Intimacy Counseling for Couples in Texas

Emotional intimacy is the experience of being seen and accepted as you are. It's sharing a fear and having your partner lean in instead of fixing it. It's knowing you can bring your whole self, including the parts you're not proud of.

For many couples, emotional distance comes first and physical distance follows. In Emotionally Focused Therapy, we work on creating moments where you can reach for each other and be met. Sometimes rebuilding intimacy starts with something as simple as a real conversation about what you've been missing. Small rituals matter too: a few minutes of undistracted attention at the end of the day, a lingering hug, asking a question you don't already know the answer to. If talking itself is hard, my page on communication problems may help.

It's extremely common for partners to want sex at different frequencies or in different ways. That difference isn't a problem in itself. It becomes painful when one partner feels rejected and the other feels pressured, and both stop talking about it.

When a marriage has become sexless, or nearly so, couples often feel a mix of grief, shame, and frustration. In therapy, we slow down and get curious instead of keeping score. What turns each of you on, and what turns you off? What stress, resentment, or self-consciousness is getting in the way? What did each of you learn about desire growing up, in your family, faith, or culture?

Emily Nagoski's work on desire and Esther Perel's exploration of eroticism in long-term relationships can be helpful companions here. I've trained with Esther Perel in Finding Eros, and I also completed training in Utilizing Sex Therapy & Attachment, which shapes how I connect sexual concerns to the emotional bond between you.

An affair can shatter trust and leave both partners disoriented. The partner who was hurt may feel waves of anger, grief, and obsessive questions. The partner who strayed may feel guilt, defensiveness, or confusion about why it happened. Both may wonder whether closeness is even possible again.

There's no single way to recover. Some couples need to understand the affair in depth; others need to focus first on safety and stability. Either way, the hurt partner's pain needs room, and the relationship's story before the affair matters too.

Healing after infidelity takes time, honesty, and care. I trained with Esther Perel in Rethinking Infidelity, and I help couples move through the crisis, understand what the affair meant, and decide together what comes next. That decision belongs to you. Some couples choose online couples therapy intensives to focus deeply during this time. Because I have a no-secrets policy in couples work, any individual sessions support the couple, not hidden agendas.

I want to be plain about this: I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, not a sex therapist. I work with intimacy as part of the whole relationship, including emotional distance, desire differences, trust, and how sex fits into the bond between you.

Some concerns call for specialized care. If what you need is focused sex therapy, I'll refer you to a certified sex therapist. If there may be a medical piece, such as pain, hormonal changes, or medication side effects, I'll encourage you to talk with your physician as well. Often couples work and specialized care can happen side by side, each supporting the other. Getting you the right help matters more than keeping you in my practice.

Intimacy concerns can feel especially tender to talk about, and for some clients, cultural or religious backgrounds add another layer of privacy or shame. I welcome couples of all backgrounds, including same-gender couples, couples with a transgender or nonbinary partner, and couples from South Asian and Muslim communities. We'll move at a pace that feels respectful to both of you.

A few books I often recommend to couples working on intimacy:

• Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski
• The State of Affairs by Esther Perel
• Hold Me Tight by Sue Johnson

You'll find more on my recommended reading page. Sessions are held through secure telehealth, so you can talk about tender things from the privacy of your own home. If you're ready to talk, reach out for a phone consultation, which is required for all new couples. We'll talk about what's going on and whether couples therapy with me is a good fit.