Couples Therapy in Los Angeles, CA
Gay-Affirming · LGBTQ-Inclusive · Evidence-Based · In-Person & Online
You remember when it felt good between you. When you were curious about each other instead of guarded, when connection came easily instead of feeling like work. Somewhere along the way, something shifted — and now you’re either stuck in the same argument on repeat, or you’ve drifted into a polite, careful distance that hurts in a quieter way.
You’re not here because your relationship is hopeless. You’re here because you care enough to try — and that matters more than you know.
Couples therapy with David Strah, M.A., LMFT is a place where both of you get to be fully heard, fully seen, and genuinely supported — by a therapist who brings not just clinical expertise, but real lived experience in LGBTQ+ life, relationships, and family.
What Is Couples Therapy?
Couples therapy — also called relationship counseling or marriage counseling — is a form of psychotherapy in which both partners work with a licensed therapist to address relational challenges, improve communication, rebuild trust, and deepen intimacy. Sessions are typically 50–60 minutes and held weekly, though some formats include longer intensives.
Unlike individual therapy, which focuses on one person’s inner world, couples therapy treats the relationship itself as the client — the patterns between two people, the communication cycles, the emotional dynamics, and the unspoken needs that shape how partners show up for each other.
Effective couples therapy isn’t about determining who is right. It’s about helping both partners understand themselves and each other more deeply, and building the emotional safety that makes genuine connection possible again.
At David Strah Therapy, couples sessions are held in person at 321 N. Larchmont Boulevard, Suite 808, Los Angeles, CA 90004, with secure telehealth available for couples anywhere in California.
Why Couples Choose David Strah?
- Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) — California
- Openly gay therapist with decades of lived LGBTQ+ experience
- Published author — Gay Dads: A Celebration of Fatherhood (Penguin/Putnam, 2003)
- Psychodynamic, narrative, EFT, and Gottman-informed approach
- Specialist in gay couples counseling, LGBTQ couples therapy, and gay dads
- In-person in Los Angeles | Telehealth throughout California
- Free 15-minute consultation — no pressure, no paperwork
Does Any of This Sound Familiar?
Most couples don’t show up to therapy at the absolute breaking point. They show up when they’re tired — tired of the same cycle, tired of feeling unseen, tired of hoping things will somehow change on their own. Here’s what brings couples to David’s office:
You're Having the Same Fight on Repeat
The topic changes. The pattern doesn’t. Every disagreement circles back to the same hurt, the same defenses, the same feeling that your partner simply doesn’t hear you. You’re both smart enough to know you’re not really fighting about the dishes — but you can’t seem to get underneath it.
The Distance Has Gotten Hard to Ignore
You still care about each other. That’s not the question. But somewhere between work, responsibilities, and the daily logistics of life together, you stopped really connecting. The warmth is still there — it’s just gotten harder to find. And harder to reach for.
Trust Has Been Broken
Whether it was infidelity, a discovered lie, or years of emotional unavailability that finally reached a tipping point — broken trust doesn’t repair itself. It needs intentional, skilled work. And it absolutely can be rebuilt. But not alone, and not by pretending it didn’t happen.
You're Gay Dads or LGBTQ+ Parents Navigating a New Chapter
Parenthood reshapes every relationship. But for gay couples and same-sex parents who became parents through adoption, surrogacy, or other paths, there are layers of complexity that most therapists simply aren’t equipped to hold. The stress of the process, the identity shifts, the relational renegotiating that comes with a new child — this is David’s territory, in a way it can only be for someone who has lived it.
You Want More Than Just Coexisting
You’re not on the verge of a breakup. You’re not in crisis. But the relationship has settled into something functional rather than fulfilling, and you both know you deserve more than that. Pre-commitment counseling, a relationship tune-up, deepening your connection before the next big transition — couples therapy doesn’t have to be a last resort. Sometimes it’s the smartest investment a relationship can make.
You've Tried Couples Therapy Before — and It Didn't Stick
This might be the most important thing to address directly. Couples therapy is only as effective as the fit between therapist and couple. A therapist who doesn’t understand the specific dynamics of gay or queer relationships, who defaults to frameworks built entirely on heterosexual couples research, or who sits passively while you talk in circles — that’s not bad luck. That’s the wrong fit.
If past experience left you skeptical, you deserve to know what it looks like when it actually works. That starts with a free 15-minute conversation.
The Approach: Going Deeper Than "Better Communication"
Communication tools are useful. But if you only treat the surface — the arguments, the tone, the timing — without understanding what’s underneath, the same patterns resurface. David’s approach goes deeper. It’s integrative, drawing from multiple evidence-based frameworks, and always tailored to who you actually are as a couple.
Psychodynamic Therapy — Understanding the Roots, Not Just the Symptoms
Many couples are fighting about things that happened long before they met each other. Psychodynamic couples therapy explores how each partner’s history — their family of origin, their attachment patterns, the messages they absorbed about love and safety — shows up in the relationship dynamic. When you understand the why behind your reactions, you stop being at their mercy. Real, lasting change becomes possible — not just temporary symptom relief.
Narrative Therapy — Rewriting the Story You’re Telling About Each Other
After enough conflict or distance, couples often start telling a fixed story about their partner: “This is just who they are.” Narrative therapy helps couples separate the person they love from the problem they’re facing — and begin co-authoring a new story about their relationship. One that has room for both people’s experience, complexity, and potential.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) — Reaching for Each Other Instead of Fighting
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), developed by Dr. Sue Johnson, is one of the most rigorously researched approaches in couples work. Grounded in attachment theory, EFT helps partners identify the emotional needs driving their conflict — and creates the safety needed to express those needs directly rather than through defensiveness or withdrawal. Research shows EFT produces lasting improvements in relationship satisfaction in the majority of couples who complete it.
Gottman Method Principles — Practical Tools With 40 Years of Research Behind Them
The Gottman Method gives couples evidence-based tools for improving communication, managing conflict more constructively, and rebuilding emotional intimacy. Developed from over four decades of research with thousands of couples, Gottman principles offer a practical, structured complement to the deeper relational work — giving both partners concrete strategies they can use between sessions.
LGBTQ-Affirmative Therapy — Always Central, Never Optional
For gay, queer, and LGBTQ+ couples, standard couples therapy frameworks — built largely on research with heterosexual, cisgender partners — often miss the specific dynamics at play. Internalized shame, growing up in non-affirming environments, navigating families of origin, same-sex relationship structures, and the unique challenges of gay parenting all require a therapist who understands them from the inside.
As an openly gay therapist, a published author in LGBTQ+ family life, and a gay adoptive father himself, David brings that understanding to every session — not as a credential he mentions once, but as the lens through which all the work is done.
Who This Is For
David works with couples across Los Angeles and throughout California — at every relationship stage, navigating a wide range of challenges. Here’s a closer look at who he works with and the specific issues that bring couples through his door.
Gay Couples and Same-Sex Partners
For gay couples looking for a therapist who is not just “LGBTQ-friendly” but genuinely of the community — David is one of the most experienced gay male therapists offering couples counseling in Los Angeles. He understands the particular dynamics of gay male relationships: navigating open or non-monogamous agreements, processing the residual effects of internalized homophobia, dealing with families of origin who may not fully affirm the relationship, and the unique pressures and joys of building a life together as two gay men in a city like Los Angeles.
LGBTQ+ Couples of All Identities
David works with queer, bisexual, transgender, and gender-nonconforming partners, as well as couples navigating ethical non-monogamy, polyamory, and other relationship structures. This is a fully affirming space — no explaining who you are, no educating your therapist about your relationship. Just the work.
Gay Dads and Same-Sex Parents
Few things in a relationship are as destabilizing — or as profoundly rewarding — as becoming parents. For gay couples who came to parenthood through adoption, surrogacy, or co-parenting arrangements, the emotional complexity is layered in ways that require a therapist with genuine expertise. David’s own experience as a gay adoptive father, and his nationally recognized authored work on the subject, make him uniquely positioned to support same-sex parents navigating both the joy and the strain of that journey together.
What Couples Therapy With David Actually Looks Like
One of the biggest reasons couples wait too long to get help is not knowing what to expect. Here’s exactly how it works — from the first call to real, lasting change.
Step 1 — Your Free 15-Minute Consultation
A no-pressure phone or video call. Both partners don’t need to be on it — though both are welcome. You’ll share what’s bringing you in, ask any questions you have, and get a genuine feel for whether David is the right fit. No commitment, no paperwork, no judgment.
Step 2 — Your First Session Together
Your first full session is a real conversation, not an intake checklist. David will learn about your relationship history, what’s been challenging, and what you both hope to get from the work. By the end of that hour, you’ll have more clarity — and less uncertainty about where to go from here.
Step 3 — Deeper Work, at Your Pace
Most couples meet weekly. Sessions will evolve as you progress — sometimes focusing on a specific pattern, sometimes working through something that surfaced between appointments. The pace is always calibrated to you. There’s no scripted curriculum, because no two couples are the same.
Step 4 — Tools You Can Use Outside the Session
The insights and skills developed in sessions don’t stay in the room. David equips both partners with practical tools to interrupt conflict before it escalates, express needs more clearly, and rebuild closeness intentionally — between sessions, not just during them.
All Couples — Every Identity, Every Stage
David also works with straight, mixed-orientation, and other couples who are simply looking for a skilled, thoughtful therapist who goes deeper than surface-level communication exercises. If you want real change — not just a temporary patch — you’re in the right place, regardless of how you identify.
What We Work On Together
- Communication breakdowns and repetitive conflict cycles
- Emotional distance and disconnection
- Infidelity and betrayal — rebuilding trust after a rupture
- Intimacy challenges — emotional, physical, and relational
- Life transitions: parenthood, career changes, relocation, loss
- Premarital and pre-commitment counseling for same-sex and all couples
- Navigating open relationships and ethical non-monogamy
- Family-of-origin conflict and boundary challenges
- Gay parenting stress and co-parenting dynamics
- Mixed cultural or religious backgrounds
- Grief within the relationship — loss, miscarriage, identity transitions
Why Work With David Strah?
There are thousands of therapists in Los Angeles. Here’s what makes couples who find David — especially gay and LGBTQ+ partners who have been searching for the real thing — tend to stay.
He Has Lived the Experience He Works With
David is an openly gay man, a father through adoption, and someone who has navigated every complexity of LGBTQ+ life — identity, family, relationships, authenticity — in a world that hasn’t always made it easy. That lived experience isn’t a talking point. It’s the foundation of his effectiveness, particularly for clients who are exhausted from having to over-explain their lives to a therapist who is theoretically supportive but experientially limited.
He Is a Published, Nationally Recognized Voice in LGBTQ+ Family Life
David authored Gay Dads: A Celebration of Fatherhood (Penguin/Putnam, 2003) — a mainstream-published, nationally recognized book that established him as one of the first and most visible thought leaders on gay fatherhood and LGBTQ+ family building. This level of public authority is exceptionally rare among couples therapists in Los Angeles, and it signals a depth of thinking and commitment that no directory listing can replicate.
He Is Active, Engaged, and Honest — Not a Passive Moderator
Good therapy isn’t just being listened to — though that matters. David is an active participant in your sessions. He asks the question you didn’t see coming. He names the pattern you’ve both been circling. He challenges both partners — gently, directly, and honestly — because that’s what actually moves the needle. If you’ve left previous therapy sessions feeling like nothing really shifted, this will feel different.
You Work With David — Not a Rotating Associate
David does not run a group practice with a roster of therapists you’ve never met. When you work with David Strah, you work with David Strah — every session, for the duration of your work together. That consistency is especially important in couples therapy, where trust in the therapist is foundational to the process.
Centrally Located — Easy for Both Partners to Reach
The office is at 321 N. Larchmont Boulevard, Suite 808, Los Angeles, CA 90004 — in Larchmont Village, one of the most central neighborhoods in the city. Accessible from Hollywood, Hancock Park, Koreatown, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, West Hollywood, and Mid-City. Secure telehealth is available for any couple in California.
Gay Therapy and LGBTQ Counseling Reviews
Session Details & Practical Information
In-Person Couples Therapy in Los Angeles
321 N. Larchmont Boulevard, Suite 808 Los Angeles, CA 90004 Located in Larchmont Village — one of the most central, accessible neighborhoods in the city. Easy to reach from Hollywood, Hancock Park, Koreatown, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Mid-City, West Hollywood, and beyond.
Online Couples Therapy Throughout California
Secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth sessions are available to any couple in California. Research consistently shows that online couples therapy is equally effective as in-person work for the vast majority of presenting concerns — including communication breakdown, trust issues, and identity-related relational dynamics. Whether you’re in Los Angeles or anywhere else in California, you can access this work from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
How to Get Started
Phone: (917) 922-2650
Email: davidstrah@aol.com
Address: 321 N. Larchmont Blvd, Suite 808, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Hours: Monday – Friday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Frequently Asked Questions About Couples Therapy in Los Angeles
What is couples therapy and how does it work?
Couples therapy is a form of psychotherapy in which both partners work with a licensed therapist to address relational challenges, improve communication, rebuild trust, and deepen emotional connection. Sessions are typically 50–60 minutes, held weekly. The therapist helps both partners identify patterns — in communication, conflict, disconnection — and understand the deeper needs and histories driving them. Unlike individual therapy, couples therapy treats the relationship itself as the client. Evidence-based modalities like Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, and psychodynamic therapy are commonly used, individually or in combination, depending on the couple’s needs.
What is gay couples counseling, and why does it matter to work with a gay therapist?
Gay couples counseling — also called same-sex couples therapy or LGBTQ couples therapy — is relationship counseling provided by a therapist who has specific expertise in, and ideally lived experience of, gay and LGBTQ+ identity, culture, and relational dynamics. The difference isn’t just about a therapist being accepting — it’s about depth of understanding. Gay couples often navigate dynamics that standard couples therapy models, built largely on heterosexual couples research, weren’t designed to address: internalized homophobia, navigating open or non-monogamous agreements, family-of-origin dynamics, same-sex parenting challenges, and the unique emotional landscape of building a life together as two men or two queer people. A gay male therapist who has lived this brings a quality of understanding that no amount of allyship training can fully replicate.
When should a couple seek couples therapy?
Couples don’t need to be on the verge of separation to benefit from couples therapy — and waiting until things reach a crisis point is one of the most common mistakes couples make. The most effective time to seek support is before resentment has had years to build. Common signs it’s time: recurring conflict that never fully resolves, growing emotional or physical distance, a breach of trust, difficulty communicating without things escalating, or a shared sense that the relationship could be better than it currently is. Pre-commitment and premarital counseling are also excellent uses of couples therapy — helping partners align before challenges arise.
Does couples therapy actually work?
Yes — for couples who genuinely engage with the process. Research consistently shows that evidence-based couples therapy produces significant improvements in relationship satisfaction for the majority of couples. Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) shows recovery rates of approximately 70–73% and significant improvement in 86% of couples who complete it. The Gottman Method, developed from 40+ years of research, is similarly well-supported. Outcomes improve meaningfully when the therapist is genuinely equipped to work with the couple’s specific identity, context, and relational dynamics — which is exactly why finding the right fit matters so much.
Do you offer LGBTQ couples therapy and gay couples counseling in Los Angeles?
Yes — and it is the core of this practice, not a secondary offering. David Strah is an openly gay therapist, a published author in the LGBTQ+ family space, and a gay adoptive father. He works with gay male couples, lesbian couples, queer and bisexual partners, and LGBTQ+ couples of all configurations — including those navigating open relationships, ethical non-monogamy, and same-sex parenting. LGBTQ-affirming couples therapy here means a therapist who deeply understands these dynamics — not one who is merely tolerant of them.
What's the difference between couples therapy and marriage counseling?
In practice, the terms are largely interchangeable. Couples therapy is the broader term — applicable to any two partners regardless of relationship status. Marriage counseling traditionally referred specifically to married couples, but modern licensed therapists use both terms to describe the same service. At David Strah Therapy, couples therapy is available to dating, engaged, married, long-term partnered, and co-parenting couples — at any stage of relationship, regardless of legal status or sexual orientation.
Can one partner come to couples therapy alone if the other won't attend?
Yes. If your partner is unwilling to attend — whether due to skepticism, fear, or simply not being ready — individual therapy focused on the relationship can still be enormously valuable. Working individually on your own patterns, communication habits, and emotional responses will change the dynamic between you, regardless of whether your partner is in the room. In many cases, one partner beginning individual work creates enough shift that the other eventually becomes willing to participate. David offers both individual and couples therapy and can help you navigate this situation directly.
Do you offer premarital counseling for gay and same-sex couples in Los Angeles?
Yes. Premarital and pre-commitment counseling is one of the most underutilized — and most valuable — forms of couples work available. For gay and same-sex couples planning a wedding, commitment ceremony, or the next significant chapter, this work helps partners align on core values, navigate family dynamics, establish communication patterns that will hold under pressure, and address the topics that are easy to defer but much harder to work through after the fact. David works with engaged and pre-commitment couples of all orientations, with particular personal depth and understanding when it comes to same-sex partnerships.
How long does couples therapy take?
There is no single answer, because it depends on the nature of the challenges, how long patterns have been entrenched, and both partners’ engagement with the process. Some couples address a specific issue — a communication breakdown, a trust rupture, a life transition — and find meaningful resolution in 10–20 sessions. Others work for six months to a year doing deeper relational and personal work. At David Strah Therapy, progress is reviewed openly and regularly. The goal is always to reach the point where both partners feel genuinely connected and equipped — not to extend the work beyond what serves you.
How do I start couples therapy in Los Angeles with David Strah?
Getting started is simple. Call or text (917) 922-2650, or submit a contact request through davidstrah.com to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. Both partners don’t need to be on the call, though both are welcome. From there, you’ll schedule your first session at the Larchmont Boulevard office in Los Angeles, or via secure telehealth anywhere in California. The first step is the hardest one. Everything that follows gets clearer.
The Relationship You Want Is Still Possible
Your relationship got to this point not because you chose wrong or love wrong — but because you’re human, and relationships take skill, understanding, and support that most of us were never explicitly taught. Couples therapy doesn’t fix people. It gives two people the insight, the tools, and the emotional safety to choose each other more fully.
If you’re ready to find out what’s possible — or even just curious whether this could help — a free 15-minute consultation is the lowest-risk, highest-potential step you can take right now.
Don’t wait for things to get worse before you get support. The best time to start is now.
