All relationships are hard. Intimate relationships are even more challenging. They can leave us feeling alone when we want to feel comforted. We can feel empty when we desire fulfillment. So many unmet needs, unrecognized wants, can make the relationship feel lost. We just can't keep going like this. The fights are ugly, or they don't happen at all. Living at the speed of life, you have drifted apart and don't know how to bring it back together. The good news is that you don't have to do it alone. Tenderness and passion are just around the corner. Whether you have been together a short while or married for decades, many couples can benefit from counseling support. Couples in the early stage of their relationships can learn more insight into themselves and how their strengths and weaknesses can work in tandem with their partner to create the relationship they dreamed of. Couples who are going through a rough patch after being together several years can learn how to reconnect and add depth to the relationship they had not dreamed possible. Couples who have been together for decades can grow closer than ever before, finding meaning and fulfillment in the story their relationship has created. From pure elation and infatuation to deep wounds and broken trust, counseling can help couples to connect in ways they hadn't before. In therapy sessions, we can explore the barriers keeping you from relating with each other. My focus with couples is on strengthening communication, reducing hurt, and increasing intimacy. Through interventions from Emotionally Focused Therapy, the Gottman Method, and other practical couples resources, you will receive both tangible tools as well as opportunities for growth. I believe that therapy is most effective when tailored to the specific experiences of the client. My approach focuses on exploring symptoms as helpful tools to increase personal awareness. Through therapy, clients are able to learn more about their own experiences in a safe and non-judgmental environment. It is in this environment that clients can find meaning with their experiences in order to reach their fullest potential. When I am not supporting clients, I truly enjoy spending time with my family and our dogs. Other hobbies include reading, catching up with friends at different coffee shops, volunteering at our church, and watching the waves along the Monterey Coast.