Human beings are relational creatures and relationships are a fundamental element of our existence. How we are in relationship to ourselves, to others and the world influences our ability to feel safe, regulate, feel connected and share in mutual care and support (interdependence), express our needs and desires, resolve conflict, share intimacy, feel connected, and express our sexual identity — all of which are critical to our overall well-being, mental, emotional, physical, and creative health and affects our ability to flow in the river of life.
Symptoms can include: 
- Communication problems
- Emotional triggers that escalate into fighting and/or shutdown
- Difficulties with emotional intimacy, vulnerability, and/or trust
- Betrayal
- Sexual issues
- Loss of romance
- Boundary issues – too rigid, too loose, violations of boundaries
- Difficulties with conflict style (assertiveness, passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive)
- Issues with parenting
- Illness and aging
- Or other challenges such as alcohol or drug addiction, depression
My Areas of Specialty include:
Relationships and Sexuality
Discernment Therapy
Communication Skills
Whether it’s with work colleagues, a spouse, children, or other social relationships, difficulties in managing relationships can result in anxiety, depression, limitations in success at work, and somatic or other physical illness.
Transitions in relationships can also be difficult to navigate — whether it’s children leaving the nest and your relationship with your partner or self that needs reinventing, or navigating the ending of a relationship or marriage and managing the complexity of feelings related to loss, the unknown future, and new beginnings — therapy/coaching can help support the process of learning, growing, and figuring out what’s next.
Paths to Wellness offers therapy and coaching to improve work relationships, improve connection and intimacy in your current relationship, help to find the relationship you desire, or navigate the ending of a relationship and the life transition that’s required in coparenting, unmingling belongings, and everything else that goes along with endings.
Dr. Val holds a nonjudgmental stance in helping people find and joyfully express their own relationship style and sexuality. She help ts to identify and revision negative and counter-productive relationship cycles into more successful exchanges of intimacy and closeness and uses difficult life experiences as an opportunity for learning and change. Moving past shame and blame, resentment, and other defensive responses, building on personal strengths while appreciating differences, and developing or improving skills in emotional expression, communication, assertiveness, and problem solving helps couples have more joyful and rewarding relationships.
Call 650-332-4656 now to learn how you can resolve emotional triggers and old patterns and improve all your relationships.