PACT Couple Therapy
Why engage in Couple Therapy with me?
Remember what it was like when you were first together? Remember the reason why you fell in love? Often in our most intimate relationships, we lose sight of why we decided to be together in the first place. We end up having the same arguments over and over-the same fights that never seem to go anywhere except downhill.
Healthy relationships are not the result of luck or compatibility alone—they are built, maintained, repaired, and strengthened over time. Conflict, distance, or repeated misunderstandings are not signs of failure; they are often signals that something important needs attention.
I specialize in couple therapy and am trained in the PACT model (Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy), developed by Dr. Stan Tatkin. This approach is grounded in attachment theory and neuroscience and focuses on how partners affect one another at both emotional and biological levels. Simply put, we are wired to depend on our closest relationships for safety, regulation, and connection.
My Approach
I believe partners are uniquely positioned to help one another feel understood, valued, and protected. When a relationship is functioning well, it can increase resilience, confidence, and overall well-being. When it is not, it can become a source of stress, confusion, and pain.
Many couples find themselves stuck in familiar cycles—arguing, withdrawing, shutting down—without understanding why these patterns keep repeating. These impasses are a common, normal part of human relationships. In my work, problems in relationships are not pathologized. We work with the understanding that they are driven by early attachment experiences, nervous system responses, and misread signals of threat or safety rather than by intention or character flaws.
PACT couple therapy sessions are active and experiential. We work with real interactions in real time, making small but meaningful corrections that can shift the dynamic immediately to help couples develop better regulation, clearer communication, and more effective repair after conflict.
Over time, this work fosters greater security, intimacy, and mutual respect—creating a foundation that supports long-term growth for both partners and the relationship itself.
Working Together
I approach mental health and relationships through a family systems lens, emphasizing emotional connection, awareness, and vulnerability as the foundation for meaningful change. I strive to create a space where partners can see one another—and themselves—with greater clarity and compassion.
My work integrates mindfulness, self-compassion, Buddhist psychology, family systems and internal family systems approaches, and nervous system awareness. I help couples learn about themselves and become the expert on their partner.
Whether you are navigating a crisis, feeling disconnected, or simply want to deepen intimacy and understanding, couples therapy can help you move forward with intention and care.
I am based in Saratoga Springs and offer both in-person and online sessions.
The Science Behind the Work
Neuroscience helps us understand how the brain responds to threat, stress, and connection. When couples are distressed, the “primitive” parts of the brain can take over, leading to reactions that feel automatic and out of proportion. Seeing these responses through a biological lens helps couples depersonalize conflict and work more effectively together.
Arousal regulation focuses on keeping the “thinking” part of the brain online during moments of distress. Many couples get trapped in fight, flight, or freeze responses. Learning how to regulate arousal—individually and as a team—allows for clearer thinking, empathy, and repair.
Attachment theory explains our deep need for secure bonds. Early relationship experiences shape how we seek closeness and respond to threat in adult partnerships. When attachment injuries are understood and addressed, couples often experience a restored sense of safety and trust.
