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About Us
Relational Psych is a psychodynamically focused therapy group practice based in Seattle offering therapy and psychological assessments
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Dr. Baylee Hoey, PsyD
Bee Cook, MA
Caitlyn Liao, MSW
Dr. Carly Claney, PhD
Michelle Webber, MA
Nick Nordberg, MA
Dr. Olivia Painter, PsyD
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Couples Therapy

Exploring your relationship with depth and compassion
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A serene couple's therapist office with a dark leather sofa, adorned with soft-toned pillows. A modern white lamp stands on a side table, alongside a decorative vase with gentle foliage. The walls are graced with two large framed artworks depicting abstract landscapes, all contributing to a calming and inviting atmosphere for meaningful conversations.
Relational Psych provides compassionate, insightful couples therapy to help couples reconnect, understand each other, and resolve ongoing conflicts.
You and your partner might be seeking therapy because you:
  • Feel stuck in a negative pattern of arguing, emotional distance, or poor communication
  • Wish you could feel closer but don’t know how to get there
  • Find your lack of connection unsettling compared to how you used to be
  • Have felt disconnected for so long it seems normal
If you're ready to invest in healing and moving forward with your relationship, we're here to help.

The Benefits of Couples Therapy

Couples therapy provides a safe, supportive environment for you and your partner to improve your relationship with the guidance of a therapist. Some of the many benefits of couples therapy include:

Improve Communication and Listening Skills
Many relationship problems stem from poor communication and misunderstandings. A therapist can teach you and your partner healthy communication techniques like speaking clearly, active listening, expressing needs, and avoiding criticism or contempt. You'll learn to better understand each other.

Resolve Conflicts and Let Go of Resentment
Couples therapy helps you get to the root of ongoing conflicts and long-held resentments that hurt your bond. By learning conflict resolution tools, you can argue constructively, compromise, and forgive each other for past hurts. This reduces tension and brings you closer.

Rebuild Intimacy and Reconnect Emotionally
Intimacy often suffers when couples are stuck in negativity. Couples counseling rebuilds intimacy by helping you be more vulnerable, express appreciation, have meaningful conversations, and engage in thoughtful acts of kindness. Your emotional connection deepens.

Develop Tools to Manage Differences and Grow Together
Every couple has differences that can drive them apart over time. Therapy equips you with skills to embrace each other's quirks, respectfully discuss changes you want, and nurture continual growth as individuals and partners. You develop a shared vision.

Prevent Divorce and Separation
For couples experiencing distress, couples therapy is often the best way to prevent a downward spiral ending in unwanted separation. By addressing issues early and learning healthier habits, couples can get back on track and rediscover why they fell in love.

Thoughtfully Approach Separation
Not every relationship will last a lifetime. This can be unwanted, heartbreaking, and disruptive, but it doesn't have to be traumatic. Having a therapist with you both to walk through these impossible conversations and experiences can support you in the next stage of your lives.

How Couples Therapy Can Help

At Relational Psych, our couples therapists draw from psychodynamic theory and other evidence-based approaches to help you and your partner improve your relationship, communication, and satisfaction. Here's a sample of different approaches.

‍Resolve Unconscious Conflicts with Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy helps you gain insight into the unconscious patterns, family dynamics, and inner conflicts driving relationship struggles. Increased self-awareness leads to healthier ways of relating to each other and yourself.

‍Create Emotional Safety with EFT
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) creates emotional safety so you and your partner can be vulnerable. You'll learn to be responsive to each other's attachment needs, promote bonding, and stabilize your relationship.

Gain Insights from the Gottman Method
The renowned Gottman Method helps build friendship, manage conflict, deepen intimacy, and develop shared meaning. You'll gain research-backed skills to increase understanding, empathy, and long-term fulfillment.

Our couples therapists customize treatment based on your relationship's unique needs and goals, and they'll tailor your sessions to target the core issues impacting your communication, intimacy, and happiness as a couple. You'll gain insights and skills to transform your relationship.

What to Expect in Couples Therapy

When you start couples counseling with Relational Psych, here is what you can expect:

Warm, Nonjudgmental Environment
Our therapists create a safe, welcoming space for openness and vulnerability. We don't judge or have expectations on what your relationship should look like. We are patient and don't have a time limit on your growth trajectory. We meet you where you are and customize your treatment based on you and your relationship.
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Both Partners Fully Heard and Understood
Each partner will feel truly heard, understood, and advocated for in sessions. We won't take sides and we'll create space for both partners' experiences to be valid. You'll both gain valuable perspective and practice listening with the strength of your relationship as the goal.
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Tailored Interventions Based on Clinical Expertise and Your Needs
Your desires for your relationship, your strengths, and your needs dictate what treatment looks like. There isn't one path towards happiness in a relationship and we don't limit you by imposing expectations or templated approaches. We have the expertise to guide you and you'll also need to be brave and do the work to grow yourself and the relationship.‍

The focus is on meeting your relationship where it is and collaboratively creating a healthier, stronger future together. Our couples therapists are committed to your success.

Couples Therapists

A headshot of Caitlyn Lioa smiling

Caitlyn Liao, MSW

Dr. Olivia Painter sitting in a chair, turning to face the camera

Dr. Olivia Painter, PsyD

How to Get Started

1

Free Consultation

Together | 15 minutes | No charge

Beginning couples therapy can feel challenging. During your initial contact, our care coordinator, Ally, will listen to what you and your partner are experiencing and what you are looking for in couples counseling. She will consider which therapist is the best fit for your relationship based on their style, expertise, and scheduling availability. You will also have the option to have a consultation call with your couples therapist before scheduling. Once you get scheduled, Ally will send you online intake paperwork for both partners to complete before your first session.

2

First Appointment (Online or In Person)

Together | 90 minutes or 2 hours |

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At your first meeting, your therapist will spend time setting the foundation for your work together. They will gather relevant background information, get to know you both individually and as a couple, invite you to ask questions, and discuss your goals for therapy. We offer extended sessions for the first appointment so that you can set a strong foundation for the therapeutic relationship and receive a clear assessment for how to get started.

3

Individual Sessions

Individual | 45 or 60 minutes |

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Next, your therapist will typically meet with each partner individually to gain a thorough understanding of your unique perspectives and experiences. These one-on-one sessions allow you to share your thoughts, feelings, and concerns in a private setting, fostering a strong therapeutic alliance built on trust and openness. Your therapist will explore any personal challenges or mental health issues that may be impacting your relationship, as well as discuss your motivation and goals for couples therapy. This individual time helps ensure that both partners feel heard, understood, and supported throughout the therapeutic process.

4

Ongoing Sessions

Together | 45, 60, 75, or 90 minutes |

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Ongoing couples therapy sessions are typically held weekly to maintain consistency, focus, and progress towards your goals. In these ongoing sessions, your therapist will help you improve communication, rebuild intimacy, resolve conflicts, and develop a shared vision for your relationship. Some couples prefer extended sessions and your therapist will help you determine what length of session time works best for your relationship.

Fees


Session Fee: $0.00

Contact Us

Schedule a free consultation call with our friendly care coordinator, Ally. She'll walk you through the process of getting started and answer any initial questions you might have.
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Relational Psych, PLLC

200 W Mercer St. Suite E305, Seattle, WA 98119hello@relationalpsych.group(206) 589-1018
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