COUPLES THERAPY IN SAN DIEGO
Improve communication & restore intimacy.
Preeti Presswala-Shah, LMFT
Do you feel like you live in a glass house?
You love each other, but it feels like everything between you is fragile. One wrong word, one sideways glance, and the peace shatters. You’ve learned to tread carefully, to hold your breadth during tense moments, to avoid saying what you really feel. But the truth is, relationships can’t grow in constant caution. You’re both tired of tiptoeing around the pain, unsure how to rebuild safety and trust.
You’re tired of feeling caught in this cycle:
Small disagreements about chores or digital distractions turning into bigger arguments.
Work stress sometimes spills over into your relationship.
You find yourselves clashing over money, intimacy, or family expectations.
You both deserve to feel safe enough to be honest, and to rebuild the kind of trust that makes your relationship feel sturdy again.My areas of expertise:
-
Break unhealthy patterns, even in high conflict, and learn to communicate with respect, love, and understanding.
-
Rebuild trust after betrayal and begin the process of healing and forgiveness, so your relationship can feel safe again.
-
Rekindle passion, closeness, and vulnerability to restore the intimacy that makes your partnership thrive.
-
Balancing different cultural identities, traditions, and family expectations to understand those influences and finding a way forward that feels authentic and connecting for both of you.
Is Couples Therapy Right for You?
Couples Therapy Is For You If…
You both want to improve your relationship, even if you’re unsure how.
You feel disconnected, stuck in conflict, or unsure how to communicate.
You want to rebuild trust after betrayal or infidelity.
You want to understand each other more deeply and build emotional safety together.
You want to decide whether to recommit or separate.
Couples Therapy May Not Be the Best Fit If…
One or both partners are unwilling to participate or engage in therapy as they have decided to leave.
There is ongoing physical violence, active addiction, active affair, or untreated mental health crises that need individual support first.
You’re seeking therapy only to prove a point or assign blame.
You’re looking for a quick fix or expecting change without personal reflection or effort.
to prove you’ve "tried everything before walking away.”
Couples Therapy can help you build a Sound Relationship House
how i can help
My approach is designed to help you move from tension and distance toward understanding and genuine connection. I guide you both using tools from Gottman Method in identifying the patterns that keep you stuck in the cycle and replacing them with healthier ways of communicating and relating. You will learn to overcome criticism, contempt, defensiveness and stonewalling, or work through regrettable incidents to overcome resentment. You will learn to catch the bids for connection from your partner and respond in ways that help you feel closer and find new way to compromise.
Together, we’ll build a strong foundation of trust, safety, and respect, the cornerstones of a resilient relationship. You’ll learn tools to manage conflict without escalating, express your needs without fear, and listen to each other with empathy instead of defense.
As you begin to practice these new skills, small shifts will start to feel like big changes. Over time, you’ll notice more calm in your conversations, more warmth in your home, and a renewed sense that you’re truly on the same team again. You’ll learn to be open and vulnerable again, communicating in ways that strengthen the foundation of your relationship and your relationship will feel like a home that can weather life’s storms.
imagine if you can…
Rebuild a positive perspective…
and begin to notice what’s working again, not just what’s broken.
Learn to self-soothe and de-escalate…
and discover how to repair quickly and grow closer through hard conversations.
Reconnect with your your partner…
to rebuild the friendship, trust, and emotional safety that make love last.
Create shared meaning and rituals…
to deepen your sense of “us” through small, intentional moments of connection.
Build resilience as a couple…
and face challenges together with teamwork and compassion, not distance or blame.
I want you to know:
Change is possible.
Let’s work together and change the status quo.
faqs
Common questions about couples therapy
-
After the assessment, sessions are conjoint and 75 minutes long. They are focused on talking, exploring emotions, and understanding the patterns that keep you stuck. I’ll guide you through new ways of communicating that increase understanding, repair, and connection.
You’ll leave each session with practical tools to help strengthen your relationship between sessions.
-
No, you don’t have to be married to work with me. I support couples in all types of relationships, whether you’re dating, engaged, married, separated.
If you’re looking for support with your relationship you’re welcome here.
-
I can’t guarantee specific results, no therapist can, but what I can guarantee is the space, support, and guidance to help you move toward the changes you want.
Therapy works best when we show up consistently, stay curious, and collaborate. My role is to bring my training, experience, and approach; your role is to bring your goals, your honesty, and your willingness to engage.Together, we’ll track what’s working, adjust when needed, and make sure therapy is moving in the direction you’re hoping for.
-
The number of sessions really depends on your goals, what you’re navigating, and the pace that feels right for you.
Some people feel relief after a handful of sessions, while others prefer longer-term support. During our first few meetings, we’ll talk about what you’re hoping to change and create a plan together.I don’t lock anyone into a set number of sessions. We’ll check in regularly, adjust as needed, and make sure the work feels meaningful and helpful for you.
-
I understand that couples are often juggling demanding schedules. That’s why I offer both in-person sessions in San Diego and online sessions across California. We’ll work together to find a time that fits your lives, so therapy feels supportive, not stressful.
-
I primarily use the Gottman Method, a research based approach that gives couples practical tools to improve communication, rebuild trust, and strengthen friendship. I also integrate emotionally focused work to help partners understand what’s happening beneath the conflict. With my South Asian Indian background, I bring a culturally sensitive lens to every session so both partners feel seen, understood, and respected.
Ready to get started?