Dr. Russo

Therapeutic Approach with Couples:

I employ a compassionate and proactive approach when working with couples. My therapeutic style is eclectic, drawing from a variety of evidence-based methods, including cognitive-behavioral, emotionally-focused, relational, narrative and attachment-based therapies. To tailor the counseling process to each couple’s unique needs, I incorporate personality trait assessments and evidence-based inventories. These may include Prepare & Enrich, SYMBIS, FOCCUS, Gottman Relationship Check Up, and Enneagram trait expressions. These tools help guide our focus and provide practical skills, ensuring that couples better understand their strengths, challenges, communication styles, and expectations.

Who Can Benefit:

This approach is beneficial for couples navigating the complexities and milestones associated with serious dating, pre-engagement, engagement, and newly married relationships. It is especially valuable for intentional couples who are committed to building resilient bonds by gaining a deeper understanding of one another. These couples seek to learn essential skills and tools during any stage of their relationship, enabling them to communicate effectively, manage conflicts, handle everyday challenges, and work through difficult or uncertain periods together. I also work with Couples in recovery who are ready to advance in their relationships.

Couples navigate the challenges and milestones that surface in serious dating, pre-engagement, engagement, and newly married relationships. Intentional couples looking to build resilient bonds by understanding one another desiring to learn skills and tools early on so they can communicate effectively, manage conflict, deal with daily challenges, and navigate uncertain and painful seasons of their relationships together. I also work with Couples-in-Recovery who are ready to take the next step in their relationships.

Expected Outcomes for Couples:

Through the Counseling process, couples will:

• Deepen their relational connection by understanding each other's primary needs, desires & emotions that underlie their behaviors.

• Learn key strategies to communicate and navagite the tension of differences.

• Develop a problem-solving, team-based approach to challenges.

• Enhance intimacy by understanding each other's love languages.

• Strengthen attunement within their relationship and establish new rituals of connection.

• Acquire tools to manage sensitive topics and navigate tensions that arise from individual & family differences.

• Gain a deeper understanding of each other’s hopes and dreams through a Narrative lens providing healing & growth.