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Couples Therapy to Break Repeating Patterns

Communicate with greater care, repair after conflict, and create a safer, more connected relationship.

Culturally attuned virtual therapy in English and Spanish for first-generation adults and couples in NY, NJ, CT, and FL.

Book your free 30-minute consultation now

Shared Experiences

from Past Clients

  • “My personal relationships have become more enriched, communication has improved, and I've gained a sense of clarity of what values those around must uphold in order to be part of my life.”

  • “Since starting therapy, I’ve noticed some real changes in my relationships. I don’t react as quickly or as strongly as I used to, and I’ve gotten better at catching myself before things escalate. When I realize I’ve been hurtful or dismissed someone’s POV, I make an effort to apologize and really try to understand where they’re coming from.”

  • “Much more understanding and patient with people. I now understand my role in relationships whether I’m communicating verbally or not.”

  • “As someone who has experienced depressive episodes and intense anxiety for over 10 years, I spent the beginning of my therapy journey fearing that I would always be my depression and anxiety. Through working with Sheila, in this current stage of my life I feel more than confident that I have the tools and ability to get to the other side of what can feel like endless dread. Sheila’s ability to help me recognize my own strengths and reassure me has been extremely helpful in my journey and growth.“

Why the Same Fight Keeps Happening

You keep having the same conversation, hoping this time it will end differently.

You explain yourself.

Your partner gets defensive.

Someone shuts down.

Someone walks away.

Nothing feels resolved.

Over time, even small disagreements begin to feel heavy. The emotional distance grows, resentment builds, and you're left wondering why something that starts so small keeps turning into the same painful cycle.

The truth is, recurring conflict is rarely just about the dishes, money, intimacy, or parenting.

The way we communicate is often shaped by the families we grew up in, our cultural values, and the experiences that taught us how to express emotions, handle conflict, and seek connection.

Therapy helps you understand those patterns so you can stop repeating them.

Through Gottman Method interventions, family-of-origin exploration, and practical CBT tools, we can understand the cycle keeping you stuck and begin creating a different way of connecting.

Services Offered

  • A couple shares an intimate moment at sunset, with the man leaning in to kiss the woman as she gently holds his face.

    Couples Therapy

    Weekly sessions that give you steady support on nurturing and strengthening the bond between partners. Whether you're facing communication difficulties, unresolved conflicts, or navigating a major life transition as a couple, I'm here to help.

    start this journey
  • Loving couple embracing and sharing a tender moment, symbolizing connection, trust, and emotional intimacy.

    Couples Therapy Intensives

    Extended 3-hour and 6-hour sessions that give you dedicated time to understand recurring conflict, practice new communication tools, and work through a specific relationship concern without waiting weeks between sessions.

    start this journey
  • Man with hand on neck, facing away – expressing emotional tension in relationship therapy.

    Relationship Therapy

    Together, we’ll explore challenges in family, friendships, or work relationships, and develop practical tools to navigate conflict, express needs, and foster more fulfilling connections.

    start this journey
  • Black woman in reflective moment during individual therapy – exploring emotions and inner healing.

    Individual Therapy

    A supportive space for first-generation adults navigating anxiety, life transitions, cultural identity, family expectations, and recurring relationship patterns.

    start this journey

  • Hola and bienvenidos!

    Hola, I’m Sheila, a bilingual Latina Marriage and Family Therapist, founder of Compasión Therapy, and adjunct professor of Family Systems. I help first-generation adults and couples understand and change the patterns shaped by family experiences, cultural expectations, and the ways they learned to protect themselves.

    My approach is warm, collaborative, and practical. I create space for your story while helping you identify what is happening beneath the conflict and practice healthier ways of responding.

    MORE ABOUT ME

  • As a first-generation Latina immigrant woman and a young parent, I've gained profound insights into resilience and navigating life transitions. With six years as a case manager working closely with immigrant children and families, I've developed a deep understanding of family dynamics and cultural integration.

    MORE ABOUT ME

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes! All sessions are conducted virtually for adults and couples located in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Florida.

  • If you find yourselves having the same arguments, feeling disconnected, struggling to communicate, or navigating a major life transition, couples therapy can help you better understand your relationship patterns and create lasting change.

  • Couples Therapy Intensives are extended 3-hour or 6-hour virtual sessions designed to help you make meaningful progress in a shorter period of time. They provide dedicated space to work through recurring conflict, strengthen communication, and reconnect without waiting weeks between sessions.

  • Your free 30-minute consultation is an opportunity for us to discuss what's bringing you to therapy, answer your questions, and determine whether we're a good fit before scheduling your first session.

  • I take a family systems approach, helping couples understand how family patterns, cultural influences, and past experiences shape the way they communicate, connect, and navigate conflict. Together, we focus on creating meaningful, lasting change—not just resolving the current disagreement.

You Do Not Have to Keep Repeating the Same Patterns

Together, we can understand where those patterns began, practice new ways of connecting, and create a healthier path forward.

Book your free 30-minute Therapy consultation now