Couples therapy & marriage counseling in Pacific Palisades
Hello, I'm Dr. Jené Verchick, a licensed clinical psychologist with over 26 years of experience working with couples in Pacific Palisades and throughout Los Angeles.
If you're looking for couples therapy or marriage counseling, you probably already know something needs to change. Maybe you've been putting it off, hoping things would get better on their own. They usually don't — but that doesn't mean they can't.
How I Work with Couples
I don't take a passive approach. In session, I'm actively involved — interrupting unproductive patterns, slowing down heated moments, and coaching you through a different way of responding to each other in real time.
Most couples can describe their problems perfectly. What they can't do is change what happens between them when the frustration kicks in. That's where I come in.
If you've done couples therapy before and felt like it was just venting with a referee in the room, this will feel very different.
What Brings Couples to Therapy
Every relationship is different, but I tend to see similar patterns:
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The same argument on repeat, with no resolution in sight
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Feeling more like roommates than partners
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One partner pulling away while the other pursues
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A betrayal or breach of trust that's shaken the foundation
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A major life change — new baby, career shift, retirement, relocation
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Wanting to get things right before problems take root
Whatever the reason, the goal is the same: change how you interact with each other so the relationship actually moves forward.
Couples Therapy after the Palisades Fires
The fires that devastated Pacific Palisades didn't just destroy homes — they put enormous stress on relationships. I've worked with couples navigating the grief, displacement, financial pressure, and emotional toll that followed. If you and your partner are struggling in the aftermath, you're not alone, and this is exactly the kind of crisis that couples therapy can help with.
Couples Preparing for Marriage
I also work with couples before marriage. Premarital counseling is the work of having the conversations most couples wait too long to have, including money, family, kids, conflict, and how to recover from the harder moments. The patterns you build before marriage are the patterns you live with after. If you are engaged or seriously considering marriage, learn more about premarital counseling.
Beverly Hills Couples
I also work with couples in Beverly Hills. If that is closer to where you are or where your family is, learn more about my work on couples therapy in Beverly Hills.
26+ years of Experience
I've spent over two decades working with couples across Los Angeles. The consistent thing I've seen is that couples make progress faster when the therapist is active, direct, and willing to step into the conversation — not just observe it.
What Clients Say
"We almost didn't make the call. We'd been stuck for so long that therapy felt pointless. Dr. Verchick changed that in the first session. She didn't let us fall into our usual routine — she stopped us mid-sentence when we were doing the thing that always goes wrong and showed us what to do instead. We've never had a therapist actually do that before."
"After the fires, we lost our home and nearly lost each other. The stress brought out the worst in both of us. Dr. Verchick helped us stop blaming each other and start working as a team again. We're rebuilding — our house and our marriage."
"We came in thinking we needed to learn to communicate better. Turns out we needed to learn to listen better. Dr. Verchick showed us the difference, and it changed everything."
Frequently asked questions about couples therapy in Pacific Palisades
Do you work with couples affected by the Pacific Palisades fires?
Yes. Couples in Pacific Palisades are processing the loss of homes, displacement, school changes, and the strain that accumulated trauma puts on a marriage. I work with couples whose relationships have been affected by the fires, whether the immediate logistical pressure or the longer-term emotional aftermath.
What approach do you use in couples therapy?
I take an active, direct approach. When I see a pattern happening between you, I name it and help you respond differently in real time. I draw on more than 26 years of clinical experience and integrate evidence-based techniques rather than following a single therapeutic framework.
What happens in the first session?
I meet with both of you together. I want to hear what brought you in, what has been happening in the relationship, and what you are hoping to change. I also start working with you right away. You will not leave the first session feeling like all we did was fill out paperwork.
How long does couples therapy with you typically take?
It depends on the couple. Some couples see meaningful shifts within a few sessions. Others work with me for several months, especially when there is a betrayal to repair or years of accumulated resentment to undo. I do not use a fixed program.
Can you start with just one partner?
Yes. I am happy to begin with one partner if the other is not yet ready. Often, when one person starts the work, the dynamic at home begins to shift, and the more reluctant partner becomes curious enough to join.
Do you work with same-sex couples and unmarried couples?
Yes. The work is the same regardless of who is in the relationship or whether you are married. What matters is that you are both committed to engaging honestly.
What is the difference between couples therapy and marriage counseling?
Functionally, nothing. Couples therapy and marriage counseling describe the same work. I use both terms because people search for both, but the therapy itself is identical whether you are married, engaged, or in a long-term relationship.
How is couples therapy via video different from in-person?
For most couples, the work is the same. The therapeutic relationship still develops, the patterns still show up in session, and I can still intervene in real time. The practical differences are no commute, more flexibility for evening or weekend sessions, and complete privacy.