Couples therapy

We are all born with a basic, biological need to ​connect and feel loved by others.

​Then it gets complicated.

Online Therapy For Lesbian, Gay, Queer, and Straight Couples in California and Florida

We warmly invite LGBTQ+ couples to our practice and offer an environment of affirmation and empathy for the unique stressors that affect queer and trans people and relationships.

Communication.

The most common reason couples come to therapy is to improve communication, and in turn reduce conflict. Whether you're struggling with miscommunications, frequent fights, infidelity, feelings of loss and distance, values difference, or uncertainty about the future, couples therapy can help improve communication and increase feelings of closeness, love, hope, and shared meaning and vision for the future.

We love working with couples because there is greater impact for change when two people work together rather than separately. There's energy and movement and possibility in every session.

​Before we begin, we'll talk to each of you separately to get a sense of what you hope to achieve in therapy. Then we'll meet together for a few sessions as we get to know you and your relationship. Then we'll collaborate on a plan for how to help you reduce conflict and feel more connected and loved.

Our therapists have a wide variety of training and experience with couples, including training in Gottman & EFT couples therapy. All our therapists are sex-positive, body positive, anti-racist, and gender affirming.

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My partner and I did couples therapy [at Laurel Therapy Collective] and it was one of the best things we've ever spent money on.

Anonymous client, quoted with permission

Used with permission
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You've helped us so much. I can't imagine going back to the way we felt when we started couples therapy.

Anonymous client, quoted with permission

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Coriann Papazian, LMFT
Specializing in adults, teens, and couples
Alexis Bibler, AMFT

​Specializing in adults and couples
For many couples, therapy is an essential part of building and maintaining a solid relationship. Not only can therapy help to decrease conflict and improve communication, but it can also provide a space for couples to explore their identity and connection. One of the first things that therapist will often do with couples is to create what's called a love map. This is basically a way of mapping out your partner's likes, dislikes, history, and anything else that you feel is important to know. By taking the time to really get to know your partner on a deeper and more intimate level, you can decrease the chances of conflict and increase the feeling of connection. 

Therapy for Couples In Our LGBTQ+ Community

For many LGBT couples, therapy provides a safe place to talk about their experiences and feelings. It can be a place to process coming out stories, explore gender identity, and work through any number of issues related to being part of the LGBT community. By working with a therapist that understands the unique challenges faced by LGBT couples, you can create a stronger, more connected relationship.

All couples can benefit from therapy, and this is especially true for LGBT couples. In therapy, LGBTQ+ couples can work on their love maps, which are the intimate knowledge they have of their partner's inner world and history. Developing a deeper connection with your partner can help to decrease conflict and increase intimacy. Gay, lesbian, and otherwise queer couples therapy can provide a space for exploring identity and coming out. For many people in the LGBT community, therapy can be a vital step in affirming their identity and living an authentic life. Whether you are just starting out or have been together for years, therapy can help you build a stronger relationship.
Therapy sessions can be an incredibly healing and beneficial experience for LGBT couples. In these sessions, couples can welcome and affirm each other without judgement. This can be hugely beneficial in helping the couple to heal any past hurts and create a stronger, more connected relationship. LGBT affirmative couples therapy can be an incredibly powerful tool for couples who want to deepen their understanding of themselves and each other.
See also: What Is the Sound Relationship House?
Recommended reading for couples:

Attached by Amir Levine & Rachel Heller
The Seven Principles For Making Marriage Work by John Gottman & Nan Silver
Getting the Love You Want by Harville Hendrix
Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Header image by Quintin Gellar 
Additional photos by ​Mikhail Nilov and Marcelo Chagas