Couples Therapy
Where the expertise was developed.
A specialized practice working exclusively with a limited number of couples each week.
About My Practice
I'm a clinical psychologist with over ten years of experience focused exclusively on couples therapy. I'm also a tenured professor at Grand Valley State University, where I teach and research romantic relationship dynamics, which makes me one of very few therapists in Michigan who is simultaneously a clinical psychologist, professor, and active couples researcher.
Many couples wait until there's a problem to seek therapy, but it can be just as valuable used preventatively, to build resilience and strengthen a relationship long before a crisis hits. I work with couples at both ends of that spectrum, across age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, and sexual orientation, and at every relationship stage, from early dating to long-term marriage, including premarital counseling, divorce, and open or consensual non-monogamous relationships.
To protect the quality of attention each couple receives, I keep a deliberately limited caseload of four to five couples per week. My waiting list typically runs three to six months, so if you're reaching out, I'd encourage doing so as early as possible. Sessions run 75 minutes rather than the standard 50, giving enough room for the kind of breakthrough moments that get cut short in a shorter session.
What I Help With
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Dating support and challenges
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Premarital counseling and preparation
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Building stronger connection and skills to strengthen a relationship
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Regulating conflict, repairing hurt or trauma, rebuilding intimacy and connection
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Major life transitions, including parenthood, blending families, divorce, chronic illness, empty nesting, retirement, unemployment, or career change
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Physical or mental illness affecting the relationship
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Affairs and addiction
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Improving sex and intimacy
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LGBTQ+ support and/or challenges
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Navigating open or consensual non-monogamous relationships
My Approach
I'm an integrative therapist and tailor my approach to each couple. I use several evidence-based models with a primary focus on Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), which treats the relationship as an attachment bond an attachment bond. EFT has shown significant improvement for 70-75% of couples.