Supporting Families Through Connection, Communication, and Change
Families are systems—interconnected, dynamic, and emotionally charged. When one part of the system is struggling, it affects everyone. Families frequently face challenges during particular developmental periods (e.g., the birth of a child, family transitions, death, job loss, divorce). Consequently, it is not uncommon for them to struggle to resolve conflicts and communicate effectively with one another during stressful periods. We know that even when family members do not live together, all parts of the family are interrelated. Similarly the values, rules, and reactions of family members impact the behavior, thoughts, coping strategies, and feelings of individual members. Research has found that the family has a powerful and profound influence on the physical, emotional, and mental health of its members. As a clinical psychologist certified in both Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) and the Gottman Method, I help families work through difficult transitions, rebuild trust, and communicate in ways that foster safety and emotional closeness. Family therapy is not about placing blame. It's about understanding. Together, we identify patterns that are keeping your family stuck and begin to shift those patterns in a way that supports healthier, more fulfilling relationships.
When Family Therapy Can Help
Families often seek support during periods of change, loss, conflict, or disconnection. Whether members live together or apart, the emotional ties between them remain powerful—and can be a source of both stress and healing.
You might consider family therapy if your family is navigating:
- Parent-child tension, behavioral concerns, or resist/refuse dynamics
- Parenting disagreements or stress related to differing approaches
- Mental health challenges within the family system
- Blended family transitions or unresolved loyalty conflicts
- Parental separation or divorce, including high-conflict co-parenting
- Grief or loss, including the death of a loved one
- Relocation, job loss, or financial strain
- Caring for a family member with an illness, disability, or aging needs
- Cultural, lifestyle, or identity-related differences that impact connection
- Communication breakdowns or recurring conflict
Family therapy offers a structured and compassionate space where each member can feel heard, and where the family as a whole can begin to function more effectively.
My Approach to Working With Families
My work with families blends the emotional depth of Emotionally Focused Family Therapy with the research-driven tools of the Gottman Method. EFFT helps us get underneath reactive behaviors to explore the unmet emotional needs, attachment wounds, and cycles that often drive distress. The Gottman approach provides practical frameworks for managing conflict, building emotional intelligence, and increasing respect and understanding across relationships.
I help families slow down emotionally charged interactions and reconnect in more thoughtful, secure ways. Therapy is not one-size-fits-all. I tailor our work based on your family's structure, goals, and cultural or developmental needs. That might include sessions with the whole family, individual members, or specific dyads depending on what will be most effective.
What It Feels Like to Work With Me
Families often tell me they appreciate how I bring both structure and warmth into our work. I don’t take sides—but I do help everyone feel seen. My goal is to help your family have conversations that feel more productive, more emotionally honest, and less exhausting. You’ll leave with greater insight and skills you can actually use—not just in moments of crisis, but in everyday connection.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure how to move forward as a family, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Healing and reconnection are possible—let’s take the next step together.