Couples Therapy (Oklahoma & Vermont)

Who I Am & Where I Practice

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), licensed in Oklahoma and licensed to practice virtually in Vermont.

I provide couples therapy for adults (18+) in:

Edmond, Oklahoma – in-person and virtual
Throughout Oklahoma – virtual
Throughout Vermont – virtual

Who This Is For

I provide structured, accountability-focused couples therapy for adult partners stuck in high-conflict or pursue/withdraw cycles.

My work is especially well-suited for couples who care deeply about each other but feel trapped in patterns of reactivity, defensiveness, control, shutdown, or chronic disconnection.

This is not neutral mediation. I actively guide the process, interrupt destructive dynamics in real time, and help both partners increase responsibility for how they show up in conflict.

This page is specifically for couples attending therapy together. If your primary concern is individual anxiety, trauma processing, or grief related to the death of a child, please visit the appropriate service page.

When This Is a Strong Fit

This work is often a strong fit for couples who:

• Have the “same old fight” repeatedly

• Feel stuck in pursue/withdraw or criticism/defensiveness cycles

• Love each other but feel emotionally distant

• Are navigating grief, parenting stress, or major life transitions

• Want clarity about whether to repair the relationship or separate thoughtfully

• Are open to direct, honest conversations in session

I also offer couples intensives for partners who want a focused, extended session format (details available upon request). Intensives are best suited for couples experiencing high conflict or emotional distance where both partners feel physically safe and want movement, whether toward repair or thoughtful separation.

When This May Not Be the Right Fit

This may not be the best fit if:

• There is ongoing physical violence or fear in the relationship. If that is the case, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

• One partner is unwilling to participate.

• You are seeking court-mandated, custody-related, or forensic evaluations.

• One or both partners are in active crisis requiring immediate stabilization (please contact 988 or local emergency services).

• Active substance abuse is present and not being addressed in individual treatment.

• Your primary goal is to process individual trauma outside the context of the relationship dynamic.

If a different level of care is appropriate, I will provide referrals.

How I Work With Couples

My couples work is relational, structured, and direct.

I draw primarily from Relational Life Therapy (RLT), developed by Terry Real, which emphasizes mutual accountability, clear feedback, and interrupting destructive relational patterns in real time.

I help partners:

• Identify and interrupt destructive conflict cycles

• Increase emotional accountability

• Improve communication and repair after conflict

• Build more equitable, reciprocal dynamics

• Address how early relational wounds are showing up in the present relationship

Often, the way each partner reacts in conflict did not start in this relationship. You may notice patterns like shutting down quickly, becoming intensely defensive, over-functioning, withdrawing, or feeling easily criticized.

We focus on how those reactions show up between you now, and how to respond differently, rather than turning couples therapy into individual trauma processing.

A central focus of this work is helping each partner take responsibility for their responses in moments of conflict, even when the other person is reactive. Lasting change happens when both partners shift from blame toward accountability and relational leadership.

Direct does not mean harsh. Sessions are steady and grounded, even when conversations are difficult. If behavior is anti-relational, I will name it clearly and respectfully.

Sessions are typically 55 minutes and held weekly. Intensives are longer and follow a separate structure.

Training & Experience

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in Oklahoma and authorized to provide virtual therapy in Vermont. I have been practicing for over 10 years across community mental health and private practice settings, including my Edmond-based practice, Gift of Grit Counseling.

I have specialized training in Relational Life Therapy (RLT) and am currently pursuing certification through the Relational Life Institute. This is a two-year process that includes:

• Three formal practicums

• Ongoing mentoring

• RLT-specific clinical supervision

• Multiple submissions of my recorded couples sessions for evaluation

My clinical experience includes working with couples experiencing pursue/withdraw dynamics, chronic defensiveness, power struggles, grief, accountability breakdowns, and prolonged relational strain.

My style balances emotional depth with structured relational tools. I am direct when needed, while maintaining emotional safety and clarity in the room.

Logistics, Insurance & Fees

Ages Served: Couples 18+
Session Length: 55 minutes
Frequency: Typically weekly
Format: In-person (Edmond, OK) or virtual (OK & VT)

Insurance Accepted

BCBS
UHC
HealthChoice of Oklahoma
Healthcare Highways
Aetna

Private Pay

$200 per 55-minute session

Weekend couples intensives are available with a separate fee structure.

If your insurance is not listed, private pay options are available.

Insurance & Couples Therapy

Insurance coverage for couples therapy is not guaranteed.

Insurance companies require that one partner hold a diagnosable mental health condition and meet medical necessity criteria. Not all relationship concerns qualify.

We will complete the first session together. After clinical assessment, I will determine whether medical necessity criteria are met and review billing options transparently so you can make an informed decision.

Couples Therapy May Qualify for Insurance When:

• One partner has a diagnosable mental health condition (such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD)

• Relationship distress is directly connected to that condition

• Symptoms are causing functional impairment

• Medical necessity criteria are met

In these cases, one partner is identified as the client for insurance purposes.

Couples Therapy Is More Often Private Pay When:

• The primary concern is communication patterns or relational dissatisfaction

• There is no diagnosable mental health condition present

• Both partners are functioning well individually but feel stuck relationally

• The goal is relationship enrichment or clarity rather than treatment of a mental health disorder

Insurance companies typically do not reimburse for relationship growth or preventative work.

How to Know If We’re a Strong Match

You may be a particularly strong match if:

• You both want the relationship to improve

• You are willing to examine your own contributions to conflict

• You want honest, structured feedback rather than just venting

• You feel stuck but not indifferent

• You want clarity about whether to rebuild or separate respectfully

In Plain Terms

I work with couples who are tired of having the same argument and want help understanding what keeps happening — and how to respond differently.

I provide weekly couples therapy in Oklahoma (in-person in Edmond or virtual statewide) and Vermont (virtual only), with optional intensives available.

How to Get Started

If you are seeking couples therapy in Oklahoma or Vermont, you can learn more or request an appointment at the button below.

If your primary concern is grief related to the death of a child, anxiety, or individual trauma work, please visit the appropriate service page on my website.