Couples Therapy in Silver Lake, Los Angeles | David Strah
Most couples don’t walk into therapy in great shape. They come in exhausted. They’ve had the same fight too many times. One person is done talking, and the other can’t stop. Or maybe things have gone quiet in a way that feels worse than the arguments.
If any of that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And you’re not too far gone.
At David Strah, we offer couples therapy in Silver Lake for partners who are ready to stop spinning in circles and start actually getting somewhere. Whether you’ve been together for two years or twenty, whether you’re married or not, we work with real couples dealing with real problems, in a space that’s honest, confidential, and genuinely focused on you both.
What Couples Therapy Actually Does
People often think couples counseling is a last resort. Something you try before calling a divorce attorney. But that’s not how most couples use it, and it’s not what the research shows.
Studies on Emotionally Focused Therapy, one of the most widely used approaches in couples work, show that around 70 to 75 percent of couples who complete a full course of treatment report lasting improvement in their relationship. Those aren’t small numbers. And they don’t just apply to couples on the brink.
Couples therapy works because it gets at the things that are actually driving conflict. Not the surface stuff, like who forgot to pay a bill or who said what last Tuesday. The deeper patterns. The way one of you shuts down when things get heated. The reason the same argument keeps happening on a loop. The disconnection that’s grown slowly over years, to the point where you’re living in the same house but not really with each other.
A good therapist helps you both see what’s happening, understand where it comes from, and start doing things differently. That’s the work. It’s not easy. But it’s the kind of change that actually sticks.
Serving Silver Lake and the Eastside
Our practice is located in Silver Lake, one of Los Angeles’s most vibrant and community-rooted neighborhoods. We see couples from across the Eastside, including Los Feliz, Echo Park, Atwater Village, Glassell Park, Koreatown, and East Los Angeles.
Living and partnering in LA comes with its own pressures. The pace, the commutes, the cost of living, the entertainment industry’s particular demands, the creative hustle most people around here are navigating on top of their personal lives. Relationships don’t exist in a vacuum, and we understand the context that surrounds them.
We offer in-person couples therapy sessions at our Silver Lake office, along with online relationship counseling for couples anywhere in California. Telehealth is a great option when schedules are complicated, when one partner travels for work, or when getting to an office together just isn’t practical.
Who We Help
People come to us for all kinds of reasons. Some couples are in a full-blown crisis. Others are just noticing the relationship doesn’t feel the way it used to, and they want to address it before things get worse. Both are valid reasons to come in.
Here are some of the most common things our Silver Lake couples bring to therapy:
- Communication that’s broken down, where every conversation turns into a fight or a wall of silence
- Recurring conflict over the same issues, no matter how many times you talk about them
- Trust that’s been damaged, whether by infidelity, dishonesty, or a pattern of broken promises
- Emotional distance and a feeling of roommate-ness, where you’re physically together but not really connected
- Intimacy issues, including physical closeness and the emotional kind
- Big life transitions like a new baby, a career change, a move, or a loss that’s put the relationship under strain
- Blended family challenges and co-parenting disagreements
- Financial stress and disagreements about money
- Different visions for the future that weren’t apparent when you started out
- Navigating non-traditional relationship structures with care and without judgment
We also work with LGBTQ+ couples and people in non-monogamous relationships. Our practice is an inclusive, affirming space for all kinds of partnerships.
Our Approach to Relationship Counseling
We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. What works for one couple won’t work for another, and our therapists are trained in multiple evidence-based methods so they can meet you where you are.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
EFT is one of the most researched approaches to couples work available. It’s rooted in attachment theory, which basically means it looks at the emotional bond between partners and the patterns that form when that bond feels threatened. EFT helps you understand the cycle you’re stuck in, soften the walls you’ve built up, and rebuild a connection that actually feels secure. It’s particularly useful when there’s emotional distance, recurring conflict, or a history of attachment wounds.
Gottman Method Therapy
The Gottman Method came out of decades of research on what separates relationships that last from those that fall apart. It’s practical and skills-based, focusing on communication, conflict management, friendship, and trust. If your arguments tend to go nowhere or you feel like you’re just not being heard, Gottman-based work gives you concrete tools to use both in and outside of sessions.
Attachment-Based Therapy
A lot of what happens in adult relationships is shaped by how we learned to connect, or not connect, early in life. Attachment-based therapy helps both partners understand the patterns they brought in from their own histories, and why those patterns keep showing up in the relationship now. This approach tends to go deeper and is particularly helpful when there’s a lot of reactivity or emotional shutdown.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Couples
CBT looks at the specific thoughts and behaviors that are getting in the way. It’s structured and direct, useful when there are clear patterns of thinking or reacting that keep creating problems. Good for couples who want something practical to work on between sessions.
Trauma-Informed Couples Work
Sometimes what looks like a relationship problem is actually trauma showing up inside the relationship. Past experiences, individual or shared, can shape how we respond to our partners in ways we don’t always understand. Our therapists know how to work with this carefully, without making sessions feel destabilizing or unsafe.
Imago Relationship Therapy
Imago looks at how our childhood relational experiences, including the wounds we carry from them, influence who we’re attracted to and how we show up in partnership. It’s especially useful for couples who notice they’re repeating something familiar, even when they can’t explain why.
Practical Things to Know
Free consultation. Before you commit to anything, you can schedule a free call to ask questions and see if we feel like the right fit. No pressure.
Evening and weekend availability. We know it’s not easy for two people with busy schedules to both show up at 2 PM on a Tuesday. We offer evening and weekend appointments to make it work.
In-person and telehealth. Both options are available. Online sessions use a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. Research consistently shows that virtual couples therapy is just as effective as in-person for most couples.
Insurance and fees. We accept insurance and verify your coverage before your first session so there are no surprises. For couples without insurance or those whose plans don’t cover relationship counseling, we offer sliding scale fees on a limited basis. Reach out and we’ll work through the options with you.
Confidentiality. Everything discussed in session stays between you and your therapist, with very limited legal exceptions that your therapist will explain clearly before you start.
Why Work With David Strah?
Our therapists are fully licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, holding credentials including LMFT, LCSW, and doctoral-level licensure. Many have advanced training in couples-specific modalities, including EFT and the Gottman Method, which are different from general therapy training and reflect a genuine specialization in relationship work.
We’re verified on Psychology Today and maintain professional affiliations with the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
Honestly, though, what we hear most from couples is that they felt heard here. Both of them. That’s harder to achieve than it sounds, and it’s something we take seriously.
Frequently Asked Questions About Couples Therapy in Silver Lake
What’s the difference between couples therapy and marriage counseling?
Not much, practically speaking. The terms are often used interchangeably. “Marriage counseling” tends to suggest a focus on committed or legally married couples, while “couples therapy” is broader and applies to any two people in a partnership, regardless of legal status or relationship structure. What matters more than the label is what actually happens in the room, and whether the therapist has real training and experience in relational work specifically.
Does couples therapy work if only one of us wants to go?
This is one of the most common concerns we hear. Here’s the honest answer: therapy works best when both people are willing to show up with some openness, but they don’t need to be equally enthusiastic at the start. It’s very common for one partner to be more reluctant. A good therapist knows how to work with that, and how to create a space where the more hesitant person gradually feels safe enough to engage. That said, if one person refuses to participate at all, individual therapy for the willing partner can still create meaningful change in the relationship dynamic.
How long does couples therapy take?
It depends on what you’re working on. Research on the Gottman Method and EFT typically points to somewhere between 8 and 20 sessions for most couples, though more complex situations, like affair recovery or deeply entrenched conflict, can take longer. Most couples start with weekly sessions, then gradually move to every other week as things stabilize. The honest thing to say is that you should expect a real commitment of several months if you want to see lasting change. Quick fixes in relationships are rare, and usually don’t hold.
Does insurance cover couples therapy?
This is tricky, and worth understanding clearly. Most insurance plans do not cover couples therapy as a standalone service because it’s not categorized as treatment for a diagnosable mental health condition. However, there are exceptions. If one partner has a diagnosed condition, like depression or anxiety, that’s directly affecting the relationship, some plans will cover sessions billed under that diagnosis. We verify your insurance before your first appointment and walk you through exactly what’s covered. If insurance won’t cover it, we’ll talk through sliding scale options and payment arrangements.
We’ve already tried couples therapy before and it didn’t help. Why would this be different?
This comes up a lot. The most common reason past therapy didn’t work isn’t that therapy doesn’t work. It’s usually one of three things: the approach wasn’t a good match for the specific issues you were dealing with, the therapist didn’t have enough specialized training in couples work specifically, or sessions focused on venting without providing actual tools or structure. A therapist who uses evidence-based methods like EFT or Gottman is operating from a very different framework than general talk therapy. It’s worth trying again with someone who knows the specific territory of relationship counseling.
Is online couples therapy actually effective?
Yes. Research consistently shows that online couples counseling produces outcomes comparable to in-person sessions. The key ingredients, a trained therapist, a structured approach, both partners showing up, and real honesty between you, all transfer to a virtual format. Some couples actually find it easier to open up from the comfort of home. We use a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform and our therapists are experienced in making online sessions feel productive rather than awkward.
What if we’re not sure we want to stay together? Can therapy help with that?
Yes, and this is actually one of the most underrated uses of couples therapy. There’s a specific approach called discernment counseling that’s designed exactly for couples in this position. It’s not about saving the relationship at all costs. It’s about helping both of you get clear on what you actually want and make a more informed, intentional decision together, rather than drifting into separation or staying together by default. Even if you ultimately decide to separate, doing that work thoughtfully can protect both of you and any children involved.
Ready to Take the First Step?
Most couples wait longer than they should to get help. If you’re reading this, you’re already ahead of that curve.
Contact David Strah today to schedule your free consultation. We’ll answer your questions, check your insurance, and match you with a therapist who’s right for both of you.
We offer in-person couples therapy in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, and online relationship counseling throughout California. Evening and weekend appointments are available.
