LGBT and Child Therapist
in Los Angeles
LGBT Couples Therapy in Los Angeles
Part of the magic of couples therapy is creating space for things you might not normally talk about. Sitting down and analyzing your relationship is probably not a daily occurrence. That’s ok. Our lives are filled with many activities and other priorities. But there are times when you want to make working on your relationship a priority.
Yes, analyzing your relationship sounds scary, but you never know what you might find out. You can’t know unless you ask. My clients have had ah-ha moments when they learn something new about how their partner feels or their motivation behind something.
Relationships can be hard because we’re bringing multiple human lives, stories, and tendencies together. But if we remember Maslow’s hierarchy, love and belonging are basic human needs, so we need each other. We need to be in relationships. But we also need skills to make those relationships fulfilling. Couples therapy is practice for those relationship skills.
With queer couples or non-monogamous relationships, we will also explore the psychological impact of being in relationships that might look a little different and are seen and treated differently by society.
What is Couples Therapy Like?
A key part of therapy is you, the client, providing your story and me, the therapist, asking questions. What’s different about couples therapy is you answer questions about yourself, and you listen to your partner’s answers. You also have the opportunity to ask your own questions of your partner(s). And I have the opportunity to see you and your partner(s) interact in real time.
The relationship is on “full display,” and we all get to step back and look at it in an emotionally grounded and safe space. I might even ask you to try “playing the role of your partner” and we might discover certain assumptions that exist. But don’t worry, you can always tell me no. Remember, you are the expert in your own life and what feels comfortable to you.
Examples of Questions I Might Ask
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What do you bring to the relationship? What are good things and not so good things?
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What is the story of how you met? How have you grown since then?
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How does society impact your relationship?
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What is the story you are telling yourself about your partner and their role in the issue?
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What parts of the issue do you take accountability for?
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What modeling did you have for healthy relationships growing up?
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What values do you agree on and disagree on as a couple?
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Where do you see yourself in 5 years?