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Affirmative Online Trauma & Grief Therapy in California
Lisa Sonin Larsen, PsyD (CA Lic.# PSY19046)
3123 W. Ave. L 8, Lancaster, CA 93536
Phone: 661-233-6771
Couples Therapy
Break Free From Recurring Relationship Cycles
Do you and your partner find yourselves trapped in the same repetitive arguments? When emotions run high, does it feel impossible to truly hear or understand one another?
Often, these conflicts are not about the issue at hand, but rather unmet attachment needs. Patterns that once helped you feel safe now create distance, leaving you feeling reactive, misunderstood, or stuck.
Find Your Way Back to Each Other
You don’t have to keep struggling in silence. Through Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFTC), we move beyond basic communication "tips" to address the deeper emotional roots of your relationship.
Why EFTC Works
EFTC is a research-backed approach that focuses on the heart of your bond: your need for security and closeness. By identifying the triggers behind your reactions, you can:
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De-escalate Conflict: Stop the cycle of reactive, harmful arguments.
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Heal Attachment Wounds: Understand how past experiences shape your present relationship.
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Restore Empathy: Replace frustration with curiosity and deep emotional understanding.
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Build Lasting Connection: Learn to navigate stress together rather than apart.
Ready to start thriving together?
Learn more about couples therapy and love relationships!
The Origins of EFTC
The Science of Connection: Dr. Sue Johnson & EFTC
Developed by Dr. Sue Johnson in the 1980s, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFTC) revolutionized relationship counseling. By moving beyond surface-level arguments, EFTC dives into the underlying attachment needs that drive our reactions.
Why It’s Different
Instead of just "learning to communicate," EFTC helps you and your partner:
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Identify Emotional Triggers: Recognize the roots of conflict, often tied to earlier life experiences.
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Foster Empathy: Move from reactive defensiveness to expressing vulnerable needs.
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Rebuild Safety: Use the therapeutic space to learn how to soothe and support one another in real-time.
Inclusive & Accessible
EFTC is designed for every couple. Whether you are heterosexual, LGBTQ+, polyamorous, or non-monogamous, this approach provides a universal roadmap to healing. Whether in-person or via online sessions, the path to a secure, lasting bond is more accessible than ever.
Is Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy Right for You and Your Partner?
Move From Conflict to Connection
Communication techniques are only effective when you feel secure. By healing the underlying attachment patterns, you can move from reactive, automatic responses to intentional, loving choices.
Are you ready to stop surviving and start thriving together?
Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples can be healing for both partners individually, and for the relationship as a whole.
How I can help your relationship in couples therapy online
There was a time when your relationship felt good—or at least good enough for you to get together. Do you remember what drew you to your partner? Does your partner remember what they were attracted to in you? You may have lost sight of that, but you can rekindle your relationship with time and care. Even if you feel disconnected or hopeless now, that connection can be rebuilt in couples counseling.
Seeking outside help can make all the difference. When you're fighting with someone, you're too close to see how you each contribute to the conflict. You need a skilled, experienced couples therapist to observe the patterns and show you new, better ways to relate to each other.
If you're wondering about the couples therapy cost, think about the cost of not making your relationship a priority. The cost of loneliness, isolation, or even legal issues like divorce and custody battles can be far greater than the effort of working on your relationship. You don’t have to wait until your relationship is on the verge of breakup or divorce. In fact, addressing your problems when they are manageable makes much more sense. The things you say in fights cannot be unsaid, and they tend to leave lasting hurt and resentment.
What is couples therapy like?
Couples therapy is not just about addressing the problems. We tackle the big problems like infidelity, emotional distance, and the like, but we also cover what's going well for you. It can help to explore times when your relationship is going well – when you feel closer, have fun, and feel succeed together. I encourage you to look for the positive emotions in your relationship, as well as the ones that create storms. When you feel supported, hopeful, and secure, it becomes easier to find your way back to your partner and the relationship you both want and deserve to have.
In our couples counseling sessions, I will:
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Help you uncover the patterns keeping you stuck and what drives your conflicts;
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Observe how you interact and gently guide you toward more understanding and connection;
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Teach you to recognize and repair negative cycles that push you apart;
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Encourage empathy and respectful communication
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Help you see both your perspective and your partner’s viewpoint;
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Support you in making lasting changes, so conflicts become easier to navigate.
As you break negative cycles and strengthen emotional bonds, you’ll find healthier, more flexible ways to handle conflict—leading to a more fulfilling and lasting relationship. Whether it's marriage counseling or relationship counseling for nontraditional partnerships, your relationship can benefit from this type of support.
You deserve to feel connected, secure, and at peace with your partner. If you're ready to take the next step towards understanding your emotions and your partner’s needs and feelings, I look forward to hearing from you. Please call me or click the button below to get started.
Online Couples and Relationship Therapy in Lancaster, CA
Lisa S. Larsen, Psy.D.(she/her/hers)
3123 W Ave L 8, Lancaster, CA 93536
No in-person sessions offered.
Please call to make an appointment or submit your phone number in the contact form. Thank you. I look forward to speaking with you soon!
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