As a stand-alone service, or as an adjunct to individual psychotherapy, California Women’s Therapy also provides expert support and guidance to couples.
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Dr. Tamara Savage
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Tami’s Approach to Couples Counseling
My focus in treating couples involves enhancing genuine communication and empathy between partners in order to reduce patterns of tension, distance, and disconnection. I strive to help each partner take responsibility for changing unhealthy, destructive approaches to their relationship, to manage emotions more effectively, and to enhance physical and emotional intimacy in their relationship.
In my couples work I believe that each partner’s past will influence how they “show up” with their partner today. In exploring unhealthy patterns of attachment in couples work, partners can learn to break out of patterns of interaction that are no longer working for them in order to create new bonds, new ways of communicating with each other, and a greater capacity for cooperation, compromise, mutual empathy, and support.
While it is not possible for any couple to have identical needs, it is possible to build bridges for understanding and to create the room and space needed for a loving and satisfying relationship.
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Dr. Kelly Ransom
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Kelly’s Approach to Couples Counseling
My approach to couples counseling is collaborative, practical, and trauma-informed. I draw from Emotionally Focused Therapy, an evidence-based approach that helps us better understand the emotions and experiences that shape how we relate to one another. Together, we’ll explore what may be happening beneath moments of conflict, distance, or disconnection and work toward creating greater safety, security, and closeness in your relationship.
In our work together, I help each partner recognize the patterns that may be keeping you stuck. We’ll slow things down and take a closer look at what happens for each of you during moments of tension, so you can better understand your own responses as well as your partner’s. From there, we can practice new ways of communicating, responding, and repairing after conflict.
The goal is not to eliminate differences or ensure that conflict never happens. Instead, I want to help you change the way you move through difficult moments together. Over time, you can learn to step out of old patterns and find your way back to one another emotionally—even during moments of stress or distress.
My approach is tailored to the unique needs of each relationship. I strive to provide a supportive space where both partners can feel heard and understood while building the tools needed to create more stability, connection, and security moving forward.
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Dr. Celeste Simmons
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Celeste’s Approach to Couples Counseling
My approach to couples counseling is collaborative, direct, practical, and grounded in evidence-based care. I work with couples to better understand both their individual experiences and the patterns that have developed within their relationship. Rather than focusing only on the content of a particular disagreement, I help couples identify recurring cycles of conflict, communication breakdowns, emotional disconnection, and unmet needs. Understanding how these patterns develop—and what keeps them going—is often an important part of creating meaningful change.
I strive to create a space where both partners can feel heard, understood, and respected while also encouraging each person to reflect on their own role in the relationship dynamic. My work is informed by an understanding of attachment, trauma, family systems, and the ways past family and relationship experiences can shape how we connect with others today.
Together, we work on developing practical skills for communicating more effectively, managing conflict, repairing after difficult interactions, setting healthy boundaries, and strengthening emotional connection. I believe that healthy relationships do not require partners to agree on everything. Instead, the goal is to help couples navigate differences with greater understanding, respect, flexibility, and intention.
For couples who are also parenting together, I pay particular attention to the ways the couple relationship and parenting relationship influence one another. My experience working with high-conflict and court-involved families has also given me insight into how conflict can escalate and become entrenched over time, and the importance of interrupting unhealthy patterns before they become the primary way partners relate to one another.
Every couple brings their own strengths, challenges, and goals to therapy. Treatment is tailored to each couple and may focus on strengthening the relationship, navigating a major transition, rebuilding trust and connection, or gaining greater clarity about the future.
So you can learn more about our services and make sure we’re a great fit, we offer free initial consultations.
Contact us to schedule your initial consultation.
Begin your journey today 🌱