My Approach to Helping
When communication breaks down or emotional distance grows, it can feel lonely and frustrating—even when you love your partner. I help couples and individuals in Cambridge, MA, rebuild trust, strengthen communication, and find a deeper sense of connection.
When you reach the point where communication feels impossible, or the same arguments keep returning, it can leave you feeling disconnected and alone—even when you're with the person you love. You might be tired of trying to fix things on your own, unsure how to break the cycle, and wondering if things can truly change. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone, and it's possible to find a new way forward.
I work with couples and individuals who want to strengthen their relationships, understand themselves more deeply, and rebuild trust and emotional safety. In therapy, we slow things down so we can see the patterns beneath conflict—the unspoken needs, fears, and hopes that shape how you relate to yourself and others. Together, we explore not just what's going wrong, but also what's trying to heal.
My approach combines cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) with mindfulness and self-reflection. For couples, I integrate Gottman Method principles and sex therapy when intimacy or connection feels strained. Sessions are active and collaborative, focused on insight, communication skills, and practical tools you can use between sessions.
I believe that real growth doesn't stop when the session ends. That's why I work with you both inside and outside of therapy using Blueprint, a secure app that helps you track progress, practice new skills, and stay connected to your goals throughout the week. This ongoing process helps therapy feel more relevant and grounded in your daily life.
I'm also the author of Always and Forever: Goals for a Healthy Relationship and the creator of the Self-Reflective Relationship Therapy (SRRT) Workbook, a six-week path designed to strengthen connection, improve communication, and promote lasting growth. These tools reflect my belief that lasting change comes from insight, practice, and compassion—both for yourself and for each other.
Clients often describe my style as warm, direct, and grounded. I aim to create a space where you can feel safe enough to be honest and supported enough to grow. Change is possible, and you don't have to do it alone.
More Info About My Practice
At AtReef Therapy PLLC, my focus is on helping couples and individuals build stronger, more connected relationships. My practice is rooted in the belief that healthy, fulfilling relationships are possible when partners learn to understand themselves and each other with honesty and compassion.
While my primary work centers on couples and individual therapy, I also offer structured programs and resources to support growth between sessions. This includes the self-reflective relationship therapy (SRRT) workbook, a six-week framework designed to help partners strengthen communication, deepen emotional awareness, and grow together.
I also provide workshops and relationship-focused groups that draw on CBT, DBT, Gottman Method principles, mindfulness, and sex therapy, offering practical tools for connection and resilience. My approach integrates evidence-based methods with self-reflective practices, helping clients move from reactive patterns toward intentional, compassionate relating.
AtReef Therapy operates both in-person in Cambridge, MA, and virtually across Massachusetts, providing accessible and confidential support for couples and individuals. I also use Blueprint, a secure digital platform that allows clients to continue their self-work and track progress between sessions.
Whether through therapy, guided workbooks, or workshops, my goal is to create a community of growth and understanding—one relationship at a time. If you're ready to begin this process, I offer a free initial phone consultation to help you see if we're the right fit. You don't have to do this alone.
My Role as a Therapist
As a therapist, my role is to be both a guide and a partner in your process of growth. I don't see therapy as something that happens to you, but rather with you. Together, we create a space that feels safe enough for honesty and structured enough for change. Whether I'm working with you individually or as a couple, my goal is to help you move from reactive patterns toward intentional communication, self-awareness, and connection.
My style is active, collaborative, and grounded in empathy. I ask questions that invite reflection and curiosity rather than judgment. At times, I offer direct feedback or skill-building exercises; at other times, I help you slow down and tune into what's happening emotionally in the moment. I believe in balancing insight with practice?understanding the "why" behind your patterns while learning the "how" of change.
At the heart of my approach is the belief that relationships?both with others and with yourself?can become sources of healing, not just pain. My role is to help you access that possibility, one step, one conversation, and one insight at a time.
My Therapy Focus
My work centers on helping couples and individuals create relationships rooted in trust, understanding, and emotional connection. I focus on the patterns that cause distance, conflict, or disconnection, and help you learn to communicate in ways that build safety and closeness instead of tension.
For couples, my focus is on improving communication, rebuilding trust, deepening intimacy, and strengthening the foundation of your relationship. I use the Gottman Method, Self-Reflective Relationship Therapy (SRRT), and principles from sex therapy to help partners navigate emotional and physical intimacy with honesty and care.
For individuals, therapy often involves understanding how past experiences shape current relationships, learning to regulate emotions, and developing self-compassion. I draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and mindfulness practices to help clients gain insight, resilience, and clarity.
At the heart of my work is a Marriage Positive philosophy?the belief that healthy, connected relationships are possible when both partners are willing to reflect, grow, and engage with one another with curiosity instead of blame. My goal is to help you build not only stronger relationships, but also a more grounded and authentic connection to yourself.
What I Usually Need to Know to Help
To help you most effectively, I need to understand what's really happening beneath the surface?what hurts, what feels confusing, and what you hope might change. You don't need to have all the answers when we begin, but sharing what's true for you, even when it's messy or uncertain, gives us a starting point for real growth.
In couples therapy, I want to learn how you each experience your relationship: what draws you together, what pushes you apart, and how you try to repair when things go wrong. The details of your arguments matter less than the emotional patterns underneath them?the needs, fears, and longings that shape how you communicate and connect.
In individual work, I want to understand your internal world: how you respond to stress, how you speak to yourself, and how your past experiences may still influence your present. Therapy is not about judgment or blame; it's about discovering the patterns that hold you back and learning new ways to relate to yourself and others.
The more open you can be?about your thoughts, emotions, and experiences?the more focused and effective our work can be. Together, we'll turn that understanding into meaningful change, one conversation at a time.
Important Factors for Choosing a Therapist
Choosing a therapist is one of the most personal decisions you can make. The most important factor is not just a therapist's training or methods, but how you feel in their presence. You should feel safe enough to be honest, understood enough to feel seen, and challenged enough to grow.
In my view, therapy works best when there's a genuine connection?a sense that your therapist "gets" you and can meet you where you are. Research consistently shows that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest predictors of positive outcomes. So it's worth taking the time to find someone whose style and energy fit you.
My clients often tell me they value the combination of warmth and directness I bring to our sessions. I aim to create a space that is supportive but also active?a place where you can reflect, learn, and practice new ways of relating both to yourself and others.
If you're searching for the right therapist, trust your instincts. Ask yourself whether you feel comfortable, respected, and emotionally safe. From there, we can work together to build clarity, understanding, and meaningful change.
Importance of the Client-Therapist Alliance
The relationship between client and therapist is one of the most important parts of the healing process. Research consistently shows that the quality of this alliance?the sense of trust, understanding, and shared purpose between us?is one of the strongest predictors of meaningful change in therapy.
I see our work as a partnership. You bring your lived experience, emotions, and insight; I bring structure, perspective, and evidence-based tools. Together, we create a space where you can explore, experiment, and grow in a way that feels safe and supported.
To build this foundation, I typically recommend weekly sessions during the early phase of therapy. Meeting consistently helps us establish trust, identify patterns, and begin making real progress. After about a month or two, we'll reevaluate together?looking at what's working, what still feels challenging, and how we can adjust the pace or focus to best support your goals.
My intention is for you to feel that therapy is an active, evolving process?not something that happens to you, but with you. A strong therapeutic relationship allows us to move beyond surface-level fixes and work toward lasting change, both in your relationship with others and with yourself.
The Duration and Frequency of Therapy
Each therapy session lasts 53 minutes, and most clients begin with weekly meetings to build momentum and establish a strong foundation. For some, this frequency continues throughout our work together; for others, it may shift to biweekly or as-needed sessions once meaningful progress has been made.
The overall length of therapy varies depending on your goals, the depth of the challenges we're addressing, and how much you wish to grow beyond symptom relief. Some clients find that a few months of focused work create significant change, while others choose to continue longer-term therapy to deepen self-awareness, maintain growth, and strengthen relationship skills over time.
In couples therapy, we often begin with an initial assessment phase to understand your relationship patterns, followed by a structured plan for communication and emotional reconnection. My goal is to ensure that therapy feels purposeful and tailored?never rushed, but always directed toward real, lasting improvement.
Whether short-term or ongoing, therapy is an investment in your well-being and relationships. We'll collaborate to determine the right pace and duration for you, adjusting as your needs evolve.
What Makes up a Problem?
Problems rarely come from one moment or one person. They're usually built over time through patterns that make sense at first?but eventually stop working. In relationships, these patterns often grow out of fear, unmet needs, or past experiences that shape how we try to connect and protect ourselves. When partners feel unheard or misunderstood, small misunderstandings can slowly turn into distance or resentment.
In my work with couples, I often see that problems form when communication becomes more about defense than understanding. When we feel hurt, we react instead of reflect. Over time, emotional safety erodes, and partners start interpreting each other's actions through frustration or fear. The same is true for individuals: inner conflicts, unspoken emotions, or harsh self-criticism can lead to anxiety, isolation, and disconnection from one's values.
Therapy helps us slow down these patterns and see them clearly?without blame. Once we understand how they developed, we can begin to shift from reaction to reflection, from criticism to curiosity, and from avoidance to connection.
My role is to help you uncover what's underneath the struggle, learn new ways to communicate and regulate emotions, and rebuild the foundation for trust and closeness. Problems are not signs of failure; they're invitations to grow in awareness, empathy, and resilience.
