Couples counseling

in newport beach, ca. Reconnect and rebuild.

 
 

Therapy for couples

Our therapists specialize in couples counseling that honors both your relationship and who you are as individuals.

 
 

The longer you’ve been together, the more challenges you’ve faced. You may be feeling distant and disconnected from your partner, struggling with the lack of intimacy, or worn down from seemingly constant conflict. Perhaps you’ve blended your families and are facing challenges you didn’t expect. Maybe you’ve decided to end your relationship and need help as you uncouple or co-parent. 

Whichever stage of relationship you find yourself in, our Gottman-trained couples therapists are here to support you.

 

Our specialties

We can help with:

  • Blended families

  • Communication challenges

  • Conscious uncoupling

  • Coparenting

  • Digital age challenges, such as social media

  • Dissatisfaction with sex

  • Division of labor

  • Feelings of insecurity or loneliness

  • Grief & loss, including loss of a child

  • Infidelity

  • Life transitions, including moving, deployment, or having a child

  • Managing other relationships (i.e. in-laws, coparents, etc)

  • Mental health diagnoses

  • Nontraditional relationships, including polyamory and consensual nonmonogamy

  • Parenting difficulties

  • Premarital counseling

  • Relationship satisfaction

  • Trauma

How couples counseling works

We use evidence-based methods to help you make lasting changes in your relationship.

 

Our relationship therapists are trained in the Gottman Method, a skills-based approach to couples therapy steeped in over 40 years of research. The Gottman Method helps to manage conflict productively, increase intimacy and respect, remove barriers to connection, and cultivate a shared sense of empathy and understanding between partners.

We recognize that couples therapy is not always easy—you each bring real feelings, experiences, and emotions to this process. We are here to facilitate healthy conversation, offer support and skills, and set boundaries when necessary to help us continue working toward the goals we set together. We’ll be the first to point out the strengths we see in your relationship and the progress we witness, helping you to celebrate your shared victories along the way.

We want to offer something valuable to your relationship each time you see us. Every session, our goal is that you walk away with at least one of the following:

  • Relief from negative feelings

  • Insight into your own behavior

  • A new or upgraded skill

  • A mutually beneficial solution to a concern

Pre-marital counseling

NOT MARRIED YET?

We’re here to help you, too. Our therapists are trained in premarital counseling, helping couples preparing for the next step in their relationship to be proactive as they set their marriage up for long-term success.

Therapists who can help

  • Taylor Hoyt

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  • Firas Bdaiwi

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  • Stacy Marsh

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  • Riley Glasgow

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  • Cienna Palos

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  • Emmy Bales

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  • Adriana Kalajian

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. Our job is to focus on the relationship—not one side or the other—in therapy. In order for The Gottman Method to be effective, both partners must feel understood and supported by the therapist (and, eventually, by one another). We are here to support both of you in ways that honor each of you, your dignity, and your perspectives.

  • We begin with a conjoint intake (90 min): You can share what’s brought you to therapy and your therapist will begin asking questions to better understand your relationship and unique dynamic.

    Then, we’ll proceed with individual intakes (55 min): Your therapist will meet with each partner individually to discuss their family of origin and upbringing, belief systems, and more. They’ll also ask about the story of the relationship and what you feel is happening today.

    Your partner and you will complete an assessment: You will receive a link via email to answer a series of questions about your relationship. Once both partners complete the assessment, your therapist will receive an analysis of your answers and will discuss the results with you and your partner together.

    From there, you’ll proceed with standard sessions (60-90 min): These consist of conversations that include practicing skills, role playing, and assigning betwee-session homework. Your therapist will regularly review your progress and goals with you, making adjustments as needed.

  • As part of the intake process, we will meet with you and your partner together, as well as each of you individually. From that point on, sessions will consist of all 3 of us. If your therapist feels it may be beneficial for one or both of you to engage in individual therapy concurrently, they’ll provide referrals.

Schedule a free consultation

Start learning a new way of being together.

Click the button below to request a free consultation with us. You’ll have an opportunity to share what’s going on in your relationship and ask any questions you have about couples counseling with us. Then, we’ll match you with the relationship therapist that is best equipped to support you.