Couples Therapy in Nashville

They come because the conversations that matter keep getting pulled into the same cycle.

One person pushes for an answer. The other shuts down. One becomes critical because they feel unheard. The other becomes defensive because they feel attacked. You both walk away from the argument thinking the other person completely missed the point.

Over time, the problem is not only the original disagreement. It is what happens between you when something feels vulnerable, threatening, disappointing, or unresolved.

You may be considering couples therapy if…

• you keep having the same fight in different forms
• communication turns into defensiveness, criticism, withdrawal, or escalation
• one or both of you feel lonely inside the relationship
• trust has been damaged
• stress, work, family, parenting, or substance use is affecting the relationship
• you are struggling to set or respect boundaries
• resentment has been building
• you want to feel like partners again rather than roommates
• you are facing a transition and do not know how to navigate it together
• you are unsure whether the relationship can change but want a more honest look at what is happening

Couples therapy is not about choosing a winner

The goal is not for me to decide who is right.

We will work to understand the cycle, each person’s experience inside it, and the behaviors that keep pulling you back into the same place.

Depending on your needs, the work may include:

• slowing down recurring conflicts
• improving communication and repair
• identifying assumptions and automatic reactions
• understanding the influence of family-of-origin patterns
• strengthening boundaries
• addressing resentment and disconnection
• clarifying needs and expectations
• looking at how anxiety, depression, or substance use may be affecting the relationship
• practicing new responses between sessions

What I bring to couples work

I am a Tennessee LPC-MHSP and currently work with adults in both individual and couples therapy. My broader clinical experience includes relationship difficulties, family-of-origin concerns, anxiety, depression, self-worth, and substance use.

I use an individualized, collaborative approach informed by my training and by what is actually happening in the relationship in front of me.

[IMPORTANT: Do not add claims such as “Gottman-trained,” “EFT-trained,” “certified couples therapist,” etc. unless Tori documents that training.]

Sometimes individual therapy is the better starting point

Not every relationship issue requires couples therapy. There are situations where individual therapy, specialized treatment, or other resources are more appropriate.

A consultation helps us determine whether couples work with me fits what you need.

Frequently asked questions

Do you see unmarried couples?

[CONFIRM TORI'S PRACTICE POLICY.]

Do both partners attend every session?

[CONFIRM TORI'S COUPLES PROCESS.]

What if substance use is part of the conflict?

We can discuss how it is affecting the relationship and determine the appropriate scope and level of care. In some situations, specialized or additional substance-use treatment may be necessary.

Will you tell us whether we should stay together?

The purpose of couples therapy is not for the therapist to make the relationship decision for you. The work can help you understand the relationship more clearly and make your own informed choices.

If the same conflict keeps finding you, we can start by understanding the cycle.