Couples Therapy in Murrieta, CA

Many couples come to therapy feeling stuck in painful cycles. You may be having the same arguments repeatedly. One partner may shut down while the other feels unheard. Trust may feel fragile. Communication may turn tense quickly.

In couples counseling, we focus on:

• Strengthening emotional connection

• Improving communication

• Rebuilding trust after betrayal

• Navigating major life transitions

• Breaking unhealthy relational patterns

I integrate the Gottman Method, a research-based approach that helps couples develop practical skills for managing conflict, deepening friendship, and repairing emotional injuries. Together, we work not only on communication strategies but also on understanding the deeper attachment needs beneath the conflict.

The goal is not to assign blame. It is to help you understand your patterns and create new ones that feel safer and more connected. Many people feel hesitant at the beginning of couples therapy, wondering if the therapist will side with their partner, worried they might be told it’s all their fault. You won’t get that with me. One of my great strengths as a therapist is my ability to be neutral, to not take sides. I’m not on your side against your partner or on your partner’s side against you. Even thinking about it as ‘taking sides’ is the wrong way to go about it. You’re not enemies, you’re partners! You love each other. I’m on YOUR side. The side of helping you come together as a team, find creative and loving solutions to your challenges. I’m on the side of helping you have the ideal relationship for you.

Trauma Therapy Using EMDR

Unresolved trauma can affect how you think, feel, and relate to others. You may struggle with anxiety, emotional reactivity, negative core beliefs, or memories that still feel overwhelming.

I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), an evidence-based trauma therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing experiences so they no longer carry the same emotional intensity.

EMDR can support healing from:

• Childhood trauma

• Relational or attachment trauma

• Betrayal trauma

• Anxiety and panic

• Grief and loss

• Long-standing negative beliefs about yourself

Trauma therapy is not about reliving painful experiences repeatedly. It is about helping your nervous system finally resolve what it has been holding onto so you can move forward with greater clarity and stability.

Support for Loved Ones of People with Addiction

Loving someone who struggles with addiction can be deeply painful and confusing. You may feel responsible for holding everything together while also feeling hurt, resentful, or afraid.

Therapy provides a space to:

• Clarify and strengthen boundaries

• Reduce codependent patterns

• Process grief, anger, and disappointment

• Understand how addiction affects family systems

• Rebuild your own emotional stability

While you cannot control another person’s addiction, you can gain clarity about how you respond, what you tolerate, and how you protect your own well-being.

A Trauma-Informed and Culturally Attuned Approach

I practice from a trauma-informed lens, meaning safety, pacing, and emotional regulation are prioritized in our work. We move at a speed that feels manageable for you.

As a therapist who speaks Arabic and Chaldean, I understand how culture, faith, and family expectations shape identity and relationships. For clients from Middle Eastern backgrounds, therapy often involves navigating generational differences, community pressures, and cultural values alongside personal growth.

If you are seeking a therapist who understands both Western therapeutic models and the nuances of Arab or Chaldean family systems, you will find a respectful and culturally responsive space here.