About
Therapy can help improve your life.
Marriage is hard because we bring different experiences of what a relationship looks like into our relationship, or the trauma we experienced in our early years of life spills into the current relationship. If we don’t deal with trauma, our partner will pay the price for it later.
A couples therapist assesses your situation and can give you new ways to view or handle challenging situations to reduce further disconnection from your partner. Sometimes, we don’t know how to communicate or say our feelings nicely and calmly to our partner without getting hurt. Through couples therapy, you will receive space to express your thoughts in a safe and nonjudgmental environment.
Whether you have issues with parenting, infidelity, trust, or traumatic experiences, a marriage and family therapist will identify these and provide ways to support you as you now have the strength to make a change for the better.
Training is required to become an effective therapist.
To serve my clients well, I sought additional expertise in helping individuals dealing with anxiety or perfectionism and couples dealing with issues related to sex, intimacy, and personality disorders. I use trauma-informed methods and have training in the Gottman method, a highly effective approach used in couples therapy.
For couples and clients who have experienced trauma, I received training through the Couples Academy. I am very confident in helping couples and clients who have experienced trauma, and I am honored that you have taken the time to learn about The Couples Academy and me.
Therapists are the best investment you can make for your relationship, and the most important relationship is your partner, your other half. Having a satisfying relationship and those butterflies again is possible if you use the tools provided and follow the coaching.
Working with couples is my passion. I love to help them have a more satisfying relationship with tools and exercise to benefit from this new change in a relationship. I use many techniques to help couples and those needing assistance with trauma.
As a therapist, I have trained in anxiety, Gottman, perfectionism, trauma-informed, sex and intimacy, and personality disorders.
About Me
Becoming a therapist seemed natural to me.
I grew up in Emerald Hills, California. When I was 18, I studied self-help books about relationships and learned the green flags in relationships. All my friends always came to me for support with their significant other and appreciated my helpful information.
Many people told me I would be a great therapist throughout my early life. Although I received my undergraduate degree from Menlo College in Atherton, CA, I did not consider receiving training that would allow me to become a therapist.
Finally, one day, I said, “That’s it!” I entered a master’s degree program at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont while starting a family simultaneously. It took me three years to complete my master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and geriatrics.
One surprising detail is that I graduated two weeks before giving birth to my daughter.
Experience continues to be an essential part of my training.
I have considerable experience working with first responders (Police, Firefighters, and EMTs). For the last 15 years, I have joined ride-a-longs with the local police department to learn about the trauma on the other side and police dynamics. Also, I joined a firehouse during a few holidays over the years to learn about their family dynamic and how they manage holidays with their families.
My husband joins me in all my training to try them out and evaluate their effectiveness before I use them with clients. I must practice what I preach to my clients. My husband has been my rock and biggest fan in supporting me through my process and strength to help other couples.
Life outside of being a therapist is eventful.
I am a wife and mother to human children and my fur baby, Rocco. I have been with my spouse for 22 years and married 11 years. I enjoy being with my spouse and children, working out, eating healthy, shopping, hiking, cars are one of my passions, and traveling to Europe. I enjoy alone time with my spouse, such as date nights, traveling, and weekend getaways together.
Although I am Italian and Spanish, I am not bilingual and only speak English. My religious faith is Catholic. My spouse is Iranian, and I have enjoyed Persian dishes since I met him. I enjoy trying all ethnic foods and can make mariner sauce and cannolis from scratch.
My very unique dog, Rocco, is a 10-pound Italian greyhound. He is 13 years old. When I walk him, I don’t get far before being asked all about him because he is fascinating to look at. Rocco is always right next to me while I work, or he knows his place in the car when he gets to go with me to pick up his kids from school.
More information is available.
I offer 15-minute consultations to see if I am the right person to trust in your relationship.
Please get in touch with me for a consultation at (650) 590-9946 or email me at alyssa@thecouplesacademy.org.