COUPLES THERAPY

Couples therapy that
goes beneath the same fight.

For partners ready to stop repeating the pattern

I'm Dr. Anna Huang, a licensed clinical psychologist. My couples work is depth-oriented: we look at how each of you learned love and safety, how culture and family show up in the space between you, and what keeps pulling you back into the same argument — even when you both desperately want out of it.

Couples therapy office seating in Los Alamitos
WHY COUPLES COME IN

If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not broken.

The couples I see are often high-achieving in every other part of life — and confused about why this one area keeps defeating them.

The same conversation, new words

You keep having a version of the same argument — about money, in-laws, chores, or who cares more — and each round leaves you further apart.

The distance that quietly grows

You're not fighting as much anymore. You've stopped bringing things up because it doesn't feel worth it. The silence is its own kind of lonely.

Different ideas of what's wrong

One of you wants to talk it out, the other needs space. One feels criticized, the other feels dismissed. You're both right about your own experience — and stuck anyway.

HOW WE WORK

What couples therapy looks like with me

My approach is psychodynamic and attachment-oriented, which means we go beyond communication scripts and look at what drives the pattern underneath.

01

Understand each history

We look at how your family of origin, culture, and early relationships taught each of you what love means, what conflict means, and how to be safe in a relationship.

02

Interrupt the pattern live

Sessions become practice. When the familiar dance starts in the room, we slow it down, name it, and try something different — with me actively coaching, not just observing.

03

Rebuild repair and trust

We restore your ability to make mistakes with each other and come back. Repair, not perfection, is what makes a relationship feel safe again.

FOR ASIAN AMERICAN & IMMIGRANT COUPLES

When culture and family sit in the room with you

Many couples I work with carry a second, quieter conversation: filial duty, in-law expectations, the pressure to look fine to relatives, immigrant parents' sacrifices that make 'selfishness' feel unbearable. Sometimes partners from the same culture experience these pulls differently; sometimes you come from different worlds entirely.

I understand these dynamics from the inside, as a second-generation Asian American psychologist. We'll name what your families taught you about marriage and loyalty — without turning your parents into villains. The goal is for the two of you to choose your life together, not just inherit one.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Questions couples often ask

Do you work with couples where one partner is hesitant about therapy?

Yes. Hesitation is common and it does not mean couples therapy will not help. We start wherever the reluctant partner is comfortable — often that means understanding why this feels exposing or hopeless first. My job is to make the room feel safe enough that both of you can actually talk.

We're an Asian American couple — will you understand the family piece?

Yes. As a second-generation Asian American psychologist, I work regularly with couples navigating in-law expectations, filial duty, and the different ways partners from the same culture can experience family loyalty. That context shapes the work without becoming the whole story.

How long does couples therapy usually take?

Couples meet weekly for 50 minutes. Many partners notice a shift in how they talk within the first month; deeper pattern change usually takes several months of consistent work. We check in on your goals regularly so therapy stays pointed.

Is couples therapy covered by insurance?

I am an out-of-network provider. Many PPO plans reimburse 60–80% of session costs after your deductible, and I provide monthly superbills for easy submission. Couples session rates are shared during the free 15-minute consultation.

Fees, insurance & more FAQ →