Challenges We Help Navigate
Communication Breakdowns
This often show up as difficulty expressing needs and feelings without sparking conflict. Small issues can quickly escalate into misunderstandings or defensiveness, and many couples struggle to truly listen to one another in a way that fosters connection. We help couples practice clear, respectful communication and build skills to listen with curiosity instead of defensiveness.
Life Transitions
Life Transitions such as adjusting to parenthood, blending families, coping with job loss, relocation, or caring for aging parents can bring new stressors that impact the relationship. Without support, these shifts can strain even strong partnerships. We provide tools and strategies to navigate life’s changes together, strengthening teamwork during stressful times.
Conflict & Repeated Patterns
Conflict can leave partners circling back to the same arguments—whether over money, chores, or intimacy—without resolution. These cycles often create unresolved resentment or blame, making it hard to repair after fights. we work to interrupt recurring cycles, repair past hurts, and develop healthier ways to resolve conflict.
Trust & Betrayal
Trust and Betrayal are difficult but common challenges. Healing after infidelity or other breaches of trust requires rebuilding safety and transparency, while also addressing jealousy or insecurity that may linger. We create a safe space to process breaches of trust and begin rebuilding honesty, safety, and connection.
Intimacy & Connection
Connection may become strained when partners feel emotionally distant or disconnected. Differences in physical closeness can create tension, as can the challenge of finding a healthy balance between closeness and independence. We guide partners in rebuilding emotional closeness, addressing intimacy concerns, and finding a balance that feels supportive for both.
Values & Long-Term Vision
Differing expectations around finances, religion, or family planning, as well as struggles with shared goals for the future, can lead to difficulty making joint decisions without tension. We help couples explore values and goals, supporting collaboration and clarity in making decisions together.
Our Relationship Therapist
Elise Damilatis, LCSW-A, LCAS-A, CYT
Therapist (She/Her)
My work with couples, and other dyads/triads, emphasizes strengthening communication, deepening emotional connection, and fostering mutual understanding. I create a supportive space for all types of relationships and am inclusive of polyamorous, ENM, and LGBTQIA+ partnerships. I view therapy as a collaborative process—one where your unique values, identities, and goals guide our work together. My role is not to tell you what your relationship should look like, but to help you uncover what feels authentic and sustainable for your unique situation. Together, we’ll work to break unhelpful patterns, build trust, and create a stronger foundation for growth and connection.
Nonviolent Communication, or NVC, is a compassionate approach that helps couples express themselves honestly while also listening deeply to each other’s needs. Instead of falling into blame, criticism, or defensiveness, NVC focuses on four simple steps: observing what’s happening, identifying feelings, uncovering needs, and making clear requests.
​
In therapy, we use NVC to slow down tense moments and create space for both partners to feel heard and understood. By practicing this approach, couples can move beyond surface-level arguments and begin to connect around the deeper needs driving their emotions.
​
The goal of NVC is not to avoid conflict, but to transform it into an opportunity for greater empathy, respect, and collaboration—building a stronger foundation for connection and trust.
Nonviolent Communication
Somatic Regulation Techniques
Somatic regulation techniques focus on the mind-body connection and how our nervous system impacts the way we show up in relationships. When stress runs high, it’s easy for our bodies to move into fight, flight, or shutdown—and those states can fuel arguments, withdrawal, or disconnection with a partner.
​
In therapy, we use gentle, body-based tools to help you notice these responses and learn how to regulate them. This might include grounding practices, breathwork, movement, or mindfulness techniques that bring the nervous system back into balance.
​
By calming the body, couples are better able to stay present with one another, communicate clearly, and handle conflict without becoming overwhelmed. These techniques create more space for connection, empathy, and intentional choices in the relationship.
Relationship and intimacy coaching supports couples in cultivating stronger, more fulfilling partnerships.
Relationship coaching focuses on the practical—helping partners co-create rituals, routines, and systems that bring ease, clarity, and harmony to the day-to-day logistics of shared life. From household responsibilities to communication rhythms, it’s about designing a partnership that works.
Intimacy coaching goes deeper, guiding couples through practices and partner-based activities that foster emotional closeness, trust, and vulnerability. This work explores connection beyond the surface, helping partners attune to each other’s needs and build intimacy in a way that feels authentic and nourishing. Together, these approaches offer a holistic path to thriving relationships—where both structure and emotional depth are intentionally nurtured, allowing love to grow in both the ordinary and the intimate moments of life.
Relationship & Intimacy Coaching
Ready for the Next Step?
Taking the first step toward therapy can feel big, we’re here to make it easier. Schedule a free consultation to learn more about our approach, ask questions, and see if we’re the right fit for your needs. Together, we’ll explore your goals and outline the next steps for support.