Starting couples therapy can feel strange at first. You are sharing personal parts of your relationship with someone you barely know, while your partner is sitting beside you. Feeling nervous, exposed, or even awkward during the first few sessions is completely normal. But what if that discomfort does not go

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) can affect more than the person experiencing persistent worry. When one partner lives with ongoing anxiety, the relationship may also become shaped by reassurance seeking, overthinking, irritability, or repeated conversations about what could go wrong. The other partner may gradually take on the role of reassuring

Health concerns can affect a relationship even when only one partner is experiencing them. When worries about illness become persistent, the relationship may gradually become organized around checking symptoms, seeking reassurance, researching medical conditions, or repeatedly discussing what might be wrong. The partner may become involved in these behaviors without

A relationship can feel exciting when communication improves, trust grows, and you begin to feel genuinely close. Yet for some people, this is when discomfort appears. You may become critical, question your feelings, withdraw emotionally, or create reasons to leave. Self-sabotage is not usually a deliberate attempt to ruin something

When an argument becomes intense, some people become quiet, stop responding, leave the room, or seem emotionally unreachable. If your partner shuts down during conflict, you may experience their silence as rejection or unwillingness to work on the relationship. Your instinct may be to keep asking questions or push for

Separation is a normal part of adult relationships. Partners have work, friendships, family responsibilities, and time apart. For some people, however, being away from a partner can trigger intense anxiety. A missed call, change in plans, or even a few hours apart may lead to persistent worry. Separation anxiety in

Childhood experiences can influence how people understand closeness, trust, conflict, and emotional security later in life. When a child experiences the loss, absence, inconsistency, or emotional unavailability of an important caregiver, they may develop fears about whether the people they depend on will remain available. These experiences can continue to

A relationship can feel exciting when it is new, uncertain, and still unfolding. But as emotional closeness increases, something may change. You might become more guarded, start noticing flaws you previously overlooked, feel an urge to create distance, or suddenly question whether you want the relationship at all. For some

A close relationship can feel deeply connected without requiring two people to share every thought, decision, friendship, or emotional experience. But sometimes closeness becomes difficult to distinguish from dependence. One partner may feel responsible for the other’s emotions, personal boundaries may become unclear, or spending time apart may create guilt,

A job loss or major career change can affect far more than someone’s professional life. It can change a couple’s finances, routines, responsibilities, confidence, future plans, and sense of stability. For couples in Los Angeles, where work can be closely tied to lifestyle, identity, and long-term goals, an unexpected layoff,