Couples therapy and marriage counseling in Atwater Village
Hello, I'm Dr. Jené Verchick, a clinical psychologist with over 26 years of experience working with couples in Atwater Village and throughout Los Angeles. If you're looking for couples therapy that actually moves your relationship forward, not just gives you a place to vent, you're in the right place. I work actively, not passively.
How My Approach is Different
Most couples already know how to talk about their problems. What they don't know is how to change what's happening while it's happening. In session, I take an active role. I don't sit back and listen quietly while you repeat the same argument you've been having at home. I step in. I'll slow down the conversation, point out the pattern you're stuck in, and coach you through a different way of responding to each other, right there in real time. Most of my clients tell me this is the single biggest difference between working with me and other therapists they've seen. If you've tried couples therapy before and it felt passive or directionless, this will feel very different.
Atwater Village Couples
The couples I work with in Atwater Village tend to share certain pressures. Both partners are usually building demanding careers. Many are raising young kids. The cost of staying in the neighborhood puts a quiet strain on the relationship that nobody talks about openly. And the way Atwater couples actually live, where work and parenting and personal life all bleed together, doesn't match the script either partner grew up with.
If you and your partner are trying to figure out how to be partners and parents and individuals at the same time, without losing the relationship in the process, that's the work I do.
If you and your partner are trying to figure out how to be partners and parents and individuals at the same time, without losing the relationship in the process, that's the work I do.
What Couples Come In For
Couples reach out for all kinds of reasons. The most common:
- Repeating the same fight with no resolution
- Feeling emotionally disconnected or more like roommates than partners
- Rebuilding after infidelity or a major breach of trust
- Navigating a life transition: new baby, career change, relocation, retirement
- Deciding whether to stay or leave
- Wanting to strengthen a good relationship before problems take root
Whatever brought you here, the work is the same: I help you change how you interact with each other so the relationship actually moves.
Frequently asked questions about couples therapy in Atwater Village
Do you see Atwater Village couples in person?
I work privately by video, which means Atwater Village couples can meet with me without crossing the city. Many couples I work with appreciate the privacy and flexibility this offers, especially when both partners are juggling demanding careers and kids.
How long does couples therapy usually take?
It depends on the couple. Some people see meaningful shifts within a short amount of time. Others work with me for longer, especially when there's been a significant breach of trust or years of built-up resentment. I don't use a fixed program. We go at the pace that fits your relationship.
What happens in the first session?
I'll meet with both of you together. I want to hear what brought you in, what's been happening in the relationship, and what you're hoping to change. I'll also start working with you right away. I don't waste time.
Can I start if my partner isn't ready yet?
Yes. I'm happy to begin with one partner individually and bring the other in when they're ready. Sometimes one person starting first makes it easier for the other to join.
Do you work with couples who aren't sure they want to stay together?
Yes. Discernment about whether to stay or leave is one of the most common reasons couples come to me. I don't push an agenda either way. I help you both get clear on what you want and what the relationship can realistically become.
Do you offer premarital counseling?
Yes. I work with engaged and seriously dating couples to have the conversations most couples wait too long to have, including money, family, kids, conflict, and how to recover from the harder moments.