history of relationship trauma. Maybe previous partners made hurtful comments, cheated on you, or worse. These sorts of painful memories can haunt us for a long time. In situations like these, I often use Internal Family Systems to help my clients heal.

If any of these problems seem familiar, I’d like to help. Relationships and dating are common topics in my work with clients. They often blend with other issues such as career-related dilemmas or religious trauma. I’m a firm believer that none of our issues take place in a bubble. Naturally there will be overlap between your relationships and other life domains.

Our work together might have many components. As an Internal Family Systems therapist, I can help you resolve internal conflict. For example, one part of you may want to leave a relationship while another part wants to stay and make it work. I can guide you through that conflict.

We might also practice communication and other interpersonal skills. Many of the skills I introduce to clients come from DBT and its offshoot, RO-DBT. If none of these skills seem to fit your situation, then we can throw out my playbook. Instead, we can develop brand new techniques for navigating the highs and lows of dating.

I keep talking about our “work” together for a reason. Relationships aren’t always easy. Neither is the therapeutic process of figuring them out. My best-fit clients are those who are willing to sit with discomfort and feel their feelings. If you’re up for doing this work together, then so am I.

Relationship Counseling FAQs

  • I currently am only working with individual clients. Sometimes my client might bring in their partner as a support person. That is still different from couples counseling.

    We may determine couples counseling to be a helpful addition to your treatment. I’m happy to provide referrals to couples counselors I trust.

  • I certainly think so! I think everyone needs a neutral third-party to talk to about relationship troubles.

    I do not guarantee specific results. You may come into therapy hoping to “save” your relationship. We might discover that the best option for either or both of you is to end the relationship. If that’s the case, I’ll be here to guide you through that process, which can be messy and painful.

  • There’s no simple answer to this question, and it’s one of the reasons why I offer my services to individuals. I’ll offer a safe space for you to contemplate this question. We’ll dive into your level of trust, obstacles to relationship repair, and what your goals are.

    My hope is that you’ll feel like you have processed all your questions and emotions on the subject. This is my hope regardless of what happens with your relationship. I want you to feel like you have ownership over your decisions.

Get help from a Relationship Counselor

Whatever you’re struggling with, IFS can help. If you’re an adult looking for individual counseling, and you’re up for doing the work, then we might be a good fit. Schedule a free 15-20 minute phone consultation today.