Marriage & Couples Counseling

 “Most couples don’t need better communication.  They need help getting out of the same fight—over and over.” 

                                                                                                                                   Sally Zuraikat, LMFT-S

Most couples don’t come to therapy because they don’t love each other.
They come because something feels stuck, exhausting, or painful—and the same conversations keep going in circles.

Couples counseling is not about taking sides or deciding who is right or wrong.
It’s about helping both partners feel seen, understood, and emotionally safe enough to reconnect.

• Repeated arguments that never seem to get resolved
   
• Feeling emotionally distant, misunderstood, or disconnected
   
• One partner feels unheard while the other feels criticized or shut down
   
• Trust has been shaken by betrayal, secrecy, or broken expectations
   
• Life transitions creating strain (parenthood, stress, grief, cultural differences)
   

I help couples slow down patterns, not escalate them.

Rather than focusing only on surface-level communication skills, we look at:

• What each partner is protecting emotionally
  
• The deeper needs underneath conflict
  
•  How past experiences shape present reactions
  
•  How to rebuild emotional safety and connection
   

• Understand what they’re really fighting about
   
• Express emotions without blame or defensiveness
   
• Listen with curiosity instead of reactivity
   
• Break out of painful pursue–withdraw or shutdown cycles
   
• Rebuild trust, closeness, and mutual respect
   

This work is intentional, compassionate, and grounded.
Therapy becomes a place where both partners can exhale.

Couples counseling may be a good fit if:

• You still care about each other, but feel disconnected
   
• You’re unsure whether to stay or leave and want clarity
   
• You want to feel like a team again, not opponents
   
• You’re willing to explore patterns with honesty and openness
   

You don’t need to have all the answers before starting.
Sometimes the goal is simply to create enough safety to see clearly again.

Reach out with any questions or concerns you have.