Clinical Psychologist
Couples Therapy in Fairhope, Alabama
Rebuild trust. Improve communication. Rediscover connection.
Relationships are some of the most meaningful parts of our lives — and some of the most complex. Whether you're navigating a painful disconnect, repeating the same arguments, or feeling like something essential has gone missing between you, finding your way forward alone can feel impossible.
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With more than twenty years of experience working with couples, I've seen how even strong relationships can get stuck in patterns that neither partner knows how to break. The couples I work with are typically high-functioning people — successful in their careers, thoughtful in their lives — who recognize that their relationship deserves the same level of investment and attention they bring to everything else.
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As a licensed clinical psychologist, I offer a structured and confidential space where both partners can speak honestly, listen deeply, and begin the real work of reconnection. I draw on proven therapeutic methods to help couples understand their relational patterns, resolve underlying tensions, and strengthen both emotional and physical intimacy.
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In-person sessions are available at my Fairhope office, and secure telehealth appointments are available for couples throughout Alabama — including Daphne, Spanish Fort, Mobile, and across the Eastern Shore.
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Whether you're in crisis or simply want to grow closer, couples therapy can help you move from frustration and uncertainty to clarity, compassion, and renewed connection.
What to Expect in Couples Therapy
The first session is 90 minutes. That extended time gives both partners space to share their perspectives fully without feeling rushed and gives me a clear picture of what's happening in the relationship, how you got here, and what you each want to change.
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I'll ask about your history together, your individual backgrounds, and the specific concerns that brought you in. This isn't about assigning blame or picking sides. It's about understanding the dynamic between you so we can start working with it, not around it.
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From there, ongoing sessions are one hour. We'll work together to identify the patterns driving your conflict or disconnection. Many couples discover that the arguments they keep having on the surface are rooted in deeper unmet needs for safety, validation, or closeness that neither partner fully recognizes. Once those patterns become visible, real change becomes possible.
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What sessions typically include:
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A structured, confidential space designed for honest conversation
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Exploration of communication patterns and the cycles that keep you stuck
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Evidence-based therapeutic approaches tailored to your relationship's specific challenges
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Practical tools you can use between sessions to sustain progress
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Flexible scheduling with both in-person sessions at my Fairhope office and secure telehealth throughout Alabama
My Approach to Couples Therapy
Every couple arrives with a different story. Some are dealing with a specific rupture — an affair, a betrayal of trust, a decision that fractured the foundation. Others have drifted apart slowly, over years, until the distance feels permanent. And some come in not because things are broken, but because they know the relationship could be more than it currently is.
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I don't use a one-size-fits-all script. My approach draws from evidence-based frameworks and two decades of clinical experience to address what each couple actually needs. I'm direct when directness is useful, patient when the work requires patience, and always focused on helping you build something that lasts — not just feel better for a week.
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The couples I work best with are people who are ready to do the work. They're willing to look at their own role in the dynamic, not just their partner's. They want a therapist who will challenge them, not just validate them. If that sounds like you, we'll work well together.
Is Couples Therapy Right for You?
Couples therapy can be a powerful step forward if you and your partner are experiencing:
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Frequent unresolved conflict that leaves you feeling stuck, unheard, or misunderstood
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Emotional disconnection or loneliness, even while physically present together
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A breakdown in communication that escalates tensions instead of resolving them
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Struggles with parenting roles, discipline styles, or blended family dynamics
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Challenges related to extended family, boundaries, or differing expectations
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Diminished physical or emotional intimacy, or a desire to deepen the connection
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Infidelity, trust issues, or betrayal — and a willingness to heal and rebuild
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Disagreements over finances, work-life balance, or household responsibilities
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A general sense that you've become more like roommates than romantic partners
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A commitment to strengthen and future-proof your relationship, even if things aren't currently "bad"
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You don't have to wait until things are falling apart. Some of the most productive couples therapy happens when both partners recognize that something needs to shift — and they commit to doing something about it before resentment takes root.
Why Work With a Clinical Psychologist
Not all therapists bring the same depth of training. As a clinical psychologist with a Ph.D. and more than 20 years of practice, I bring doctoral-level training in human behavior, psychological assessment, and evidence-based treatment preparation that goes well beyond standard counseling licensure requirements.
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That depth matters in couples' work because relational problems rarely exist in isolation. Anxiety, depression, trauma, attachment wounds, and personality differences all shape how people show up in their relationships. My training allows me to see the full picture, not just the presenting conflict, and to work with the individual factors that feed relational dysfunction.
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Over two decades, I've worked with couples at every stage, newly committed and navigating early friction, long-married and questioning whether it's too late, separated and weighing whether to try again. That range of experience means I recognize patterns quickly, I don't waste your time on approaches that won't work for your situation, and I can tell you honestly what I see.
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My role isn't to take sides. It's to help each of you feel seen, understood, and capable of creating meaningful change together. Many couples tell me that for the first time in years, they can truly hear one another, and that's often where the shift begins.
What Couples Therapy Can Address
The couples who come to my practice bring a wide range of concerns. Some of the most common include:
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Communication breakdowns. You talk, but nothing gets resolved. Conversations escalate into arguments, or one of you shuts down entirely. Therapy helps you understand why that happens and build new patterns that actually lead somewhere.
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Trust and infidelity. Whether the betrayal was recent or years ago, rebuilding trust requires more than promises. It requires structured, honest work — and a therapist who can hold the complexity of that process without rushing either partner.
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Emotional distance. You're still together, but you feel alone. The warmth, curiosity, and connection you once had have been replaced by routine or resentment. Couples therapy helps you find the path back or decide honestly whether the path exists.
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Life transitions. A new baby, a career change, a move, retirement, adult children leaving home. These shifts put stress on relationships in ways people don't expect. Therapy provides a space to navigate them together rather than in parallel.
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Premarital preparation. Starting a marriage with clear communication patterns, shared expectations, and tools for handling inevitable conflict is one of the smartest investments a couple can make.
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Considering divorce. Not every couple that comes to therapy stays together — and that's not a failure. Sometimes the most honest outcome of the work is clarity about what each person needs, even if that means moving forward separately. I support couples through that process with the same care and structure.
Serving Fairhope, Daphne, Mobile, and the Eastern Shore
My office is located at 203 Fels Avenue in downtown Fairhope, Alabama. I work with couples from across Baldwin County and the greater Mobile area, including:
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Fairhope and the surrounding 36532 area
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Daphne (36526) and Spanish Fort (36527)
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Mobile and greater Mobile County
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Gulf Shores, Foley, and lower Baldwin County
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Eastern Shore communities throughout the bay area
For couples who prefer the convenience of remote sessions or live farther from Fairhope, I offer secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth appointments for clients throughout the state of Alabama.
Common Questions About Couples Therapy
Do both partners need to attend every session? Ideally, yes. Couples therapy is most effective when both partners are present and engaged. In some situations, I may recommend an individual session to explore a specific topic, but the core work happens together.
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What if my partner doesn't want to come? This is common. One partner is usually more ready than the other. A brief phone consultation can often help address your partner's hesitations. And if your partner truly isn't willing, individual therapy focused on your own patterns within the relationship can still create real change.
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Is everything we discuss confidential? Confidentiality is a cornerstone of my practice. Everything shared in session is protected, with only the standard legal exceptions. Both partners can trust that what happens in the room stays in the room.
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How do I get started? Call me at 251-751-0765 or use the contact form on this site. I'll respond within one business day to schedule your initial 90-minute session.