Relationship Therapy in Nashville
… for both romantic relationships and ALL types of relationships
Whether you’re trying to navigate the shitstorm that is app dating, working through a painful breakup or divorce, or desperately hoping your marriage or relationship can improve— you do not have to know how to figure this out alone.
Sometimes, friends can be a great resource when we’re going through stuff in relationships… but let’s be honest— sometimes input from friends can muddy the waters even more.
At The Gaia Center, our therapists offer an empathetic, non-judgmental space— and an honest mirror when that’s what you need— to process your relationship challenges so you can show up as your healthy adult self in those relationships and choose partners who will do the same.
If you’re struggling with any of these issues, we can support you…
Sexual issues in your relationship or dating life (read more here about sex therapy at The Gaia Center)
Your marriage or long-term relationship feels stagnant and unsatisfying
Trying to repair a relationship after an affair
Seeking Premarital Counseling to proactively establish your marriage on a strong foundation
You and your partner always seem to be fighting or irritated with each other
Feeling lost after a breakup or divorce
Fearful of (or feeling hopeless about) dating but wanting to have a partner
Noticing yourself repeating the same unhealthy patterns in dating/relationships
Difficulty trusting your partner
Being on the brink of divorce and not knowing or being in agreement about which direction to go (read more here about Discernment Counseling at The Gaia Center)
Uncertainty or anxiety in your relationship that feels overwhelming
Exploring the possibility of opening your relationship— or you already have a non-traditional relationship structure and are navigating challenges coming up (read more here about ENM/poly-affirming therapy at The Gaia Center)
Common Relationship Challenges
Maybe you're feeling like the Hinge hook-ups that used to be "for fun" no longer feel so fun anymore. You're starting to recognize that you're hooking up to avoid your own feelings or to get validation by feeling “wanted.”
Or perhaps you're beyond frustrated because, yet again, the guy you thought seemed like "finally a good one, potentially THE one" has shown his true colors, and you're wondering if you're some kind of jackass magnet.
Or perhaps it’s more subtle: a feeling that you can't quite connect, like emotional intimacy is a language you somehow never learned. Dating can feel so intimidating and vulnerable that it might even make you want to give up on romantic relationships altogether.
Whether your pattern is one of these, or one of about a dozen others we won't list ad nauseam, know that you don't have to figure this out by yourself. If you want a fulfilling, healthy relationship with a respectful, supportive partner, that is not too much to ask. But as the brilliant therapist/author Dave Richo says, relationships are a lot like swimming: we're all born with the capacity, but we're not born with the skills — those we have to learn.
Some of us see good modeling in our family of origin, while others see a lot of what they don't want in a relationship. Sometimes we need to take a close look at not only what was modeled for us, but all the other unhelpful things we've picked up along the way, like our culture's dysfunctional expectations of relationships, and the double-bind those expectations often leave us in, especially for women.
ALL Relationships are Deserving of Support
At The Gaia Center, we honor the importance of all types of relationships, not just romantic ones— so while a lot of folks come to us for couples or ENM relationship therapy, we also work with other types of relationships, like:
Healing work between a parent and their adult child
Repair and conflict skill development with close friends, band mates, or colleagues
Support for folks looking to end their relationship in an intentional, healthy way
Guidance for adult siblings who want to cultivate a deeper relationship (read more here about family therapy at The Gaia Center)
The Gottman Method: How to Build Strong, Lasting Relationships Based on 40+ Years of Research
We offer a variety of evidence-based modalities that can be tailored to your specific needs. All of our couples therapists have experience with the Gottman Method (the most research-supported of any couples therapy approach), and Gaia Center founder Valerie Martin has completed Level 3 Gottman training.
Our therapists blend these approaches creatively to help you build on the existing strengths of your relationship, while healing past hurts and cultivating skills to improve weaker areas of the relationship.
The Gottman Method is renowned for its effectiveness in couples therapy, grounded in over four decades of research with thousands of couples. This evidence-based approach focuses on practical, actionable steps to enhance communication, build emotional connection, and manage conflict.
By emphasizing mutual respect and understanding, the Gottman Method helps couples foster deeper intimacy and resilience. Its structured, science-backed techniques are designed to create lasting positive changes, making it the strongest and most reliable approach for couples seeking to strengthen their relationship.
Looking for Premarital Counseling?
Learn about our comprehensive Premarital Counseling program at The Gaia Center.
On the brink of divorce?
Learn about Discernment Counseling at The Gaia Center.
