Couples Therapy Washington
You can feel connected & understood again.
From our perspective, neither partner is the problem.
The pattern between you is the problem, and that pattern often develops because vulnerable parts underneath are trying not to feel rejected, controlled, inadequate, or abandoned.
Taylor Vickerman, IFS Therapist
Emily Vickerman, IFS Informed Therapist
Our Approach
Relationships can become painful when protective parts take over. One person’s anxious part may pursue, question, or demand reassurance, while the other person’s overwhelmed part withdraws, becomes defensive, or shuts down. Before long, both partners feel alone, misunderstood, and stuck in the same exhausting cycle.
From an Intimacy From the Inside Out (IFIO) perspective, neither partner is the problem. The pattern between you is the problem, and that pattern often develops because vulnerable parts underneath are trying not to feel rejected, controlled, inadequate, or abandoned.
In relationship counseling, we help you slow the cycle down, understand what happens inside each of you, and communicate from a calmer, more compassionate place. Instead of blaming, fixing, or protecting yourself, you learn to speak for your parts and listen for what your partner is truly trying to express.
Our goal is not to eliminate conflict. It is to create a relationship where both people can be honest, emotionally present, and connected—even when something difficult needs to be said.
How We Help You
Warm
Strategic
Collaborative
Compassionate
Internal
Family
Systems
Nervous System & Somatic Regulation
Attachment
Based
Pathway
Finding the right therapist matters. We’ll begin with a free consultation where you can share a little about what’s bringing you to therapy, ask questions, and get a feel for what it might be like to work together. There’s no pressure. If it feels like a good fit for both of us, we’ll schedule your first session.
Let's Connect
We’ll start by slowing down and becoming curious about what has been getting in the way of you both feeling connected. Together, we’ll listen to what your mind, body, and different parts may be trying to communicate. I’ll make sure you feel supported and have the tools you both need as we gently move toward the deeper places where healing, repair, and lasting love can begin.
We Begin the Work
Healing doesn’t follow a perfect timeline, and you don’t have to wait until therapy is finished before you both begin feeling its impact. Along the way, you may notice small shifts: more space inside, greater compassion for each other, and a growing ability to move through conflict without feeling as overwhelmed. Over time, those small shifts become the build blocks of trust and love.
Things Change
Stories of Change
W. M.
My emotions aren't a mystery anymore. I'm able to understand these parts of me with compassion and clarity, rather than dissociation and distraction.
O. E.
Over time, I noticed my body soften and the good feelings that I was trying to feel this whole time naturally bubble up, without effort.
T. H.
Feeling good again. Grateful for the insight and compassion that I was given. Something I remember is that I'm not a problem, but a human.
Answers to Your Questions
How do I know if counseling is right for me?
You do not have to be in crisis to benefit from counseling. Many people come to therapy because they feel stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected, anxious, or simply want to understand themselves more deeply. Therapy can give you space to slow down, understand what is happening beneath the surface, and begin moving toward the life and relationships you want.