Modalities

  • Couples based interventions targeting mental health issues (such as UCAN and UNITE for eating disorders)

Lebow and Snyder (2022) summarized the state of the field of couple therapy well: " “Collectively, there is remarkable depth and variety in today's approaches to couple therapy. Numerous approaches offer integration of evidence‐informed principles with clinical wisdom in the best of the scientist‐practitioner tradition. With an increasing foundation in relational science and evidence for their efficacy, such approaches continue to mature in their development. There is both a diversity in the most prominent approaches, but also an emerging and shared understanding of couple processes and core principles underlying couple‐based interventions.” I regularly evaluate the relative strengths and limitations of the various approaches to supporting couples to evolve my clinical repertoire and enhance my skill set for addressing the complexities of couples' challenges in a potentially more differentiated and effective manner.

Across approaches, couple therapies help partners identify and communicate core emotions, relational needs, and values; foster greater acceptance and positivity; repair and rebuild their trust and security; reawaken their sensual and sexual feelings; and ultimately enhance relationship satisfaction. For couples experiencing frequent conflict and intense emotions, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) can support improvements in emotional regulation and distress tolerance. Couple therapy is known to improve relationship satisfaction and support couples in coping with a range of stressors, including:

  • A partner's psychological disorder

  • Physical health issues (e.g., cancer)

  • External stressors (e.g., financial strain)

  • Severe relational problems (e.g., partner aggression)

Session frequency typically starts at weekly, depending on the nature of the issues you're facing. While couple therapy is generally 3-12 months, more complex challenges may require additional time.

Common Issues

  • Communication

  • Conflict resolution

  • Infidelity or mistrust

  • Loss of intimacy (emotional or physical)

  • Financial stress or differences

  • Parenting differences or concerns

  • Distribution of labor

  • External family stressors

  • Emotional or psychological issues

  • Unresolved trauma

  • Feeling unfulfilled or unhappy in the relationship

  • Major life changes or transitions

  • Cultural or religious differences

Relationship Health Check Ups

Relationship health check ups are offered to intervene on relationship drift and support reconnection. Relationship drift is a gradual and often subtle distancing or growing apart between partners in a long-term relationship. It’s a type of erosion that can occur over time when couples stop nurturing their connection or fail to address small issues that accumulate. It can be marked by emotional disengagement, lack of communication, reduced intimacy, and the general sense that the relationship isn't progressing or evolving as it once did. Relationship drift isn't always a result of major conflicts or external stressors; instead, it can be a slow and quiet process that might not be immediately noticeable until deeper issues emerge.

In a relationship health check-up session we assess the overall health and functioning of your relationship. It's akin to a regular physical check-up, but instead of focusing on physical health, it focuses on emotional, relational, and psychological well-being. The goal is to help couples identify areas that are thriving and those that may need attention, fostering a proactive approach to maintaining a strong and healthy relationship. These check ups strengthen emotional bonds, promote growth, and foster connection.

When should you have a relationship check up?

  • Regularly every few months to once a year, depending on the stage of the relationship and challenges you are facing.

  • During Major Transitions, such as having a baby, moving in together, or dealing with a crisis.

  • When Things Feel "Off"- If either partner senses that the relationship is not as strong or connected as it once was, a check-up can help clarify why and what can be done to improve things.

I work with all types of couples: married, committed but not legally married, queer couples, and couples at various stages of their relationships.

I received my primary training in CBCT under Dr. Don Baucom, the founder of the model, and continue ongoing consultation with him. I co-developed and evaluated a couple-based therapy program for eating disorders at UNC-CH with Dr. Baucom and other colleagues. I also continue to participate in monthly peer consultation with colleague’s in Stanford’s Couple and Family Therapy Clinic.

Lebow J., & Snyder, D. K. (2022). Couple therapy in the 2020s: Current status and emerging developments. Family Process, 00, 1–27. 10.1111/famp.12824