Relational Therapy

It is hard to feel content and at peace when there is conflict or strife in your intimate relationship(s). I can help you to reduce conflict, improve communication, and enhance connection. I am experienced in working with open relationships, consensual non-monogamy, and polyamory. As a certified sex therapist, I can help with concerns such as desire discrepancy, sexual dysfunction, and navigating kink / BDSM.

As humans, we are relational beings. I believe that what transpires in the therapy room is a unique and valuable exchange that enables a non-judgmental, in the moment discussion of how we are impacting one another.

As a relationally-trained therapist, I specialize in working with clients by using a systemic perspective. This means that we will explore a client’s relationship to themselves, to others, and to society as a whole.

My study of Relational Therapy began with some research work with Otto Kernberg and his interactions with an outpatient with borderline personality organization.

The therapeutic relationship is the most important factor in the success of therapy. We'll build a rapport and examine the relationship patterns in your life that impact your well-being.

Embracing what happens between us as valuable information needed in our understanding of you and your opportunities for growth and healing.

We do not live in isolation, and our relationships to others and to our communities and culture influence us in many ways. Relational therapy aims to understand how the relationships in our lives and cultural/systemic forces shape who we are, and how we are doing in turn influences our relationships. The therapeutic relationship offers a direct experiential opportunity for us to explore and work on relationship dynamics.

I am relational and systemic oriented, as my work centers around people and their experiences in relation to themselves, others, systems, and the world.

We believe in the healing power of relationships. The therapeutic relationship can become an avenue to explore attachment wounds and traumas to help our clients feel seen and heard. We incorporate this approach into all of our work with both individuals and couples because we believe that relationships are at the core of all meaningful healing.

I use relational psychodynamic therapy because I see the relationship we build together as the crucible of change: it acts as both a window into your interpersonal world, and also an arena in which you can try on new ways of being. We learn how to see ourselves and the world around in relationship, and this can become known and changed in relationship. In a non-judgmental, compassionate space, we contact and rework the dynamics that keep you feeling stuck, dissatisfied, and in pain.

My therapy is oriented toward thinking about relationships.

As humans, we have evolved to withstand life’s inherent traumas through interdependency. Not codependency. Interdependency. We thrive, as humans, when we can rely on and support others. And we learn how to support ourselves and others through the kind of support we’ve received. In therapy, we create a relationship (a unique one at that!) to help you bring those feelings up to be safely experienced and now responded to in the way(s) you needed before. With compassion, empathy, sincere belief, and support. This is how we release the past and free ourselves from having to “manage” all the freaking time.

Relational therapy is founded in the belief that healing happens in the context of relationships with one another. This approach to treatment is based in strengths-based empowerment. Exploring your wants and needs in the relationships around you, as well as your relationships with yourself. Increasing connection with yourself and others can be profoundly transformative.

Relational therapy focuses on the role of relationships in mental health. It posits that healthy relationships can heal psychological issues while poor relational dynamics can worsen them. The therapy emphasizes genuine connection and communication between therapist and client, using the therapeutic relationship itself as a model for constructive interpersonal interactions, aiming to improve clients' relationships outside of therapy.