Structured, warm and practical.

We combine well-researched couples methods with a plain-spoken, down-to-earth style.

Gottman-informed

Assessment of friendship, conflict management and shared meaning, with exercises drawn from decades of relationship research.

Emotionally Focused

Helping partners recognize the cycle beneath their arguments and respond to each other's deeper needs.

Skills-based

Active listening, soft start-ups, time-outs that work, and weekly "state of the union" check-ins.

A typical session

What happens in the room

Check-in (10 min) How the week went and what's on your minds.
Focus (35 min) Working through one topic together, slowly.
Practice (10 min) Rehearsing a new skill while it's fresh.
Plan (5 min) Agreeing on one thing to try before next time.

What counseling is not

Couples counseling is not about deciding who is right. It is not a place for one partner to be "fixed." And it isn't appropriate when there is ongoing physical violence or coercive control — in those situations we will help connect you with specialized, safety-focused resources such as the New Jersey Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-572-7233).