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Couples therapy and marriage counseling in Westlake Village

 

Hello, I'm Dr. Jené Verchick, a licensed clinical psychologist with 26+ years of experience working with couples in Westlake Village, Calabasas, Thousand Oaks, and the greater Los Angeles area.

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If you and your partner have been going back and forth on whether to try therapy, that hesitation is normal. Most couples wait years before reaching out. But the fact that you're here means part of you already knows something needs to shift.

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How I Work With Couples

I'm not a sit-back-and-listen therapist. In session, I'm engaged and involved. I step into the conversation when it starts going sideways, name the pattern you're stuck in, and help you find a different way of responding to each other in real time.

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Most couples don't need to learn how to talk about their problems. They need to learn how to stop the cycle while it's happening. That's what I help with.

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If you've tried couples therapy before and it felt like talking in circles, this will feel very different.

 

My Approach

With couples, I work primarily from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method, two attachment- and research-based approaches to the cycles that keep couples stuck. EFT works with the emotions underneath the conflict so you can reconnect. The Gottman Method gives us practical, proven tools for communication, conflict, and rebuilding friendship and trust. For couples on the brink, unsure whether to stay or go, I offer Discernment Counseling: a short, structured process for getting clear before deciding.

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In individual work I draw on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety and depression, and on psychodynamic and attachment-based therapy for the deeper patterns that show up across relationships. I don't force every couple into one model. I draw from these methods and match the approach to what is actually happening with you. The throughline is attachment: how we bond, how that bond breaks down under stress, and how it gets repaired.

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What Brings Couples In

Every relationship has its own version of "stuck." These are some of the patterns I see most:

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• The same argument happening over and over with no resolution

• Feeling like roommates instead of partners

• One person shutting down while the other pushes harder

• A betrayal that's left the relationship shaken

• A big life change: a new baby, a job loss, retirement, a relocation

• Wanting to get ahead of problems before they get worse

 

Whatever the reason, the goal is the same: change how you interact so the relationship moves forward instead of spinning in place.

 

Calabasas Couples

I also work with couples in nearby Calabasas. If that is closer to where you are, learn more about my practice in Calabasas.

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Premarital Counseling

I work with engaged couples who want to start their marriage with intention. This isn't a worksheet exercise. It's live practice navigating the conversations that matter most: conflict, money, family boundaries, and long-term expectations. I help you do it in real time so you build the skills before you need them under pressure.

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26+ Years of Experience

I've spent 26+ years helping couples across Los Angeles. The one thing I've seen consistently: couples make faster progress when the therapist is willing to step into the conversation and name what is happening, not just sit on the sidelines.

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What Clients Say

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"Marriage was a bigger adjustment than we anticipated. The excitement of starting our life together quickly gave way to challenges we weren't prepared for. Dr. Verchick guided us through the growing pains, helping us create a partnership built on understanding and mutual respect. She helped us navigate tricky family dynamics and discover simple ways to nurture our relationship. We feel so much more confident about our future together."

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"Life with young kids left us drained and disconnected. We were constantly bickering, running on empty, and forgetting why we fell in love in the first place. Dr. Verchick helped us find joy in each other again. Her practical strategies for prioritizing our relationship amidst the chaos gave us the tools to rebuild our bond. Now, we feel more in sync as a couple and as parents. She truly made a difference for our family."

 

"We thought the spark was gone forever. After years of feeling stuck in a loveless routine, we were on the brink of giving up. Dr. Verchick gave us the skills to heal the wounds we didn't even realize were holding us back. With her help, we learned to rebuild trust, embrace vulnerability, and fall in love all over again. She didn't just help us save our marriage, she gave us a second chance at happiness."

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"We felt like we were talking past each other, stuck in endless misunderstandings and frustrations. Working with Dr. Verchick changed everything. She gave us the tools to have meaningful conversations and truly understand each other's needs. Now, we're no longer stuck in the cycle of conflict. We've reconnected on a deeper level, and for the first time in years, we feel like a team again. Her support was life-changing."

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Frequently Asked Questions about couples therapy in Westlake Village

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What approach do you use in couples therapy?

With couples I work primarily from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method, both attachment- and research-based. When I see a pattern happening between you, I name it and help you respond differently in real time. I draw from several proven methods and match the approach to your situation rather than forcing one model on every couple. For couples unsure whether to stay together, I also offer Discernment Counseling. I draw on 26+ years of clinical experience.

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What is the success rate of marriage counseling?

Research consistently finds that most couples, often cited around 70 percent, report meaningful improvement, and EFT in particular has strong research behind it. In my experience the biggest factors are whether both partners are willing to engage and how early you start, before resentment hardens.

 

What should you not say in marriage counseling?

There is no script you have to follow, and part of my job is making it safe to say the hard things. What slows progress is using sessions to score points or rehearse the same accusations. I help you move from blame toward what is underneath it, which is usually hurt, fear, or a need that is not being met.

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What is the 2-year rule in therapy?

People usually mean one of two things: the finding that couples wait an average of about six years of distress before getting help, so two years in is actually early, or the ethics rule that therapists do not form personal relationships with former clients. For couples the practical point is simple: the earlier you come in, the more there is to work with.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 and more flexibility for evening or weekend sessions.

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I am accepting new clients.