La Cañada Counseling
therapy for individuals, couples and families in La Canada/Glendale/Pasadena area
Couples Counseling
Sometimes, life doesn’t turn out the way we thought it would. When we say “I do”, we don’t usually question our feelings for the person we are promising to spend the rest of our life with.
However, as life takes over, stressors such as jobs, financial responsibilities, kids and health issues can put a damper on those feelings of eternity we had when we looked into our loved one’s eyes. The dance we thought we would be so good at turns out to be out of tempo. We step onto each other’s toes, hurt each other, over and over…
The romance that seemed so effortless and natural in the beginning has become an inaccessible dream from the past, and soon we realize we have gone from soul mates to room mates…
Miscommunications and misunderstandings can lead us to shut down that part of us that still hoped for something deep and alive. A sense of detachment and disconnect takes place and before long, intimacy feels like a distant reality, replaced by a sense of loss and loneliness.
Have you reached that place in your relationship? If so, you are not alone.
Many couples drift apart throughout the years, letting work, kids and other stressors separate them. This process is normal, and there is no shame in searching for help. I know first-hand how much work it can be to keep the relationship alive: with your spouse, with your kids, with your friends, with yourself… It is easy to feel like you are the only one going through this, but you do not have to believe that.
I invite you to contact me to talk about how therapy can help you recreate connection and intimacy and find relational healing. I use a research-supported, attachment-based approach called Emotion Focused Therapy, which can create long-lasting changes for your relationship. I help the couple recreate safety and secure attachments by focusing on the emotional experiences that are taking place between the partners, rather than on the argument itself.
Pre-marital counseling: I am certified to use the PREPARE/ENRICH Inventory for couples who intend to marry, have been married for a while, or remarried after a divorce. After taking the inventory, the couple attends 6 to 10 sessions which focus on themes such as communication, family of origin, spirituality, money, sexuality, future aspirations, etc… We look at your profile and identify areas of strength and growth. We then solidify the strengths and promote growth where needed, through specific interventions.
