Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

Yes. I offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation for prospective clients.

The consultation is an opportunity for us to briefly discuss what brings you to therapy, what you hope to achieve, and whether Couples Chat Therapy is the right fit for your needs. It also provides space for you to ask questions about my approach, services, fees, and the therapy process.

Because the relationship between therapist and client is important, I encourage prospective clients to view the consultation as an opportunity for both of us to determine whether we are a good fit for working together.

Consultations are designed to help us determine whether working together makes sense.

During our conversation, I will ask a few questions about your relationship, the challenges you are experiencing, and what you hope will be different as a result of therapy. We may discuss concerns such as recurring conflict, trust issues, emotional disconnection, blended family dynamics, consensual non-monogamy, or uncertainty about the future of the relationship.

This is not a therapy session, and we will not attempt to resolve longstanding concerns during the consultation. Instead, the goal is to gain clarity about your needs, answer your questions, and determine whether my expertise and approach align with what you are seeking.

If we decide to move forward, we will discuss next steps for scheduling your first appointment.

Working Together

Relationships are not one of many specialties at Couples Chat Therapy. They are the focus.

While many therapists work with a broad range of concerns, my practice is dedicated exclusively to helping couples, step-couples, and consensually non-monogamous partners navigate conflict, repair trust, strengthen emotional connection, and build healthier, more resilient relationships.

Relationship challenges are often more complex than communication problems alone. They can involve attachment injuries, recurring conflict cycles, blended family dynamics, co-parenting stress, intimacy concerns, relationship transitions, and deeply rooted patterns that have developed over time. Specialized relationship therapy provides a deeper understanding of these dynamics and a structured approach for creating meaningful and lasting change.

My work is informed by advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman Method principles, trauma-informed care, and doctoral research examining resilience and relationship satisfaction in step-couples. This specialized focus allows me to help clients move beyond symptom management and toward greater trust, emotional safety, and connection.

Many couples arrive in therapy after months or years of trying to solve the problem on their own. They have had the conversations, read the books, listened to the podcasts, and still find themselves stuck in the same painful cycle.

At Couples Chat Therapy, relationships are not one of many specialties. My practice is dedicated exclusively to helping couples, step-couples, and consensually non-monogamous partners understand and change the patterns that keep them disconnected. Through a combination of attachment-based therapy, trauma-informed care, and evidence-based relationship interventions, therapy focuses on creating meaningful and lasting change rather than temporary symptom relief.

Yes, absolutely.

You do not have to be in a relationship to benefit from therapy at Couples Chat Therapy. While much of my work involves helping couples navigate relationship challenges together, I also work with individuals who want to better understand their relationship patterns, heal from past relational wounds, strengthen communication and emotional regulation skills, and prepare for healthier relationships in the future.

Many clients seek support following a breakup, divorce, or relationship transition. Others recognize recurring patterns they would like to change before entering another relationship.

Some of the most meaningful relationship work happens when you are not currently in a partnership because it creates space for reflection, personal growth, and a deeper understanding of how you show up in relationships. Whether you are processing past experiences or preparing for future relationships, therapy can help you move forward with greater clarity, intention, and self-awareness.

 While couples therapy is often most effective when both partners participate, meaningful change can still occur when only one person is willing to engage in the process.

Through Couples Therapy for One, we focus on understanding relationship patterns, strengthening communication, clarifying boundaries, increasing self-awareness, and identifying the changes that are within your control. While you cannot change your partner, you can gain a deeper understanding of how you show up in relationships and how your responses influence the dynamic.

Many clients begin this work because their partner is hesitant, resistant, or not ready for therapy. Regardless of your partner's level of participation, therapy can help you move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and intention.

Yes.

Not every couple enters therapy with the goal of saving the relationship. Some couples are uncertain whether to repair the relationship, separate, or redefine what the relationship will look like moving forward.

Therapy provides a structured space to slow down the decision-making process, explore underlying concerns, improve communication, and better understand the patterns that have contributed to the current situation. The goal is not to persuade you toward a particular outcome, but to help you make thoughtful decisions that align with your values, needs, and long-term wellbeing.

Whether the path forward involves reconciliation, restructuring the relationship, or separation, therapy can help you navigate that process with greater clarity, intention, and emotional responsibility.

 Couples therapy is most effective when both partners are willing to participate in the process and take an honest look at their own contributions to relationship patterns. In situations involving ongoing coercion, active violence, severe untreated addiction, or circumstances that compromise emotional or physical safety, a different level or type of support may be more appropriate. These concerns can be discussed during the consultation process. 

The Therapy Process

No. My role is not to determine who is right or wrong.

I take the side of the relationship and the goals you are working toward together. Therapy focuses on understanding the patterns that contribute to conflict, disconnection, and distress rather than assigning blame to one partner.

That does not mean harmful behaviors, broken agreements, or unhealthy dynamics are ignored. Part of my role is helping partners understand the impact of their actions, take accountability when necessary, and create healthier ways of relating. My goal is to foster greater understanding, emotional safety, and connection while maintaining a balanced and respectful therapeutic space for everyone involved.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer.

The length of therapy depends on the concerns being addressed, the goals of the relationship, the history of the relationship, and each partner's willingness to engage in the process. Some couples seek therapy for a specific challenge and achieve their goals within a relatively short period of time. Others choose to engage in longer-term work focused on rebuilding trust, addressing longstanding relational patterns, or navigating complex family and relationship dynamics.

Therapy is not intended to become a permanent process. The goal is to help you develop the insight, skills, and relational experiences necessary to create meaningful and lasting change outside of the therapy room.

Many clients begin to experience greater clarity and a deeper understanding of their relationship patterns within the first several sessions, while more significant relational change often develops over time through consistent practice and engagement.

 Yes. Therapy is confidential within the limits of California law and professional ethics. Specific details regarding confidentiality, its limits, and how information is handled in couples therapy are reviewed during the informed consent process.