About Us

Our Story

When Bob and I met, he was living in California, a confirmed bachelor, hanging out on the beach, folk dancing, enjoying his single life and working as a therapist.

I was living in New Jersey, looking for a “nice guy” who wanted marriage and a family, and working with kids at risk of going into foster care.

Bob was anything but traditional, having been involved with Primal Scream Therapy and A Course in Miracles.

I was super traditional, having been trained in psychodynamic therapy and working with teachers from a NY psychoanalytic institute.

We met when Bob came to New Jersey to visit his family. He wanted to date long-distance. I thought that was ridiculous. How impractical.

Nine months later, Bob came to visit his family again and we spent more time together. He had been in psychodynamic therapy and was having a mid-life crisis. He realized if he never settled down, he would miss having a family of his own.

Despite my apprehension, I agreed to date long-distance. We spoke every night. Every six weeks one of us flew to the other coast. Eight months later, Bob agreed to move to New Jersey and move in. He kept his apartment in California in case things didn’t work out.

Here we are 30+ years later, married with two adult kids, working as a team with couples in therapy on building relationships. I told Bob it’s time to give up his apartment in California. :)

We’ve had our highs and lows like every couple and have learned “what makes marriage work.” We practice what we teach our couples.

In Practice

We love the work we do. Seeing individuals and couples strengthen their communication, change the way they have conflict, listen and validate each other, and build connection is very meaningful to us and adds purpose to our lives.

Some people see one of us. Some see both of us together. Some have an initial session with both of us and pick one of us to continue. We respect whatever is most helpful to you.

In therapy, people describe us as down-to-earth, genuine, warm, inspirational, non-judgmental, and balanced. We understand how difficult it is to change relationship habits, and we support you when you get stuck.

When times are good, most relationships thrive. The “true test” of a relationship is what happens when times are difficult.

Having a deeply connected relationship takes courage, the willingness to be vulnerable, patience, and perseverance at times when you and/or your partner are down. It means having tough conversations without blame and shame, without needing to be right.

We provide hope when you fear the worst. If both partners are committed to doing “whatever it takes” and put their partner and their marriage first, we have the tools, information, skills, and safe space to help your marriage or relationship thrive.

Experts We Learn From and Love

No matter your profession, training and learning ends. We specialize in working on marriage and relationships and train with the most world-renowned experts in our field including:

Drs. John and Julie Gottman - World renowned researchers and experts on marriage and what causes divorce / Founder of The Gottman Institute and The Gottman Method

Best-Selling Author of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work

Dr. Sue Johnson - Leading innovator on Couples Therapy / Researcher, Professor / Founder of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy

Best-Selling author of Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love

Esther Perel, LMFT - World renowned expert on sex and Erotic Intelligence / Belgian Psychotherapist

Best-Selling Author of The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity & Mating in Captivity

Dr. Emily Nagoski - Sex expert, Director of Wellness Education at Smith College

Best-selling author of Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life

Dr. Joe Kort - Board Certified Sexologist and Founder of The Center for Relationship and Sexual Health

Author of LGBTQ Clients in Therapy and Is My Husband Gay, Straight or Bi?

Terry Real, LICSW - Nationally recognized family therapist / Founder of Relational Life Institute

Best-Selling author of The New Rules of Marriage: What You Need to Know to Make Love Work

Dr. Tammy Nelson - Nationally recognized sex and relationship expert

Best-Selling author of Open Monogamy: Co Creating Your Ideal Relationship Agreement & When You’re the One Who Cheats

Dr. Richard Schwartz - Systemic Family Therapist / Founder of Internal Family Systems - Fastest growing therapeutic approach today

Best-Selling author of Greater Than the Sum of Our Parts: Discovering Your True Self Through Internal Family Systems Therapy & No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the IFS Model

Melissa Orlov - Leading Expert in the effect of ADHD on Marriage / Founder of ADHDMarriage.com

Author of The Couples Guide to Thriving with ADHD and The ADHD Effect on Marriage

Michele Weiner-Davis, LCSW - Leading relationship expert / Therapist

Best-Selling author of The Sex Starved Marriage, and Healing from Infidelity: The Divorce Busting® Guide to Rebuilding Your Marriage After An Affair

Dr. Harriet Lerner - Expert on psychology of women

Best-Selling author of The Dance of Anger: A Woman’s Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships

Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk - World’s leading expert on treatment of trauma

Best-Selling author of The Body Keeps the Score, Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

David Kessler - World’s foremost expert on death, dying, healing and loss / Protégé of Elisabeth Kubler-Ros

Best-Selling author of Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief

Dr. Brene Brown - American Research Professor / Expert on courage, vulnerability, shame, empathy and leadership

Best-Selling author of Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead