COUPLES COUNSELING

Couples Counseling at luma via: A Deeper Approach to Lasting Change

When couples come to me, they often feel like they have tried everything but nothing seems to work. That is why I draw from two of the most respected approaches in the field, The Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).

The Gottman Method gives us research based tools for improving communication, rebuilding trust, and strengthening friendship, which are the cornerstones of a healthy relationship.
EFT helps us move past surface level arguments and understand the deeper emotions and longings driving those conflicts. It is about helping each partner feel safe, heard, and emotionally connected.

Before we move into solutions, I begin with a thorough assessment phase. Think of it like going to a doctor. You would not expect a diagnosis without imaging or lab work. In the same way, I spend the time upfront to truly understand your relationship patterns, stress points, and strengths. This allows us to create a plan that targets the real issues, not just the symptoms.

From there, we move into skills building and repair work. We focus on learning how to communicate more effectively, rebuild trust where it has been damaged, and strengthen your friendship and intimacy. Throughout the process, I weave in psychoeducation so you not only experience changes in session but also understand why they work. This makes it easier to carry those changes into your daily life.

My role is not to take sides. I see the relationship itself as my client.

It is about fairness, balance, and creating space for each partner’s individuality within a loving and supportive bond. Together, we work to lift your relationship to a place of stability, connection, and renewed hope.

Couples counseling is about more than just listening to arguments and offering quick fixes. My approach combines structure with depth. I am not afraid to help couples set healthy boundaries and establish new patterns, while also guiding them into the deeper work of healing, understanding, and connection.

It is a delicate balance. On one hand, you need safety and trust to open up honestly. On the other, you also need clear direction and accountability to move forward. Together, we create that balance. At first, trust is built slowly, step by step, as I show you that I am not here to take sides but to support the relationship as a whole. Over time, this trust makes it possible to explore the deeper layers of your patterns while also practicing new ways of relating in a structured, supportive environment.

The result is that you not only feel heard and understood but also learn how to set boundaries, repair trust, and nurture your relationship’s foundation. My role is to hold both the caring space for vulnerability and the structured path toward growth so that your relationship can move from conflict and disconnection to stability and closeness.