Brooklyn Couples Therapy
I specialize in working with LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples exploring identity, immigrants adjusting to life in New York City/the U.S. I often see couples seeking therapy as they navigate anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, intimacy concerns, major life transitions, and other mental health concerns. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and active, meaning I work with clients to help them feel more authentic, grounded, and empowered in their choices and relationships. I draw from psychodynamic, mindfulness, and cognitive-behavioral techniques, as well as EMDR (a form of trauma therapy).
If what you’ve read resonates with you, I encourage you to reach out for a free consultation so we can discuss how therapy might support your goals.
My practice may not be the best fit if you’re seeking therapy for children or adolescents, or if you’re looking for treatment that requires intensive substance use or eating disorder support, as these areas are outside my current scope of practice.
6 highly recommended Brooklyn couples therapists
Finding a licensed therapists can feel overwhelming as you navigate relationship issues. So, I've compiled a list of couples counselors with strong clinical experience and who care deeply for your relational well being as you explore a deeper connection with your partner. If you're hoping to build a stronger foundation, explore past traumas in a safe space, rebuild trust, or get to the root causes of conflicts, I encourage you to find the right therapist that works for you. Below are a few mental health professionals that I would recommend if you're seeking in-person relationship counseling in Brooklyn. I've also included a few other telehealth providers, as most couples naturally like to explore a few options before making a decision.
1. Sarah Kaufman, LCSW
Sarah Kaufman, LCSW, is a couples therapist offering virtual and in-person therapy in Brooklyn, NY. She helps partners better understand themselves and each other through thoughtful identity-affirming care, whether they’re working to strengthen their relationship or find clarity about its future. Sarah is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for Couples and integrates elements of Internal Family Systems (IFS) into her work. Her specialties include sex, intimacy, and conflict in relationships; ethical non-monogamy; grief and loss; perinatal and reproductive mental health; fertility challenges; and work-related anxiety. She welcomes and celebrates people of all identities and life experiences, with a particular passion for working with new parents, the LGBTQIA+ clients, and those navigating recent losses.
2. Ashley Kudler, LMHC
Ashley Kudler, LMHC, offers in-person couples therapy grounded in attachment-based theory, the Gottman Method, and a humanistic and psycho-spiritual framework to help partners repair trust, deepen emotional intimacy, and build secure, conscious and healthy relationships. Her approach supports couples in understanding their attachment styles, improving communication, and transforming patterns of conflict into opportunities for connection and growth.
3. Gabe Monett, LMSW
Gabe Monett, LMSW, works with couples navigating transitions, identity questions, and relationship challenges. His clients often feel stuck between who they’ve been and who they’re becoming, whether that means managing depression/anxiety, building emotional awareness, or learning to communicate more openly. They want a space where they can show up honestly, understand their patterns, and develop tools to feel more grounded, connected, and intentional in their lives and relationships.
He integrates mindfulness-based and psychodynamic therapy to help you understand how past experiences shape your present self. Together, you will identify patterns, strengthen emotional insight, and build practical tools for change, whether in your relationships, work, or sense of self.
Therapy works best when it feels like a genuine conversation. His approach is warm, grounded, and curious. He wants to help you feel seen and supported as you navigate what’s next.
Telehealth providers:
4. Rachel Harlich, LCSW
Rachel Harlich, LCSW, specializes in working with LGBTQIA+ ADHD, Autistic, AuDHD, and neurotype questioning couples and polycules on issues ranging from trauma, attachment, conflict, infidelity, navigating CNM, sex work, chronic illness/pain/disability, and negotiating kink/BDSM dynamics. She uses an integrative model including but not limited to Relational Life Therapy, Imago, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Polysecure and Multiamory tools, sex therapy principles, somatics, and parts work.
5. Kate Klein, LMHC
Kate Klein, LMHC, is a queer sex, relationship, and intimacy therapist and specializes in kink/BDSM, alternative relationship structures, and working with members of the LGBTQIA2+ community. She has been in the field for 13 years and has offered sex and relationship therapy for the last 8 years. She is based in Brooklyn, NY and her practice is virtual.
Some words form Kate: "I adore the work I do and absolutely love being able to educate, empower, and hold space for folks around sex, gender, identity, healing from trauma, and creating a foundation of self. It feels so powerful and important helping my clients identify attachment wounds and learning to be gentle with themselves as they understand the survival tactics they learned during their upbringing that are keeping them stuck or are no longer serving them. Another powerful aspect of my work that brings me so much joy is helping folks cultivate and reclaim their sexuality, identity, power/agency, and authenticity."
6. Aleja M. Parsons, Ph.D.
Dr. Parsons specializes in getting couples “unstuck” from long standing destructive patterns. She works with couples to help clarify the cycles keeping them trapped and provides tools for them to join together against the issues tearing them apart. Dr. Parsons has extensive training in working with people of color and uses a multicultural framework to help couples figure out how race and the other parts of their identities, affect their relationship. Dr. Parsons’ work helps couples rediscover the love and compassion that brought them together and teaches them effective strategies to maintain a healthy and lasting relationship. Dr. Parsons earned her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Denver. After graduating, she pioneered programs of research as faculty at NYU and now works directly with couples as a clinician in her practice, Relationship Health Psychological Services PLLC.
FAQs about couples counseling
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As a couples therapist, I frequently tell clients that while no outcome is guaranteed, the research shows encouraging evidence for what we might call a “success rate” of couples therapy. Meta-analyses find that structured, evidence-based approaches significantly improve relationship satisfaction and functioning: for example, one review found a within-group effect size of g ≈ 1.12 (large effect) for relationship satisfaction post-treatment.
In my experience working with couples, when both partners are engaged, consistent, open to feedback, and willing to do the “homework” (communication practice, vulnerability, behavior change), we tend to see significantly improved communication, deeper emotional attunement, and a clearer sense of partnership. That said, therapy is most effective when the couple comes before the relationship has become severely entrenched in destructive patterns or when one partner is completely unwilling to change.
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It’s difficult to give an exact percentage of couples who stay together after therapy because every couple’s goals are different. For some, success means rebuilding closeness and improving communication; for others, it may mean separating with greater understanding and respect. Studies suggest that between 70–80% of couples who engage in evidence-based approaches like Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) report meaningful improvement in their relationship satisfaction, even if not all remain together afterward.
In my work with couples, I focus less on “staying together” as the only marker of success. My approach is to help each partner develop clarity, empathy, and healthier patterns of interaction. I believe these are outcomes that can benefit the relationship no matter the direction it takes.
If you’re considering couples therapy and wondering what it could look like for your relationship, I encourage you to reach out for a consultation. We can discuss your goals and explore how therapy might support you both in moving toward a more fulfilling and intentional connection.
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There’s no single “best” form of couples therapy for everyone. The most effective approach depends on each couple’s needs, communication style, and goals. However, there are several modalities that have been researched to be especially effective for helping partners strengthen their relationships.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) focuses on improving emotional connection and attachment, helping couples move from cycles of conflict to patterns of understanding and closeness.
The Gottman Method emphasizes communication skills, conflict management, and rebuilding friendship and trust through evidence-based strategies.
Imago Relationship Therapy explores how early experiences shape adult relationships and fosters empathy and mutual growth.
Some therapists, including myself, integrate elements from multiple modalities to tailor treatment to each couple’s unique dynamic. Ultimately, the “best” therapy is one that helps both partners feel safe, understood, and actively engaged in the process.
Start couples therapy in Brooklyn today
Finding a trusted therapist can be overwhelming. With so many directories and professionals to choose from, it's challenging to know where to start.
If you'd like to reach out, I work with individuals and couples who want to feel more authentic, connected, and empowered in their relationships and daily lives. My practice specializes in supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants adjusting to life in NYC/the U.S., and adults navigating anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and major life transitions.
I draw from psychodynamic, mindfulness-based, and cognitive-behavioral techniques, as well as EMDR, to help clients uncover patterns, process past experiences, and build new ways of relating to themselves and others. In couples work, I integrate evidence-based methods such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and relational approaches to improve communication, emotional intimacy, and mutual understanding.
If you’re seeking a therapist who will work collaboratively with you, I invite you to reach out for a consultation. Together, we can explore your goals and begin working toward a more grounded and fulfilling sense of self and connection.