How is your approach different from other couples therapists?

I take an active role in session. I don't sit back and listen while you repeat the same patterns. I step in, slow things down, and help you practice a different way of responding to each other in real time.

What if my partner doesn't want to come?

That's common. I'm happy to start with one partner and bring the other in when they're ready. Sometimes one person doing the work first makes it easier for the second to join.

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 either direction — I help you both get clear.

Is it normal to feel nervous about starting?

Yes. Most couples feel some anxiety before the first session, especially if you've never done therapy before or if it's been decades since you talked openly about the relationship. That's completely normal. My job is to make sure both of you feel heard from the start.

Couples therapy & marriage counseling in Malibu

Q: How long does couples therapy take?

It depends. Some couples see meaningful shifts in a few sessions. Others work with me for several months, especially when there are decades of built-up distance. No fixed program — we go at your pace.

Hello, I'm Dr. Jené Verchick, a licensed clinical psychologist with over 26 years of experience working with couples in Malibu and throughout Los Angeles.

If your relationship has gone quiet — not hostile, just distant — you're not imagining it. Many of the couples I work with in Malibu describe the same thing: a beautiful life on the surface, but underneath, a growing sense that something essential has gone missing.

How I Work With Couples

I take an active role in session. I don't sit quietly while you talk past each other the way you've been doing at home. I step in — I'll slow the conversation down, name the pattern you're stuck in, and help you respond to each other differently, right there in real time.

Most couples already know what's wrong. What they can't do is change the dynamic while it's happening. That's what I help with, and it's what clients tell me makes the biggest difference between working with me and other therapists they've seen.

If you've tried couples therapy before and it felt passive or aimless, this will feel very different.

What Brings Malibu Couples to Therapy

The specifics vary, but the patterns are familiar:

Living parallel lives — co-existing but rarely truly connecting
A quiet drift that's grown over years or decades
Navigating wealth, legacy planning, or retirement in ways that create tension instead of alignment
Rebuilding after a betrayal or breach of trust
Rediscovering each other after children leave home
Wanting to protect a good relationship before distance becomes permanent

Whatever brought you here, the work is the same: change how you interact so the relationship moves forward instead of standing still.

Premarital Counseling

I also work with couples before marriage. This isn't a worksheet — it's live practice navigating the conversations that matter most: conflict, money, family, and long-term expectations. I help you build the skills before you need them under pressure.

26+ Years of Experience

I've spent over two decades helping couples across Los Angeles. The one consistent finding: couples make faster progress when the therapist is active, direct, and willing to step into the conversation — not just observe it.

What Clients Say

Redefining Our Connection in Later Life

"With careers winding down and the children grown, we found ourselves facing a new kind of marital drift. The routines that once defined us no longer held the same meaning, and we felt a subtle yet undeniable disconnect. Dr. Verchick understood this unique transition. She didn't just help us navigate the 'empty nest' phase; she guided us in rediscovering shared passions and individual dreams within our partnership. We're now building a second chapter of our marriage that feels richer and more intentional than ever before. Her wisdom truly helped us reconnect on a deeper level."

Rekindling Intimacy and Purpose

"After decades together, the 'spark' had undeniably faded, replaced by comfortable habits and unspoken expectations. We had a beautiful life, yet a quiet void had grown between us. Dr. Verchick was instrumental in helping us acknowledge this reality without blame or shame. She facilitated honest conversations around intimacy and shared purpose, guiding us to remember the vibrant individuals we were when we first met. We've learned to value quality time over quantity and to nurture our connection with renewed intentionality. Our marriage feels invigorated, proving it's never too late to rediscover each other."

Navigating Wealth and Shared Vision

"The complexities of managing our accumulated wealth and planning for the future had inadvertently created distance in our marriage. Financial decisions, family legacy, and differing retirement visions became sources of tension rather than shared goals. Dr. Verchick brought remarkable clarity to these sensitive discussions. She helped us untangle the emotional threads from the practical, ensuring our shared values remained at the core of our decisions. We've emerged not just with a clearer financial path, but with a profoundly strengthened partnership built on mutual respect and a unified vision for our golden years."

After Decades, a Deeper Understanding

"We'd built a successful life, but after forty years of marriage, we realized we were living parallel lives. We co-existed beautifully but rarely truly engaged. Dr. Verchick helped us break through the comfortable silence and rediscover the vibrant personalities beneath the surface. She encouraged us to share vulnerabilities we'd long suppressed and to listen to each other with fresh ears. We've learned that a long marriage isn't just about endurance; it's about continuous growth and a willingness to understand each other anew. We're communicating with more depth and appreciation than we have in years."

Frequently asked questions about couples therapy in Malibu

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 don't waste time with endless circular conversations. We get to the heart of the issues quickly and work on them directly.

Do you work with couples affected by the Malibu fires?

Yes. Couples in Malibu are processing the loss of homes, displacement, ongoing rebuilding, 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 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.

CONTACT DR. VERCHICK

CONTACT

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