Healing with stronger bonds
Supporting couples in building stronger, healthier relationships, informed by trauma and addiction expertise.
I bring years of experience working with individuals navigating trauma, addiction, and complex emotional challenges, and I understand how these experiences often ripple into relationships. In couples counseling, I use this insight to help partners recognize patterns that may have developed from past trauma or substance use, while guiding them toward deeper connection, trust, and emotional safety.
Grounded in the Gottman Method, our work together focuses on:
improving communication
Using Gottman’s “love maps” and “softened startup” techniques, couples learn to express needs clearly, listen with empathy, and stay connected even during conflict.
Repairing trust after ruptures
Gottman’s repair attempts and trust-building exercises help partners safely process breaches, rebuild emotional safety, and restore intimacy over time.
Breaking negative interaction cycles
Through identifying and interrupting criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling with constructive communication and mutual respect.
strengthening relationships with mutual understanding
I help couples understand triggers, recognize patterns, and co-create healthier relational dynamics tailored to their unique experiences.
Reframing trauma and addiction as a shared challenge
Instead of blaming each other for the ways trauma or addiction show up in the relationship, couples learn to view these experiences as an external influence that they can face together, using Gottman interventions to respond with grace, accountability, and mutual support, strengthening connection rather than creating conflict.
Couples counseling is suitable for any partners committed to growth, accountability, and meaningful change. Together, we create a safe space to heal old wounds, understand relational triggers, and cultivate a partnership that feels secure, respectful, and connected.
📌 Please note: Couples counseling is not recommended when there is ongoing abuse or active safety concerns.
want to start your healing journey?
Learn more by scheduling a phone consultation with Chelsea here:
Anzen Counseling 