Therapy for couples in Chicago struggling with intimacy, conflict management, and communication.

Couples Therapy

Relationship road blocks are disheartening, but they are not permanent.

It’s normal to feel stuck in the ups and downs of a long term relationship. Whether it’s a few specific issues you can’t seem to get to the end of, or you’ve stopped communicating all together. With a research-based Gottman style approach, I help couples get unstuck, communicate in helpful ways, work through gridlocked issues and get the spark of intimacy back.

Why Couples Therapy?

I know this is delicate.

There is nothing more personal, intimate, and vulnerable than struggles in your romantic life. It’s hard to seek help, because for so long you thought it would work itself out.

Couples therapy creates a space that your relationships has probably need for a long time: to pause, reflect, and work through these challenges together. It’s not about assigning blame or proving who’s right—it’s about understanding each other on a deeper level and learning new ways to connect. Through therapy, you can rebuild trust, improve communication, and rediscover the partnership you both want.

Whether you’re navigating a specific issue, dealing with years of tension, or simply looking to strengthen your relationship, couples therapy can help you move forward with clarity, compassion, and renewed connection.

My Approach

My approach to couples counseling combines Gottman Couples Counseling & Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to provide comprehensive care for my couples. Both are research-based approaches that target different core areas of your relationship in a structured way. Here are a few below:

  • Conflict Management & Communication

  • Friendship & Intimacy

  • Shared Goals & Meaning

  • Attachment Needs & Vulnerability

After 3 assessment sessions to formulate a compressive understanding of your relationship needs, we begin weekly therapy (50 minute sessions). In a typical session, I ask couples to bring in a current issue that happened within the past week or something re-occurring. I then guide the dialogue from there with a structured approach. Sometimes couples don’t know where to start—that’s normal. I help you where you are.

  • Intimacy

    Rebuild emotional and physical closeness by fostering trust, vulnerability, and connection, so your relationship feels fulfilling and deeply connected.

  • Conflict Management

    Do you feel like you keep having the same argument over and over? Discover healthier ways to navigate disagreements, break unhelpful patterns, and approach conflicts with empathy and teamwork rather than tension and blame.

  • Communication

    Learn how to express yourself openly and honestly while truly hearing and understanding your partner, so you can resolve conflicts and feel closer than ever.

  • Attachment Patterns

    Understand and shift attachment patterns that may be fueling conflict or distance, creating a relationship dynamic that feels safe and connected.

  • Shared Goals & Vision

    Align your goals and values as a couple to foster teamwork and shared purpose in your life together.

Next Steps

1

Discovery Call

The hardest part is getting started, so I provide a free 15-minute consultation call where you can ask me any questions you might have and I can further elaborate on how I conduct couples therapy. We will then schedule your first assessment session and you will receive paperwork from our portal to fill out prior to your first appointment.

2

Assessment

I begin with 3 assessment sessions that provide a solid foundation for couples work. I gather information about what brings you into therapy, the story & history of your relationship, and a 45 minute research-based Gottman Assessment that further defines the categories we’ll target in our work together.

3

Exploration

From there, we begin weekly 55 minute sessions where we will have guided conversations on topics that have previously felt gridlocked. I help couples communicate in productive ways, lean into conflict rather than avoid it, explore barriers to intimacy, and provide an unbiased space to dream about the future together again.

What Couples Say About Sarah

  • JK & MG

    “Sarah helped us reach a level of understanding and connection in our relationship beyond what we thought was possible. Best decision we ever made.”

  • SC & KC

    “Sarah was the perfect fit for us. She was kind and understanding, while also pushing us to do the hard work. She made both my partner and I feel seen and heard and validated our experiences and emotions.”

  • AP & RP

    “Sarah gave us practical tools to approach conflict in a productive way instead of avoidance or shutting down. Because of her, I have a new sense of understanding of my partner and the ability to look at our differences through a lens of curiosity rather than judgement.”

There is something deeply human and deeply intimate about conflict. But you don’t have to stay there.