Seeking therapy for your relationship doesn’t mean your relationship is broken, or that something is “wrong” with anyone involved. People come to relationship therapy for all kinds of reasons—premarital counseling, parenting concerns, healing after infidelity, navigating polyamorous and consensual/ethical non-monogamy dynamics, improving communication, or resolving ongoing conflicts.

In fact, I believe that choosing therapy-and doing the work it requires-shows strength and a deep commitment to the relationship.

As the Program Director of the Denver Family Institute (and a proud graduate of the program), as well as a licensed marriage and family therapist, intimate partner therapy is incredibly close to my heart. One of the most common fears I hear is the worry that a therapist will “take sides.” People are concerned that I might be biased or believe one partner over another.

That’s not how I work. In couples and relationship therapy, my client is not any one individual-the relationship itself is the client. My role is to support each person and help you move toward the shared goals you have for your relationship.

I bring specialized training in models like Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, and the work of Esther Perel. I also have experience working with relationship structures that have been historically misunderstood or pathologized in therapy, including polyamory and ethical non-monogamy (ENM). It’s important to me to affirm your relationship structure and to support you in achieving your goals-whatever your relationship looks like.

Creating a space where all partners feel safe is foundational to the work I do. That’s why I do not provide couples therapy for relationships where there is active power and control dynamics or ongoing domestic violence. In those situations, one or more partners may not feel safe enough to be fully open in therapy, and may even fear retaliation for what’s said in the room. I never want to put any client at risk of harm.

If you have questions about this, or if you think you may be in a relationship where safety is a concern, please feel free to reach out. I’m here to help.