Couples Therapy
Hey There!
My name is Diana M. Garcia, and I provide couples therapy to help you and your partner rebuild connection, communicate without every conversation feeling like a minefield, and actually feel close again, not just coexist.
I’m trained in the Gottman Method of couples therapy at Level 2, which means I’m working from one of the most research-backed approaches to couples work in the field. The Gottman Institute has studied thousands of couples over decades to understand exactly what makes relationships work, and what quietly tears them apart. Level 2 training goes deeper into that research and the clinical skills to apply it. It is not common, and it makes a real difference in how I work with couples.
What is Couples Therapy?
Couples Therapy is where you and your partner start exploring what’s getting in the way of feeling connected and supported by one another. Recent changes such as relocating, moving in together, getting married, having a baby, or high-stress job(s) can heighten stress and impact relationships. Sometimes, it can be a breakdown in communication that keeps getting in the way. When you feel that you keep getting stuck and can almost predict the outcome of the disagreement before it even happens, it might be time to consider some counseling. Usually, the things you’re fighting about (someone left the dishes in the sink) are just the surface level issues, and you need to explore what’s going on underneath.
Approach
Starting couples therapy can feel extremely vulnerable, especially due to a fear that I will take sides or blame one partner for the issues. That’s a common fear, and my goal is to make you both feel that I’m your ally.
I use the Gottman Method, as the primary framework for couples work, alongside Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and tools adapted from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. In practice, that means we’re not just building communication skills, we’re also looking at the emotional patterns and unspoken needs underneath the conflict, and helping you each respond to what’s actually happening rather than just reacting to it.
I will guide the sessions to help change how you view your disagreements, communicate with one another, explore the emotions that keep coming up, and help you each genuinely see each other. Both partners must be ready and willing to engage in the process.
Benefits
Given that our relationships have the power to impact our well-being, benefits from engaging in couples therapy can be twofold. You will notice clear improvements in your relationship which will also translate into feeling better individually. Some potential gains can include:
- Finally, learn what’s really going on when the same old fight comes up and how to stop it.
- You will learn how to repair when you disagree because your still humans and conflicts in relationships will still happen.
- You will notice less friction and disconnection in your relationship.
- You will feel able to open up emotionally to one another.
- You will both feel like you’re on the same page again.
- You will have more fun with one another.
- You will understand the patterns that keep pulling you back into the same fight, and have actual tools to break them.
- I can’t promise you that this will all happen, and yet, I’ve seen couples get there (with some hard work and commitment to one another).
Logistics
Before reaching out to me, I typically recommend a conversation where both parties have agreed to start the counseling. If both parties are on the same page, then I encourage both to be involved in the process of finding a therapist since it’s essential that both feel comfortable. If you are struggling to have this conversation with your partner or your partner is unwilling to engage in couples therapy, I would consider if individual therapy is more suitable at this time. Ideally, both parties will be available for the initial phone consult, but sometimes it becomes difficult due to conflicting schedules. If one person decides to spearhead the scheduling process, then you can reach out to me via my site or call me directly. We can have the phone consult when you initially call if we’re both available or schedule for a later time.
The initial consult’s focus is to make sure I have a general sense of what’s going on in your relationship and what you both want to work on. I dedicate the first four sessions to having a thorough assessment, which looks like this:
- First session is with both parties to understand what’s going on and gather some history of your relationship.
- Second session is with one partner to gather personal history.
- Third session is with the other partner to gather personal history.
- Before the fourth session, you each fill out assessments online privately. These assessments are grounded in the Gottman Institute’s research, designed to give me a detailed picture of your relationship’s strengths and the areas we need to focus on.
- The fourth session is where we sit down together, go through what I found, and build a clear plan for where we go from here.
After that, sessions are typically scheduled weekly or every other week in certain instances (depending on the assessment). If you schedule the initial session, I will send you a link for my client portal where you can electronically fill out all the consent paperwork.
Couples Therapy In Office & Telehealth
My office is located 5 minutes away from Exit 15, Royal Palm Blvd W, of I-75, allowing me to provide in-person therapy in South Florida. Additionally, I offer Telehealth (video) sessions across the state of Florida. So I can offer video sessions if you’re physically located anywhere in Florida from the comfort of your home. If you have any questions about Telehealth, contact me here.
