Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy

Emotionally focused therapy for couples in Sacramento and across California

Tired of feeling stuck in the same argument?

Trying to heal and rebuild after an affair or breach of trust?

Craving emotional closeness but feeling like every attempt to reach for it somehow misses the mark?

Exhausted from trying to express your needs but feeling like you’re not being heard?

Get Started

Emotionally focused therapy can help your relationship feel good again - maybe even better than ever!

Emotionally focused therapy is an evidence-based approach to couples therapy. This approach uses the science of attachment theory and understanding of emotions to help couples build a deeper and mutually supportive emotional bond.

What you can gain from couples therapy

  • Gain insight into why you get triggered in arguments with your partner

  • Learn new ways to communicate.

  • Feel safe talking about the "tough stuff"

  • Know that your needs matter

What to expect during emotionally focused couples therapy?

De-escalate your conflict cycle

You will learn to understand your conflict cycle - how each of you reacts when you feel hurt, unseen, or worried - and how those protective responses unintentionally keep the disconnection going.

New Ways of Connecting and Communicating

We’ll build ways of communicating and sharing how you really feel. Your relationship can become a safe place to share your inner fears.

Integrate New Skills

Through therapy, you’ll learn interrupt your conflict cycle and implement these new ways of communicating into your daily life.

Therapy can help you build greater confidence that your needs matter and your partner can be there for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Emotionally focused therapy is a good fit for you if are ready to embark on a deeper exploration of what’s buried beneath the surface of your conflict and disconnection. Emotionally focused therapy is a good fit for people who want beyond surface-level coping to identify what drives ongoing conflict and build a stronger, more open emotional connection with your partner.

  • This practice may not be the best fit if you’re currently experiencing an acute mental health crisis, struggling with substance abuse, or need intensive structure and stabilization. Please see my Resources page for a list of support that can better serve your current needs.

  • Most couples start to notice small changes within the first few sessions. Deeper, lasting change typically takes several months. If you're working through long-standing disconnection or a deep betrayal, the process may take longer.

  • Yes! EFT helps you understand what's actually driving your conflict cycle: the pain, fear, or unmet need underneath the argument. Once you can start to identify your conflict cycle, you can start to interrupt instead of letting it take over. You’ll learn how to say what you really need, in a way that your partner can hear.

  • EFT is one of the most well-researched approaches for helping couples heal after a breach of trust. Repair will involve acknowledging the impact of what happened, processing the pain, and rebuilding a sense of safety with each other again. When couples are able to work through an affair or breach of trust, they often find their relationship feel stronger than it did before the breach of trust.

  • I offer convenient online scheduling. If you’re ready to get started, go here to schedule your first session.I typically meet with both partners for the first session and with each partner individually during the second to help get to know each of you individually.

A non-binary couples and individual therapist stands on a balcony overlooking the beach, with their dog to their left. The dog is looking towards the ocean.

Hi, I’m Andy (they/them)

I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I provide sessions in person in Sacramento and online across California. I am passionate about helping people build authentic, connected, and affirming relationships.

I specialize in working with queer and trans individuals, couples, and non-monogamous relationships, supporting them as they navigate challenges of identity, sex and intimacy, relationships, political stressors, and life’s tough moments.

I value authentically showing up as myself, which means I’ll show you my personality, share my sense of humor with you, and also sit with you in moments of pain. I hope that authentically showing up as myself empowers you to authentically be yourself.