Was it their sense of humor, shared interests, or a magnetic sexual attraction? Remember when your relationship was filled with laughter, shared dreams, and an undeniable connection?
The constant demands and challenges of daily life have dimmed that initial spark, a cycle of disagreements, misunderstandings, and emotional distance are now a common occurrence. This has left both of you feeling disconnected, frustrated and longing to reconnect.
It’s time to reestablish a deep and loving connection, free from the burden of repetitive conflicts, misunderstandings, and a lack of sex.
You crave a connection where you can freely express your thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment. Being heard and understood by your partner is a top priority and you worry that if you don’t address these issues, you will continue to drift apart. You’re longing for a loving, harmonious partnership and are ready to make the necessary changes. I’m here to help.
In couples counseling, I create a safe space where sharing vulnerable emotions without fear of judgment, transforms conflicts and uncomfortable topics into opportunities for growth. As you begin to openly express things that have remained unspoken, emotional intimacy thrives, creating an unshakable foundation of shared trust.
The key to connection is slowing down, empathizing, and really listening … even when your inner voice is saying, “but, I’m right”
In our work together, you’ll learn the art of empathy and vulnerability. Rather than staying stuck in the position of I’m right/you’re wrong, you’ll learn to see the different factors that contribute to your conflicts, fostering a profound connection between you and your partner.
We’ll focus on noticing your triggers and deeply listening to one another. I’ll support you to understand each other’s needs, and shift out of a cycle of conflict. When you can talk to your partner about anything, you’ll rediscover the deeper connection that was lost. Reach out today to learn more.
I specialize in helping couples break free from a cycle of disagreements, reconnect emotionally, and rediscover the love that initially brought them together. With 15 years of experience working with intimate relationships I provide a safe space for you to explore your challenges, rebuild communication, and navigate the complexities of life together.
The ultimate goal is to create a space where both you and your partner feel deeply heard and respected.
This is the cornerstone of rebuilding a connection that may have faded amidst life’s responsibilities or the demands of parenting. Through our work, you’ll rediscover the profound connection you once shared, fostering a renewed sense of closeness and intimacy.
Together, we will empower you with invaluable techniques to elevate your communication skills and deepen your connection. You’ll learn to listen more deeply, not just to words but to your partner’s body language and the underlying emotions. We’ll explore your past including any lingering trauma, gaining insights into how it shapes your present interactions. This awareness can be essential to building a resilient relationship.
In therapy I create a safe space, where you’re no longer stuck in disagreements but communicating your desires and longings and truly being heard. My process helps you track your nervous system to stay regulated and in a space of engagement even with upsetting topics.
Couples often get stuck replaying the patterns you developed over the years together. Someone always has to be right. You make a comment and your partner gets offended.
You try to explain further and before you know it, you both feel like you can’t do anything right. The odds of being intimate tonight just dwindled. Winning an argument is not the goal but sometimes when you’re locked in conflict it can feel like the most important thing.
“Why Do You Always … ?!”
At some point in every partnership this question is asked and it’s like throwing gas on a fire. The hope is to point out something that needs to change but this way of doing it only furthers the conflict.
Then you have recurring arguments about philosophical differences – how to raise kids, how to spend your hard-earned money or whether to open up your relationship. These are challenging to navigate because their origins are often rooted in childhood experiences or developmental trauma.
To move through a fight without getting stuck, you must address the patterns that hold you back. Couples counseling in Berkeley can help. Get in touch to learn more.
With help, your fights can transform into pathways for growth, understanding, and deeper connection. Moving beyond the cycle of repetitive arguments requires vulnerability, trust, and a willingness to be truly seen and heard. Together, we’ll embark on a journey of transformation, helping your relationship thrive and evolve, one step at a time.
Couples and relationship counseling can help you navigate disputes without getting stuck, angry, and eventually avoiding the thorny topic altogether.
It can support you to move through challenging conversations that ‘should be’ easy without getting trapped in blaming and shaming one another. Rather than focusing on who’s right or wrong, which often leads nowhere, I can guide you in using techniques that promote deeper understanding and resolution.
It used to be so easy to connect without other priorities getting in the way. When work, chores, and child responsibilities take all of your energy, it becomes difficult to remember what you used to do for fun together.
The Bay Area’s bustling culture only seems to amplify the issue, where work often takes precedence over everything else. Balancing your professional life and the responsibilities waiting for you at home can be overwhelming, sometimes pushing your relationship to the back burner.
When you and your partner finally do find a moment to connect, it can feel like you’re caught in a never-ending cycle of disagreements and admin tasks, leaving you feeling more distant than ever.
Connection is not just about wanting to be loved or understood; it’s about prioritizing your relationship above the daily grind.
In a more connected relationship, time together feels more harmonious. While you may still have disagreements about shared goals, the path forward is easier to see and the struggles that once arose from hectic schedules and conflicting priorities gradually gives way to a smoother, more balanced partnership. Work shouldn’t come first, you and your relationship should.
Together, we’ll align your goals, bridge the gaps in communication, and reignite the spark that brought you together.
The playfulness and flow you once enjoyed as a couple have dwindled. In the past, spending time together felt effortless, filled with shared activities, and without the tension that now seems to permeate your interactions. Bickering over household chores has made you wonder, “What happened to us?”
Seemingly insignificant interactions bring up triggers from the past, and everyone has personal histories that come with their own set of triggers. These tend to resurface during your disagreements, making it feel like old wounds are being reopened.
Couples counseling can help you rekindle the playfulness, joy and light-hearted connection that once defined your relationship.
As playfulness returns, shared activities and quality time are filled with genuine laughter, and the tension that once plagued your interactions is replaced by warmth and affection. No more arguments escalating into heated conflicts. Instead, you can navigate disagreements calmly and with empathy, making sure that triggers from the past no longer dictate your present moments.
This renewed connection will be the foundation of your relationship, thriving amidst the daily grind of responsibilities. Therapy can help you come back to yourself and your partner in a loving way with a recognition that conflicts will arise but you’ll know how to navigate them. It’ll support you to rekindle that spark and rediscover the joy that brought you together in the first place. Book a consult to learn more about Couples Counseling in Berkeley, CA.
In the Bay Area and beyond, partners are re-inventing what committed partnership looks like. Within a non-judgemental space I offer support for exploring your vision of an ideal relationship. I can help you establish agreements that foster love and connection as you navigate non-monogamy or the path of opening up your relationship.
You are already in an open, polyamorous or non-monogamous relationship or are wanting to move in that direction. There is a lot to navigate with making sure both you and your partners(s) are heard.
You may not feel considered when your partner is prioritizing what their other partners need or want. And you’d like help to keep your bond strong as you open your relationship or continue to navigate what polyamory or non-monogamy means to you and your partner(s).
The strength and integrity of your relationship can support a loving open relationship
I can assist you to develop agreements that work for you and your partner(s) so you can maintain a strong connection to your primary partner while exploring relationships with others.
In non-monogamous dynamics, agreements often evolve based on everyone’s comfort levels. I can support you to have these challenging conversations and develop agreements that align with your values and support each partner to feel heard and included.
I’ve assisted numerous partners in polyamorous and open relationships as they define what this arrangement looks like for them, recognizing that it varies with every partnership.
Sometimes couples have decided to be in a consensually non-monogamous relationship and one partner is more interested than the other in finding partnership outside of the primary relationship.
Other times one partner is more interested in long term committed relationships outside of the primary relationship and the other enjoys dating more casually.
On other occasions there are multiple partners with equal decision making power in the relationship and there’s a lot to communicate about.
It can look different for every relationship and these discussions can be challenging depending on what insecurities arise.
I can support you with compassion and without judgment to communicate your needs and desires and come to a solid set of agreements that will strengthen your relationship rather than hinder it.
I’ve observed that many people want to prove they’re right and hope I will tell their partner to change for the relationship to improve. I approach this differently – my goal is to support authentic connection without the need to prove right or wrong. My approach is compassionate yet directive, so you can navigate any issue.
My style is unique. I synthesize a variety of highly effective therapy modalities such as mindfulness, neuroscience, somatic and art therapy.
This helps clients to explore unconscious tendencies and define their authentic needs. Staying in a difficult conversation is possible with the right tools.
My education is vast and I regularly immerse myself in the latest research, participating in advanced courses, and attending highly specialized trainings.
My approach weaves together effective partnership therapy interventions from many brilliant voices in the field. These interventions can actually work to get you unstuck and reconnected, and include:
The care and nurturing we receive from birth and throughout our childhood influences our relationships with others throughout our lives.In addition, I utilize the most effective interventions from cutting edge psychologists in the field, including:
1521 Shattuck Ave #201
Berkeley, Ca 94709
Land of the Muwekma Ohlone
MISSION
To help you feel less alone, more self-compassion and genuine connection in your relationships.
COMMITMENT
I am passionate about the environment and in an effort to combat climate change a portion of every session will be donated to Rainforest Trust to support this beautiful planet we live on.
VALUES
My practice is inclusive of all sexual, relationship, and gender expressions and identities.
I do not accept insurance directly and am considered an out-of-network provider for insurance companies. Some insurance companies will provide coverage for out-of-network providers, usually at a 40-80% rate.
I can provide you with a superbill to be reimbursed by your insurance.
Use Nirvana’s Benefit Calculator to determine your reimbursement rates. https://calculator.meetnirvana.com/
Yes.
I offer in person sessions at my office in Berkeley and online therapy via HIPPA compliant Zoom platform.
Sessions are held weekly or every other week and are 50 minutes in length. I meet weekly with new clients. Some clients reach a point where they see improvement and would like to meet every other week so I am open to discussing this and come up with a mutual decision about when this might be helpful.
I don’t meet with new clients every other week because it’s essential to build a relationship for me to offer the most effective support.
Copyright Rose Schweig, MA, MFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 87269
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