Why do I feel so responsible for everyone else's feelings and struggle to set boundaries without guilt?

Feeling responsible for others' emotions and experiencing guilt when setting boundaries are common signs of caretaking protective parts and relational boundary burnout. Individual therapy integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) helps unburden these parts, regulate anxiety, and set healthy boundaries from a grounded Self.

Why do I overthink conversations, text messages, and worry people are upset with me?

Overthinking interactions and fearing you made a mistake are common manifestations of high-functioning relational anxiety and hypervigilant manager parts. Combining IFS parts work with attachment-based therapy helps quiet the mental chatter and build internal security.

How does Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) help couples stuck in recurring arguments?

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Imago Relationship Therapy help couples slow down recurring conflict loops, identify the underlying pursuer-distancer dynamic, and re-establish emotional safety so arguments can actually be resolved.

How do you help couples rebuild trust after betrayal, lying, or broken promises?

Rebuilding trust after betrayal uses structured frameworks like the Gottman At-Atonement, Attunement, and Attach (AAA) model alongside Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to process deep hurt, establish full transparency, and safely repair emotional safety step-by-step.

Do you offer couples therapy for open relationships, polyamory, or consensual non-monogamy?

Yes, we provide relationship-focused therapy for partners navigating open relationships, polyamory, and consensual non-monogamy. Using Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and attachment frameworks, we help partners manage jealousy, establish clear boundaries, and maintain a secure core bond.

Do you offer couples therapy for neurodiverse and neurotypical relationships (ADHD, Autism)?

Yes, we specialize in relationship therapy for neurodiverse couples (including ADHD, Autism, and neurotypical partners). Using neuro-affirming Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and adapted Gottman Method frameworks, we help couples break the parent-child dynamic, navigate executive function gaps, and build mutual emotional attunement.

How does family therapy help with escalating arguments and communication breakdown?

Family therapy uses Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) to slow down reactive argument cycles, reduce defensiveness, and help family members communicate underlying needs without escalating into conflict.

Do you offer family counseling for blended families, stepparenting, and boundary shifts?

Yes, we specialize in family therapy for blended families and step-parenting dynamics, helping family members clarify roles, navigate loyalty conflicts, and establish healthy relational boundaries.

How can family therapy help bridge the distance between parents and teenagers?

Family therapy addresses parent-teen communication gaps by balancing the teenager's need for autonomy with emotional safety, helping parents break the pursuit-withdrawal cycle and rebuild genuine connection.

Online Couples Therapy in VA, MD, & SC

Break Negative Cycles & Rebuild Intimacy with EFT and Imago Therapy

schedule your free, 15-minute consultation

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“The question at the heart of every relationship is: ‘Are you there for me?’”

Sue Johnson, Founder of Emotionall Focused Therapy (EFT)

is this you?

You want a healthy, fulfilling relationship but you’re struggling to break through recurring arguments:

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It’s time for a change

Ready to Break the Cycle and Reconnect?

You don't have to keep repeating the same arguments or feeling alone in your partnership. Relational distress in a couple isn't a sign that your relationship is broken—it's simply a sign that the cycle you're stuck in is overwhelming your ability to connect.

Whether you're looking to rebuild trust, deepen intimacy, or finally learn how to resolve conflict without walking on eggshells, we offer a structured, evidence-based space to help you heal together.

[Learn More About The Therapy Process ↓]

- What's going on underneath: An escalation loop where surface-level disagreements trigger deeper emotional defensiveness and frustration.
- How Couples Therapy Helps: We help you slow down the argument in real-time. Instead of getting caught in the surface trigger, we help you see that the cycle is the common enemy—not each other—so you can finally break the loop and reach true resolution.
- What's going on underneath: Emotional suppression, pursuer-distancer communication dynamics, and unmet attachment needs.
- How Couples Therapy Helps: We guide both partners in slowing down and truly hearing what is being said beneath the reactivity, restoring emotional safety and mutual respect.
- What's going on underneath: Relational shock, shattered emotional safety, and a deep, protective fear of being blindsided again.
- How Couples Therapy Helps: Healing after a major breach of trust can't be rushed, and telling someone to "just move on" only causes more damage. We use structured frameworks to slow everything down, help the hurt partner feel truly heard, re-establish real transparency, and guide you step-by-step toward rebuilding genuine safety.
- What's going on underneath: The "parent-child" relational trap, executive function misattunement, and the Double Empathy gap in neurodiverse-neurotypical (ND/NT) couples.
- How Couples Therapy Helps: Trying to force a neurodiverse partnership into standard communication models often leads to deeper resentment. We help you understand how your nervous systems process communication, tasks, and emotional regulation differently. We move you away from blame and work together to design external structures and emotional attunement patterns that honor both of your brains.
- What's going on underneath: Differing intimacy needs, performance pressure, and emotional misattunement.
- How Couples Therapy Helps: We address the deep link between emotional safety and physical intimacy. By taking off the pressure and helping both partners feel secure, we facilitate open conversations where desires and vulnerabilities can be shared without fear of rejection or guilt.
- What's going on underneath: Attachment anxiety, unspoken boundary shifts, and the panic that arises when safety or exclusivity structures shift without enough emotional grounding.
- How Couples Therapy Helps: Opening a relationship or practicing non-monogamy requires far more than just setting rigid rules—it requires deep emotional safety and proactive communication. We help you move past reactive jealousy, process underlying fears of abandonment, and build explicit, honest agreements that protect your core bond while exploring new dynamic spaces.

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How the Couples Therapy Process Works:

✿Initial Assessment & History

We unpack your relationship history, explore your current dynamic, and identify what each partner needs to feel safe and connected.

✿Goals Setting & the Roadmap

Together, we establish clear goals and build a treatment plan tailored to your relationship values (including EFT and Imago frameworks).

✿Skill Building & Integration

Practice real-time communication tools in session, take actionable insights home, and regularly evaluate your progress as a team.

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Investment & Insurance Options:

01: Session Rate

$200
Session cost per 50-minute virtual session

02: Out-of-Network Reimbursement

I partner with Thrizer to automatically submit superbills on your behalf so you can utilize out-of-network benefits or pay a reduced fee after meeting your deductible.

Check your eligibility below through Thrizer!

03: Sliding Scale Options

Need accessible care? Check eligibility for sliding-scale rates through Open Path Collective: See if you qualify

Learn more about thrizer

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See if you’re eligible for money back:

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Q&A

Have more questions about couples therapy?

I use Imago Relationship Therapy, Emotion-Focused, and Gottman.
Couples therapy often focuses on relationship dynamics, communication patterns, parenting challenges, and family systems rather than treating a single individual’s mental health diagnosis. Unfortunately, insurance companies generally require one person to be identified as the “patient” and require a diagnosable mental health condition in order to reimburse therapy services.
By remaining out-of-network, I’m able to work with couples and families in a way that reflects the relational nature of the work, without assigning unnecessary diagnoses or limiting treatment to what insurance will cover. This also allows for greater privacy, flexibility, and individualized care tailored to your unique goals and relationships.
Yes, many clients are able to receive partial reimbursement for therapy through their out-of-network benefits. Here’s how the process typically works:
1. Contact your insurance company and ask whether your plan includes out-of-network mental health benefits. You can also ask about your deductible, reimbursement rate, and whether you need preauthorization.
2. After payment, I can provide you with a superbill — a detailed receipt that includes the information insurance companies typically require for reimbursement.
3. You submit the superbill directly to your insurance provider, either through their online portal or by mail.
4. If your claim is approved, your insurance company will reimburse you directly according to your plan’s out-of-network coverage.
Because every insurance plan is different, reimbursement amounts and eligibility can vary. I recommend contacting your insurance provider directly to better understand your specific benefits.
In most cases, yes. Insurance companies generally require a mental health diagnosis in order to reimburse therapy services, even for couples therapy.
This means that if you choose to submit a superbill for reimbursement, one member of the couple must receive a diagnosis that becomes part of their medical record. Insurance companies may also require documentation showing that therapy is medically necessary for that identified person.