When love feels more like distance than connection, it’s time to repair the bond—not just resolve the fights.

Couples Counseling That Helps You Heal Together

Broken heart and flowers to symbolize transformation

If you’ve ever felt like you’re having the same fight over and over—or worse, no fight at all because the silence has grown too heavy—you’re not alone.

At the Trauma & Therapy Center of Tennessee, we work with couples who are tired of living in cycles of conflict, betrayal, or emotional disconnection. Our approach isn’t about teaching you to “communicate better” or offering band-aid conflict strategies. It’s about helping you and your partner feel safe enough to be honest, connected, and responsive with each other again.

“The quality of your relationships determines the quality of your life.” – Esther Perel

Relationships break down for many reasons—infidelity, addictions, unspoken resentments, mismatched needs, or years of growing apart. But every couple shares one thing: the longing for closeness that feels safe, secure, and real. Our therapists create a space where both partners are seen, heard, and respected—not blamed or pathologized. 

How Our Approach is Different

Many therapy models treat couples like two individuals trying to negotiate a contract. We treat the relationship as the client. Using Emotionally Focused Therapy (Sue Johnson), the Gottman Method, and the relational life work of Terry Real, we help couples identify the negative cycles that keep them stuck and build new patterns of connection.

We also draw from Esther Perel’s work on desire and intimacy, acknowledging that emotional and sexual disconnection often go hand-in-hand. Our goal isn’t just to reduce conflict but to restore passion, trust, and playfulness.

For the first session, we meet with both partners together. In the next two sessions, we meet individually with each partner to understand attachment history, family patterns, and personal wounds. From there, we guide the couple back into sessions where the focus is on healing the relationship as a living, dynamic system.

“When marriages fail, it is not increasing conflict that is the cause. It is decreasing affection and emotional responsiveness.” – Sue Johnson

Meet the Therapists Who Guide Couples on the Path to Healing:

  • Kate Kastle- Couples Navigating Addiction, Attachment Wounding, Trauma, and Infidelity

  • Megan Shaefer- Family Systems Therapy, Relational Trauma, Trauma-Informed Hypnosis, and Christian-Informed Therapy

  • Makyla Burnam- Couples with High Conflict, Intergenerational Dynamics, Infidelity, Attachment Wounding & Cycle-Breakers

What Makes Couples Counseling With Us Different:

  • We treat the relationship, not a diagnosis.

  • Sessions blend research-backed methods with boutique, trauma-informed collaborative care.

  • Every couple receives a tailored plan informed by attachment and relational needs.

  • We integrate cutting-edge tools like neurofeedback to help regulate stress and accelerate progress.

  • We offer both in-person and HIPAA-compliant telehealth options.

    Common Reasons Couples Seek Us Out:

  • Rebuilding trust after betrayal or infidelity

  • Managing conflict that feels repetitive and exhausting

  • Feeling like “roommates” instead of partners

  • Emotional and sexual disconnection

  • Addictions, secrecy, or long-standing resentments

  • Wanting to prevent future breakdowns and build a stronger foundation

“When we make our relationship a priority by showing that it’s a priority, we build trust and demonstrate our loyalty far beyond any words we say in our wedding vows.”

– John Gottman

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Book your free, confidential 15-minute consultation with a trauma-informed couples therapist. No pressure. Just care, clarity, and a path forward.

From the Blog: Helpful Reads for Couples Rebuilding After Pain