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Couples counseling and marriage counseling in Palos Verdes

Hello, I'm Dr. Jené Verchick, a licensed clinical psychologist with over 26 years of experience working with couples in Palos Verdes and throughout the South Bay.

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Most of the couples I work with from Palos Verdes don't come to me in crisis. They come because something has slowly shifted — a distance that's grown so gradually it's hard to pinpoint when it started. From the outside, everything looks fine. Inside, one or both of you knows it's not.

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If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. And you don't have to wait until things get worse to do something about it.​

How I Work With Couples

I don't take a passive approach to therapy. I'm not going to sit back and let you circle the same conversation you've been having at home for years.

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In session, I step in. When I see a pattern playing out between you — the withdrawal, the defensiveness, the talking past each other — I name it and help you do something different in that moment. Not next week. Right then.

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Couples who have been together for a long time often have deeply ingrained dynamics. Understanding them isn't enough. You have to practice interrupting them, and that's what we do together in session.

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If therapy has ever felt like it moved too slowly or stayed too surface-level for you, this will feel very different.

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What Brings Palos Verdes Couples to Therapy

The relationships I see from Palos Verdes tend to share certain themes:
 

• A long marriage that's gone quiet — still functional, but emotionally flat

• One partner has been carrying resentment for years without saying it

• Retirement or an empty nest has exposed how far apart you've drifted

• A private struggle with infidelity that no one outside the marriage knows about

• The weight of financial complexity — estate planning, family legacy, business decisions — creating friction instead of partnership

• A desire to reconnect before the distance becomes permanent
   

You don't need to be in crisis to start. Some of the most important work happens when you catch the problem early.

Your Privacy Matters

Many of my Palos Verdes clients value discretion. Sessions are held via secure, confidential video. Nothing is shared with anyone — no reports, no records released without your consent. I use Signal.  Therapy is a private space, and I treat it that way.

Premarital Counseling

I also work with couples before marriage. This isn't about filling out a questionnaire — it's about practicing real conversations around conflict, money, family expectations, and long-term goals while I help you navigate them in real time.

26+ Years of Experience

Two decades of working with couples has taught me one thing consistently: the couples who make the fastest progress are the ones whose therapist is willing to be active, direct, and honest — not just a polite listener.

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What Clients Say​

"We'd been married 30 years and hadn't really talked in the last five. Not about anything that mattered. Dr. Verchick didn't let us hide behind small talk. She pushed us — gently, but she pushed — and for the first time in a long time, I feel like my husband actually sees me again."

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"I thought we were past the point of fixing things. We'd been polite strangers for so long I forgot what it felt like to be close. Dr. Verchick helped us find our way back. She's direct, she's smart, and she doesn't waste your time."

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"We came in because of a financial disagreement that had been festering for years. What we discovered was that the money was just the surface. Dr. Verchick helped us get to what was really going on — and once we did, everything shifted."

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Frequently asked questions about couples therapy in Palos Verdes

What makes your approach different?

I don't observe from the sidelines. I'm in the conversation with you — catching patterns as they happen and helping you respond differently in the moment. For couples with decades of history, this is often the only thing that breaks through.

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My partner thinks therapy is a sign of failure. How do I get them to come?

This is one of the most common concerns I hear, especially from couples who have been together a long time. I'm happy to start with just you. Once your partner sees the shift in how you're showing up in the relationship, they often become willing to join.

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We've been together 20+ years. Is it too late?

No. Some of the most meaningful work I've done has been with couples who've been together for decades. Length of time together isn't the problem — it's what's been left unsaid. There's usually more to work with than people expect.

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How private is this?

Completely. Sessions are confidential and held via secure video. I don't share anything with anyone without your written consent. Many of my clients specifically seek me out because discretion is important to them.

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How often do we need to come?

Most couples meet weekly, especially at the start. As things improve, we often move to every other week. There's no fixed timeline — we go at the pace that fits your relationship.