Frequent Arguments
Lack of Communication
Loss of Intimacy
Trust Issues
Parental Conflicts
Financial Stress
Helping You See Each Other & Connect
Truly Connect
You’ll find the hidden fears and needs, so you can truly hear & support each other.
Rekindle Your Intimate Bond
Find again the emotional and physical closeness that first brought you together.
Heal and Build Anew
Heal the wounds of the past to build a stronger, more trusting foundation for your future.
Gently Untangle Old Patterns
Understand and lovingly release the recurring cycles of conflict that keep you feeling stuck.
Over time, partners, in various relationships, tend to stop really seeing one another. Old patterns of withdrawal, conflict, or silence can hinder one partner from feeling really understood or valued by the other. As a Certified IFS Therapist, I work with couples to help them deepen their journey of curiosity, compassion, and connection without blame and reactivity. We’ll gently track down the protective parts that drive misunderstandings, thus allowing both of your core selves to listen, understand, and actually see each other once again.
Frequently Asked Questions
My approach to therapy is grounded in a compassionate and respectful perspective called Internal Family Systems (IFS). I don’t believe that you are sick or broken. Instead, I see the challenges you face, like painful thoughts or difficult behaviors, as the work of protective parts of you trying their best to keep you safe.
Got questions about how I help you as a certified IFS therapist? Find all the answers here.
My partner isn't sure about therapy. What should we do?
This is very common. The best first step is a joint consultation where you can both ask questions and see how it feels. There’s no pressure to commit, it’s simply a chance to explore if this is the right support for you.
What can we expect in our first session? We're nervous about what to say.
It’s normal to be nervous! Our first session is a conversation where I listen to what’s bringing you in. My role is to create a safe space where you both feel heard and understood, not to take sides.
Is it too late for us? What if our problems feel too big to solve?
Many couples feel this way. Therapy provides the clarity needed to heal and rebuild your connection. Even if you choose to separate, it can help you do so with compassion. It’s never too late to find peace.
How long does couples therapy take to work?
Time is completely unique to each couple. Your goals together will determine the specific situation for you. We will go at your own pace and have regular check-ins about your progress.
All we seem to do is fight about the same things. How can talking about it help?
A great question indeed. We don’t hope to listen to talk more; we want to learn to talk differently. So we’ll work at understanding the real thing that’s happening underneath the conflict and understand what mistake is really made by coming to understand actually what’s going on in the cycle, and be able to break that finally.
Approach to Break the Cycles That
Hold Your Relationship Back
Identify Protective Patterns
I help uncover the automatic reactions, like withdrawing or blaming, that stem from old wounds, not current love.
Lead with Your Core Self
Using IFS, I help each partner access their calm, compassionate self, who can listen, connect, & respond with clarity.
Heal as a Team
You get a collaborative process built on acceptance, competence, & mutual respect, guided by over 30 years of experience.
Meet Your Compassionate Therapist
Dr Arlene Brewster
Licensed Certified ISF Therapist
Stories of Reconnection and Growth
Here are some heartfelt words from people who have walked this path. I hope their stories of reconnection and growth bring you comfort and inspiration for your own journey ahead.
My husband and I were stuck in this loop: I’d get upset, he’d shut down, and I’d feel abandoned, which made me push harder. It felt hopeless. Dr. Brewster helped us see that his ‘shutting down’ wasn’t rejection, it was a part of him trying to avoid conflict from his own childhood. And my ‘pushing’ came from fear of being left. Once we understood that, we could stop blaming and start comforting each other. It’s like we finally learned how to be on the same team.
Maria & Riley
Client
After years of parenting young kids, we’d become roommates, polite but disconnected. We didn’t know how to find our way back to each other. Dr. Brewster created such a safe space for us both. She didn’t take sides or make either of us feel ‘wrong.’ Instead, she helped us uncover the parts of us that were scared to be vulnerable again. Now, we have weekly check-ins, real conversations, and even date nights that feel meaningful, not forced.
Joseph & Gale
Client
We came in thinking we just needed ‘better communication skills.’ But Dr. Brewster gently showed us that our fights weren’t really about the dishes or the schedule, they were about old wounds getting triggered. Using IFS, she helped us slow down and ask, ‘What part of me is feeling threatened right now?’ That one question changed everything. We still disagree, but now we repair, fast.
Marcella & Chris
Client
After a major betrayal, I wasn’t sure our marriage could survive. But Dr. Brewster didn’t rush us or push forgiveness. She honored both of our pain and helped us understand the protective parts that took over, my anger, his shame. Over time, we rebuilt something deeper than before: a relationship based on honesty, accountability, and real compassion. We’re not just staying together, we’re truly reconnecting.
Elena & Kevin
Client
Ready to Find Your Way Back to Each Other?
It’s possible to heal, grow, and rekindle the love that connects you. Let’s explore how therapy can help.