Couples counseling
Couples counseling for the fight you keep having.
Licensed couples therapy for partners who want to stop circling the same argument, rebuild trust, and feel like a team again. In person in the Mat-Su Valley, or by telehealth anywhere in Alaska or Ohio.
Who it is for
- Couples who keep having the same argument about different topics
- Partners rebuilding trust after a breach or betrayal
- Couples who feel more like roommates than partners
- Partners who are unsure whether to stay together and want to decide with care
- Couples facing a major transition such as a new baby, a move, or retirement
What we work on
- Pursue and withdraw cycles that escalate or go silent
- Repair after hurtful conversations
- Emotional distance, resentment, and loneliness inside the relationship
- Communication under stress
- Differences in culture, faith, or family expectations
At a glance
- Type
- Licensed counseling
- Format
- In person in the Mat-Su Valley, Alaska, or secure telehealth in Alaska and Ohio
- Available to
- Both partners located in Alaska or Ohio at the time of each session
- Provided by
- Nawal Ibrahim, MS, MA, LPC, LMFT, and SoundHeart clinicians.
- Payment
- Private pay. Fees are shown in your secure booking and payment link.
What it involves
Seeing the pattern together, then practicing a new one.
Most couples arrive focused on the latest argument. Early sessions widen the view. Together we map the cycle you both get pulled into and the predictions underneath it, such as one partner expecting abandonment and the other expecting criticism.
From there, the work is practical. Sessions include guided conversations, slowing down the moments where things usually go wrong, and trying new responses while support is in the room. You leave each session with a small, specific practice for the days between.
Most couples start with regular sessions, weekly or every other week, and adjust as things improve. Your plan is reviewed together along the way.
Through the NeuroRelational lens. We map what each partner’s nervous system predicts in conflict, slow the Interpretive Gap, and practice staying present without performing or leaving.
How it works
From first contact to ongoing work.
Consultation
A short conversation to understand what you are hoping for and confirm counseling is the right fit.
Intake session
We learn your history as a couple and as individuals, review consent and privacy, and agree on goals.
Regular sessions
Structured work on your cycle, with guided practice in the room.
Between-session practice
Small, specific practices that let new patterns repeat until they feel natural.
Review
We check progress against your goals and decide together what comes next.
Fit and safety
When this is not the right first step
- There is ongoing physical violence, threats, or coercive control in the relationship
- One partner is attending only under pressure or to manage the other
- A partner is in an active mental health or substance use crisis that needs immediate care
If you are afraid of your partner, an individual consultation is a safer first step. In the U.S., the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233 or by texting START to 88788. In an emergency, dial 911.
Questions
Common questions
What if my partner will not come?
You can still start. Individual counseling can help you steady your side of the pattern and get clear on what you want. Some partners choose to join later. Individual counseling
Will you take sides?
No. The cycle is the problem, not either person. Our job is to help both partners feel understood and to work on the pattern you share.
We travel often. Can we use telehealth?
Telehealth counseling is available when you are located in Alaska or Ohio at the time of the session. If you will be elsewhere, talk with us about coaching or scheduling around travel.
Is an intensive better than weekly sessions?
It depends. Intensives suit couples who want concentrated time or feel stuck after weekly therapy. Weekly sessions suit couples who benefit from steady practice over time. Compare with intensives
Next step
Not sure this is the right fit? Ask us.
A short consultation is the easiest way to find out. We will tell you plainly if another option would serve you better.