Relationships
Finding Connection Beneath the Conflict
Relationships reveal both our most genuine selves and our deepest patterns. Whether with partners, family members, or colleagues, moments of tension are inevitable—but they don't have to derail our connections.
When conflicts arise, you might notice different parts of you responding—a defensive part jumping to protect, a critical part assuming the worst, or a pleasing part trying to smooth things over. These reactions often stem from earlier experiences, creating patterns that repeat across relationships.
In our work together, we'll explore what happens beneath these reactions. You'll begin to:
Recognize your patterns and understand their origins
Respond to others from a more centered place
Transform conflicts into opportunities for deeper understanding
Set boundaries that honor both yourself and your relationships
Beyond Communication Skills
Many approaches to relationship issues focus solely on communication techniques. While these skills are valuable, they often don't address what drives our reactions in the first place.
I offer a space where you can understand the parts of you that get activated in relationships. This isn't about blaming yourself or others—it's about seeing how past experiences shape current interactions, and finding new ways forward that aren't limited by old patterns.
Individual Work That Transforms Relationships
You don't need to bring your partner or family member to benefit from relationship-focused therapy. Working individually allows you to explore your side of relationship dynamics with complete freedom. As you change your patterns, relationships naturally shift in response.
Many clients find that as they become more aware of their own reactions and learn to respond differently, their relationships improve—even when the other person isn't in therapy.
Relationship Insights
I occasionally share perspectives that illuminate relationship dynamics. Here's a recent one that resonated with many clients:
One of the most profound aspects of Internal Family Systems therapy is the moment when clients begin to truly see and understand their parts. This process—what IFS calls insight work—often creates transformative shifts that ripple through a person's entire system.