Services
Couples & Relationships
Family stress, work stress, and the big pivots. Navigating change with more clarity and a stronger sense of purpose.
Most couples don’t arrive because of one argument. They arrive because a pattern has set in, and the same conversation keeps happening in slightly different clothes.
Sessions focus on what each of you is actually asking for underneath the disagreement, and on building a way to say it that the other person can hear.
This is also useful during transitions that aren’t anyone’s fault. A new baby, a career change, a move, an illness, or a shift in what you each need.
This may be a good fit if
- The same argument keeps recurring
- A transition has changed how you relate to each other
- One or both of you has stopped raising things
- You want to communicate differently, not just less often
- You’re deciding whether to continue and want support either way
What the work looks like
The first session is mostly listening, and we hear from both of you. Couples usually arrive with two accounts that don’t match. That’s normal, and the mismatch itself is useful information.
Then we slow the recurring argument down. Most couples aren’t fighting about the thing they’re fighting about — underneath it is a request that hasn’t landed, or a hurt that never got acknowledged.
A lot of sessions involve practicing the conversation in the room rather than reporting on it afterwards. It feels awkward at first. It’s also where the change happens, because you get to try a different move while someone can slow it down.
We stay even-handed. This isn’t a forum for deciding who was right, and neither of you will be recruited against the other.
Practical details
| Format | Individual, 50 minutes |
|---|---|
| Where | In person or telehealth, anywhere in Colorado |
| Insurance | In-network with Aetna, United Healthcare and Cigna |
| First step | A free 15-minute consultation |
Who you’d see: Shayla Martinez-O’Brien or Chrissie Flynn-Weirich.
Common questions
What if only one of us wants to come?
Start anyway. One person can shift a pattern, and individual work on how you show up in the relationship is legitimate on its own terms. Sometimes the other partner joins later.
Do you take sides?
No. Both of you will hear things that are hard, and both of you will be asked to change something. If either of you starts to feel that we’re building a case, say so and we’ll address it directly.
Is couples therapy covered by insurance?
Often not, or only under certain conditions, because insurers generally require an individual diagnosis. We’ll check your plan and give you a written estimate before you start.
What if we’re deciding whether to separate?
That’s a legitimate reason to come. The work then is to make the decision clearly and kindly rather than by attrition, and to help you do it well if separating is what you choose.
Can we do couples sessions by telehealth?
Yes. Sit in the same room and use one screen if you can. If you’re in separate places, that works too, though the in-room dynamic is part of what we’re working with.
Ready when you are.
Book a free 15-minute consultation, or call (303) 736-9822.