Gottman Referral Network

About

I provide an interactive, systemic approach that helps couples get to the heart of their issues and heal deep emotional wounds. My style is both practical and deeply empathetic. In our work together, I'll actively guide you in the moment, helping you slow down your arguments, manage conflict, and create more productive conversations. Rather than seeing conflict as the problem, we'll explore what's underneath it--often protective patterns shaped by past experiences. As you recognize these patterns in yourself and your partner, it becomes easier to respond to each other with compassion and curiosity, instead of anger and reactivity.

We'll focus on Gottman's research, which highlights the behaviors of successful couples, including nurturing fondness and admiration, strengthening your friendship, making frequent repair attempts during conflict, and turning toward each other's bids for connection. We'll also talk about the communication styles happy couples avoid, including stonewalling, defensiveness, criticism, and contempt--and the antidote for each of them when emotions run high. My goal is for you to improve your communication, understand each other better, and create a relationship where you both feel heard, respected, and emotionally safe.

I believe marriages and relationships can not only survive but thrive, whether there's an infidelity, emotional affair, cyber cheating, financial mistrust, waning romance, stepfamily issues, or parenting disagreements. A new job, the birth of a baby, children leaving home, a move, talk of divorce, or a medical diagnosis are some of the common issues I treat.

I work with all kinds of couples and appreciate and respect issues related to diversity, including age, ethnicity, gender, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, spirituality, and socioeconomic status.

Special populations

Adults, Elders