Great Couples Counseling in Irvine, CA. Therapy to heal relationships.

Couples and Marriage Counselor and Psychoanalyst Laura Adams PsyD MFT has private practices in Mission Viejo and Newport Beach CA. Dr. Adams has extensive experience working with couples in the areas of infidelity, affairs, trust, commitment, communications, raising kids, and blended families. Dr. Adams can be contacted at (949) 244-1992 or www.SouthOCTherapist.com

My Approach is Different: I spend more time preparing for a session than the average marriage counselor, often an hour, and do so free of charge! I also spend more time between sessions, not just 10 minutes, so I am fully prepared to work on your case. Moreover, my "hour" is an actual 60 minutes, not a "therapy hour," defined to mean something less. My approach is diametrically opposed to that of one therapist who said "that 45- or 50-minute sessions allow therapists to offer a fresh perspective and remain objective without getting too immersed in a client’s life." "Too immersed?" I don't get that. Couples appreciate my full dedication to their success and happiness as a couple.

Instead of using a one size fits all approach to working with couples I partner with them to develop their own unique therapy plan that usually involves combining several approaches such as helping them to use facilitative communication focused on clarifying and understanding each other's needs, as well as finding ways to respond to those needs in ways that are experienced as caring. Sex therapy is also another specialization of mine which can be included in couples therapy. Most of the couples with whom I word decide to stay together but this isn't always the goal or outcome. If they do decide to separate or divorce I work with them to do so in ways that are least harmful to all.

I see clients in relationships of all kinds. Whether you are in a poly relationship, you practice non-monogamy, or if you are in a traditional marriage, you are in the right place. I offer a non-judgmental space where we work as a team to improve communication, develop connection and understanding, and use real tools to better your relationship. I am more than a mediator-- I help each person communicate their true thoughts and true needs without conflict. Do you have intimacy issues and need sex therapy? I provide that service as well. Sex is part of every relationship and should always be a priority. Physical intimacy is vital and I can help you make improvements that stick over time.

Let me guess. One partner feels alone and like they don't matter and the other feels they are always being criticized and can't get anything right. The more one asks for the other to show up, the more the partner disappears physically and emotionally. You both bicker and fight and the idea of sitting and just hanging out seems elusive, if not impossible. Something like this? Often we crave connection but are blocked by the pain and the history that gets in the way. Small fights about little things become battles that highlight our struggle to have our basic relational needs met. I can help you get under the bickering to the parts crying out for connection- to an enriching relationship.

Couples struggling with repeated conflict, emotional injuries, and feelings of loneliness will find solace and rejuvenation in the therapy process. My approach to couples counseling is centered on healing attachment wounds and fostering a deeper connection between partners. By creating a compassionate and non-judgmental space, I guide couples in uncovering the underlying emotions that have led to the disconnection. Together, we will work to develop effective communication skills, rebuild trust, and cultivate empathy. You will experience relief from past hurts and discover new pathways to improved relational functioning, leading to a more satisfying and harmonious partnership.

My work with couples is developmental and focuses on self-confrontation, differentiation, and collaboration. Individuals in the partnerships that I work with take responsibility for their own mental health and happiness and learn to grow themselves up in a way that brings goodness and intimacy to their relationship. I can help them overcome gridlock and sexual challenges to strengthen the relationship and reignite desire.

Are you and your partner constantly in conflict? Do you find that an argument about a seemingly silly issue often escalates into a full-blown fight? Are you tired of leading two separate lives? Do your differing views on money, sex and life feel insurmountable? Couples therapy can help. No matter what the issue, relationship counseling should not be about partner bashing. Couples therapy provides a safe place for you and your partner to improve communication and decrease reactivity. Couples therapy can help you reconnect with your partner and help you discover how to choose each other first. Call for a free phone consultation today.

Couples have come to see me for a variety of reasons throughout the years, but I find that no matter what the presenting problem may be, being able to effectively communicate with each other is vital to restoring the relationship. Often couples have a completely different style of relating to one another and resolving conflict. I work with couples to better understand their partner and I help each person to communicate in a way that they can finally be heard. It doesn’t matter what you are fighting about if the other person can’t hear what you are saying. Call 714-751-0888 so I can help you express yourself more effectively so you can stop the fighting and start the healing process.

I specialize in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), a a highly effective method for healing relationships. Research has shown that 70-75% of couples who participate in EFT become closer and more intimate in their relationship, and 90% show significant improvements. As a trained EFT therapist, I am more interested in exploring the patterns and cycles that you get stuck in when facing conflict. How do you handle conflict? Do you become angry and lash out with your words, or do you shut down and tune out (or leave). How does your partner respond to you during these times? It is the dance between you that I am interested in exploring. Once we identify the dance, then we can work at change.

Love is the medicine for the soul, however, every relationship comes with its complications. If you still love yourself but feel alone in your relationship, have lost your way to connect, and every conversation tends to turn to an argument, couples therapy will help you to build a solid foundation to bring happiness and romance back to your life. Couples therapy is a type of psychotherapy in which a licensed therapist with clinical experience working with couples, most often a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), helps people involved in a romantic relationship gain insight into their relationship, resolve conflict, and improve relationship