Couples Therapist in Los Angeles
- Are you feeling disconnected, alone, or misunderstood in your relationship?
- Is constant arguing or emotional withdrawal wearing you both down?
- Do you feel emotionally distant and struggling to reconnect physically?
- Are communication breakdowns leaving both of you feeling defensive, unseen, or unheard?
- Has trust been damaged by infidelity, dishonesty, or broken commitments?
- Are you navigating a co-parenting relationship and need support?
- Are you seeking guidance to separate in a collaborative and peaceful manner?
MY APPROACH to Couples Therapy in Los Angeles
As a PACT-certified Couples Therapist, I utilize the PACT Model (Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy), an effective method based on attachment theory, neuroscience, and arousal regulation. This approach is designed to deepen your understanding of both yourself and your partner.
Feel empowered to grow together rather than apart, and reforge a team dynamic within your relationship. By recognizing and addressing unhelpful patterns, childhood attachment wounds, traumas, and insecurities that adversely affect your relationship, you will learn how to nurture and connect with your partner, reducing pain and enhancing intimacy. You will acquire skills in co-regulation, conflict resolution, repair techniques, and team-building, reignite sexual desire, and establish a secure and enduring relationship.
Uncoupling and Separation Support
If your journey has brought you to couples counseling to navigate one of life’s most challenging experiences—uncoupling or separation—I am here to facilitate this process compassionately and effectively. We’ll explore the roots of your relationship, reduce blame, foster acknowledgment, and express emotions in a supportive setting. Divorce is inherently difficult, filled with intense emotions; I am committed to guiding you through this transition to ensure a positive outcome for everyone involved, particularly if children are part of your family narrative. Separations and divorces can be handled in a peaceful, collaborative manner, honoring the relationship you once cherished. As the author of Cooperative Co-Parenting for Secure Kids, I bring specialized expertise to couples separating with children.”
Other Services:
Common Questions About Couples Therapy
How soon will we start seeing changes in our relationship?
Every relationship is different. Some couples notice meaningful shifts within 8 to 12 sessions, while others continue longer to work through deeper patterns or process past experiences. We check in on your goals regularly so the work stays focused and you can see progress clearly.
What if my partner does not want to come to therapy?
This is common and completely understandable. Starting with an individual session can sometimes ease the transition. I also work with individuals on relationship concerns through individual therapy, which can still create meaningful shifts in how your relationship functions, even when only one partner participates.
Can couples therapy help if we are already thinking about separation?
Yes. I support couples working to repair their relationship and couples preparing to separate. For parents navigating separation, I also offer co-parenting coaching to help establish a healthy foundation for raising children across two homes. Sometimes clarity about the relationship itself is the most valuable outcome of the work.
What makes PACT different from other types of couples therapy?
PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy) is an attachment-based model that uses neuroscience and arousal regulation to help couples understand and shift the unconscious patterns driving their interactions. Unlike talk-only approaches, PACT works with real-time interactions in session so you can see your patterns as they happen and practice new responses immediately.
Can we do couples therapy online, or do we need to come in person?
Both options are available. Research supports that virtual couples therapy produces outcomes comparable to in-person work for most relationship concerns. I offer virtual sessions to couples throughout California who cannot make it to the Silver Lake office or prefer the flexibility of meeting from home.
How much does couples therapy in Los Angeles cost?
Session rates vary depending on format and duration. I offer standard 50-minute sessions as well as extended sessions and couples intensives for deeper, more concentrated work. For specific pricing and availability, please reach out for a consultation.
Session rates vary depending on format and duration. I offer standard 50-minute sessions as well as extended sessions and couples intensives for deeper, more concentrated work. For specific pricing and availability, please reach out for a consultation.
Take the First Step
If you are ready to explore what couples therapy could look like for your relationship, I invite you to schedule a free consultation. This conversation is a chance to share what is bringing you in, ask questions about the process, and see if working together feels like the right fit.
- Aurisha Smolarski, LMFT
- 323-203-1526
- aurisha.smolarski@gmail.com
- 3371 Glendale Blvd, Suite 214, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Other Services:
Explore Your Communication Style
Download the communication style quiz today and begin your journey toward enhanced communication.
