houston couples therapist

Couples Therapy Houston

Takeaway: Having a safe, dedicated space to process your emotions and learn more about each other can do wonders for a relationship. Couples therapy in Houston, TX can serve as that space. I help couples with a wide range of different challenges find a deeper connection. Reach out today to learn more about how I can support you.

Meet Sanah Kotadia, LPC, NCC | Houston couples therapist

I'm passionate about helping couples work through their relationship issues and find a stronger, more satisfying bond with each other. I recognize the vulnerability of reaching out for help and sharing the deepest parts of yourself and your relationship. Rest assured, my virtual therapy room is a space where you'll be received without judgment or shame. We're in this together.

I believe that the therapeutic relationship is a crucial part of the couples counseling process. I take a warm, genuine approach to couples therapy so you can feel comfortable opening up and being your most authentic self. I make sure that each partner's voice is heard so you can grow your mutual empathy and understanding, all while communicating your own needs and desires.

Each couple is unique, so I don't use one-size-fits-all methods for couples counseling. Instead, I blend strategies from a variety of different therapeutic methods, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy, and an attachment-based therapeutic approach.

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What my Houston couples therapy services can help with

While I serve couples from a wide range of backgrounds with a number of different challenges, here are a few examples of how I can help.

  • Clear, healthy communication is the cornerstone of a trusting relationship. Yet, many of us weren't taught the skills we need to talk with our partner in this way. In couples therapy, you'll learn how to express yourself in a calm, assertive way. Plus, you'll learn how to really hear your partner so you can both be on the same page.

    Here are some common signs that you and your partner might need help with communication.

    • Arguing about the same topics over and over

    • Frequently criticizing each other

    • Reacting defensively & placing blame on the other person

    • Shutting down or walking away from conversations

    • Difficult resolving conflicts

    • Trouble expressing emotions

  • While our learned relationship patterns have brought us this far in life, they can often be painful and leave us feeling disconnected from ourselves and others.

    This is often the case with codependent behaviors and attachment trauma. These two dynamics are interconnected and stem from the relationships we had with our caregivers in early childhood. Codependency and attachment issues cause us to get our needs met through relationships, making it difficult to form healthy, authentic relationships.

    Together, we'll explore how these issues show up in your partnership and help you make sustainable changes toward a healthy relationship. I also specialize in helping people with these issues in individual therapy.

    Here are some common signs that you and your partner might need help with attachment issues and/or codependency.

    • Difficulty functioning independently from each other

    • Struggling to find yourself in the relationship

    • Jealousy & insecurity

    • Trouble trusting each other

    • Neglecting other relationships, like friendships or relationships with family

    • Intense emotional highs & lows

  • My own personal experience in an interfaith marriage has given me special insight and understanding of the unique challenges these couples face. Couples counseling is a supportive place where you can process these stressors and learn how to blend your beliefs and cultures in a way that feels good for both of you.

    Here are some common struggles that we can address in interfaith couples counseling.

    • Differing beliefs

    • Struggles with extended family’s expectations

    • Different opinions on how to raise children

    • Lack of support or acceptance by religious community

    • Difficulty maintaining identity and beliefs while also supporting your partner’s

    • Trouble making decisions around which celebrations, holidays, and practices to attend, especially when they conflict

Benefits of couples therapy

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    Increased emotional and physical intimacy

    Couples therapists can help partners experience more intimacy—both emotional and physical. This study on emotion-focused therapy, one popular method of marriage counseling, shows that it can also improve other types of intimacy, including psychological and intellectual intimacy. Basically, couples therapy helps you learn more about your partner and yourself so you can connect on an even deeper level.

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    Work through life stressors together

    Any couple is bound to face challenges from time to time. Whether you're navigating life transitions like marriage or moving to a new city, sexual problems that make you feel stuck, or family issues as a result of your different cultural backgrounds, couples counseling can help. You can't prevent all issues from occurring, but you can make sure that you're a united front through them all.

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    Improve your mental health

    Individual mental health services aren't the only way to improve your psychological well-being. Research shows that marriage counseling can help improve symptoms of mental illness, such as depression.

FAQs about Houston couples therapy

  • According to this study, over 70% of couples report a positive impact from couples therapy. In my work, I've helped dozens of couples improve their relationship problems and gain a stronger connection with each other.

    At the same time, it's important to remember that each couple has different goals for therapy. "Success" can also look different for some couples. Maybe your goal is to find healthy ways to manage conflict or learn how to have more open communication. Some couples even enter therapy to end their relationship in a constructive way. We'll work together to identify what you hope to get out of therapy.

  • Couples therapy can take on many different forms, and there's not one that's necessarily more effective than another. Some common forms of couples therapy include emotionally-focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, the Gottman method, psychodynamic therapy, and more.

    I use cognitive behavioral therapy because it can help couples identify the thought, feeling, and behavior patterns that keep them stuck. I also incorporate an attachment-based lens because of how much our early relationships with caregivers can shape how we connect with others. For more information about my approach to couples counseling, I encourage you to reach out.

  • There are many different components to finding the best couples counselor for your specific situation. While all couples therapists can help you learn how to have happier, healthier relationships, each counselor may specialize in slightly different areas.

    For example, I'm passionate about helping couples break codependent patterns and navigate interfaith relationships. Other couples therapists might specialize in pre-marital counseling or use different therapeutic approaches, such as the Gottman method.

    Beyond specialty and approach, it's also important to find a couples counselor you really connect with. I offer free consultations so you can ask questions and get a better sense of whether we might be the right fit for each other.

Strengthen your connection with a couples therapist in Houston, TX.

If you're interested in getting support for your personal growth and your growth as a couple, I'm here to help. Online therapy allows me to help couples across the state of Texas from the comfort of their own home. Reach out today to schedule your free consultation and begin the healing process. I look forward to connecting with you!