When working with a couple, common goals include recovering from an affair or other betrayal of trust, increasing intimacy, improving communication, and reducing conflict. Even couples with very entrenched, long-standing difficulties can improve their relationship with a change in the strategies they use to address these problems. Some couples do decide during therapy to dissolve their union, and couples therapy can help them do so in a respectful manner that allows for successful co-parenting of children or maintaining a different kind of relationship going forward.

Dr. Lager has done advanced training though the Gottman Institute in Seattle, Washington and incorporates Dr. John Gottman’s extensive research into her work. She also has had training in Emotion Focused Therapy, and uses its concepts in her treatment of couples.  Both approaches are supported by strong empirical evidence of their efficacy.

Dr. Lager will assess your goals for entering into treatment and develop an individualized treatment plan with you based on her assessment during your first several meetings.

• Communication Problems
• Premarital Counseling
• Divorce/Separation Issues
• Sexual Problems
• Post-Divorce Adjustment
• Infertility
• Frequent conflict over finances
• Problems with anger, violence, or hostility
• Recovery from infidelity