Romantic relationship can bring out the best and worst in us
At its best, it can be a source of connection, intimacy, play, excitement, comfort, safety, and more.
At its worst, we can find ourselves feeling disconnected, unheard, alone, or trapped in a cycle of attacking and defending. It can feel as though there is little hope for our relationship to be otherwise.
Couples Therapy
I welcome couples of all identities and orientations, in romantic relationships at all stages - dating, living together, married. I work with couples seeking support for a range of experiences, including:
Breakdowns in communication
Persistent tension and/or conflict
Feeling disconnected from one another
Navigating differences in values, needs, or goals
Major life transitions (having children, relocation, career changes)
Challenges with emotional and physical intimacy
Infidelity and trust repair
Exploring marriage or long term commitment
Considering the possibility of separation or divorce
Couples therapy is an opportunity for each partner to express their perspective, listen to the perspective of the other, and begin to imagine how the relationship could better meet the needs and desires of both partners.
In session, I offer a kind, curious, nonjudgemental attention to the emotional experience of both partners. I encourage both partners to practice sharing their experience and receiving and attending to the experience of the other. I listen and watch closely for the places where this process breaks down, and help the couple identify alternative means of sharing experience and offering care and attention. Through practicing together in session, couples become better able to recognize when a familiar painful pattern arises, and interrupt it in order to experiment with more effective ways of relating to one another.
When couples work is successful, both partners develop a deeper understanding of self and other. This understanding contributes to an ability to better offer and receive compassion and care, which serves as the foundation for the work of changing what can be changed and accepting what may not change.
To learn more, read through the FAQ, send me an email at therapy@natetorrence.com, give me a call at (774) 563-3466, or read more about me, my practice, or my work with adults.
[Couples therapy with Nate Torrence, LMHC, at Otherwise Psychotherapy, LLC in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Sessions are 55 minutes at $250, offered in person at 678 Massachusetts Avenue in Central Square or via secure telehealth throughout Massachusetts. Nate works with couples around communication difficulties, recurring conflict, trust and repair, intimacy, life transitions, differences in values or direction, and the relational patterns each partner brings into the relationship. The approach is grounded in mindfulness, curiosity, and a commitment to creating space where each partner can speak and be genuinely heard. Free 15-minute phone consultation. In-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Harvard Pilgrim, and Tufts commercial plans.]
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