Couples therapy and marriage counseling in Beverly Hills
Hello, I'm Dr. Jené Verchick, a licensed clinical psychologist with 26+ years working with couples in Beverly Hills and throughout Los Angeles.
If you're looking for marriage counseling or couples therapy, you're probably not interested in talking in circles. You want something to actually change. That's exactly how I work.
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.
So in session, I stay involved. I won't sit quietly while you repeat the same argument you have at home. I'll slow the conversation down, name the pattern you're both stuck in, and help you try a different way of responding to each other, right there in the room.
I draw on established couples methods, my own experience, the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and I match the approach to the two people in front of me instead of running everyone through the same program.
This isn't theoretical. You'll feel the shift in the room. Many of my clients tell me it's the biggest difference between working with me and other therapists they've seen. If couples therapy has felt passive or directionless before, this will feel different.
What to expect
Couples therapy with me tends to move through a natural arc.
First, we start where it hurts. In the first session I meet with both of you, hear what brought you in, and begin working the same day. There's no long intake before anything happens.
Then we find the pattern. Most couples aren't really fighting about the dishes or the calendar. We find the cycle underneath, the one that keeps repeating, and I show it to you as it happens.
Then we practice something different. You learn, in real time, a new way to respond to each other. This is where the change you can actually feel begins.
Over time, you build something sturdier. The goal isn't to never argue. It's to repair faster, understand each other more, and trust that the relationship can hold you both.
What Couples Come In For
Couples reach out for all kinds of reasons. Some of 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.
Jewish Couples in Beverly Hills
Many of the couples I work with in Beverly Hills are Jewish, including Persian Jewish, Ashkenazi, Sephardic, and intermarried families. The texture of Jewish family expectations, holidays, and community visibility shapes how couples here experience marriage. I am Jewish myself and offer cultural fluency without requiring you to spend sessions explaining your background. If your work together would benefit from a therapist who understands this context, learn more about my work as a Jewish therapist in Beverly Hills.
Premarital Counseling in Beverly Hills
I also work with couples before marriage. Premarital counseling is the work of having the conversations you have not had yet, about money, family, kids, conflict, and what happens when the romance fades. Most couples plan extensively for the wedding and barely at all for the marriage. If you are engaged or seriously considering marriage, learn more about premarital counseling.
What Clients Say
"Starting out as newlyweds was supposed to be all sunshine and rainbows, but we quickly realized that blending our lives wasn’t as easy as we thought. Dr. Verchick helped us build a solid foundation for our marriage. She taught us how to communicate effectively, set boundaries with extended family, and create rituals that bring us closer."
--Couple, newlyweds
"Having small kids put so much stress on our marriage. We were exhausted, constantly miscommunicating, and felt more like co-parents than a couple. Dr. Verchick helped us rediscover us. She showed us how to carve out time for each other even with our chaotic schedules and gave us practical ways to stay connected during the toughest moments. Thanks to her, we’ve learned how to balance being partners and parents without losing sight of the love that brought us together in the first place. Our family feels stronger because of her."
--Couple, parents of young children
"We didn’t think we’d ever get back to this place. For so long, we’d been living more like roommates than partners, and it was heartbreaking. Dr. Verchick helped us find each other again, not just physically, but emotionally. Her guidance helped us rebuild the trust and vulnerability we had lost over the years. We honestly feel like she saved our marriage, and for that, we are forever changed."
--Couple married 15+ years
"We came to Dr. Verchick feeling lost. We weren’t hearing each other, and it felt like we were speaking different languages. She didn’t just teach us how to talk, she taught us how to truly listen. Now, instead of arguing, we understand. Instead of drifting apart, we connect. She gave us the tools, but more than that, she gave us hope. We’ll always be grateful for that."
--Couple, professionals with communication issues
Frequently asked questions about couples therapy in Beverly Hills
What percentage of couples improve with couples therapy?
Most do. Research on Emotionally Focused Therapy, which I draw on, finds that about 70 to 75% of couples move from distress to recovery, and most still feel better years later. It works best when both partners come in reasonably honest and willing, and when you start before the resentment has fully hardened.
What is the 5-5-5 rule in couples therapy?
The 5-5-5 rule is a simple way to slow a fight down. When things heat up, one person speaks for 5 minutes while the other listens, then the other responds for 5 minutes, then you take 5 quiet minutes before coming back to it. It isn't magic. It just interrupts the spiral long enough for both of you to think. I'll often teach small tools like this, and more importantly, help you actually use them when it counts.
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.
What's the difference between couples counseling and marriage counseling?
Functionally, nothing. "Couples counseling" and "marriage counseling" describe the same work. I use both terms because people search for both, but the therapy itself is identical whether you're married, engaged, or in a long-term relationship.
Do you work with couples who aren't sure they want to stay together?
Yes. Deciding 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.
Can couples therapy address panic attacks or anxiety?
Yes, when relevant. If anxiety or panic is showing up in your relationship, we can address it as part of our couples work. If panic attacks are the primary concern for one of you, panic attack therapy as individual work may be a better starting point.