How I work with couples

Gretchen Carrillo, LMFT came to the world of couple therapy via children’s mental health. After graduate school, she worked with children ages 2-20 in Mexico City. She saw firsthand that when parents struggle, it is hard for kids to thrive. Over time, she shifted her clinical focus to couples therapy for a double win. Through a single intervention with couples-adults and kids both benefit. She was hooked.

Gretchen is passionate about how secure functioning relationships can improve the quality of life in both families and communities. “You may think I am overly enthusiastic but seriously, healthy couples can change the world,” she notes. “Secure couples have better health and generate energy that pours out to others. When couples struggle, work is harder, energy gets sucked into drama and arguing instead of joy and fun. You can choose to be single. However, if you are going to be in a relationship, it needs to be a healthy one.”

Gretchen has significant experience working with complex cases including high conflict couples and those with personality disorders, a history of substance abuse, early childhood trauma, history of sexual assault, sexual difficulties and infidelity. She has trained in the Gottman method (levels 1 and 2), the Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PaCT) ( level 1 and 2), as well as with the Couples Institute and Michele Weiner-Davis. She is also trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Trauma Focused CBT, Parent Child Interaction Therapy, the Positive Parenting Program (levels 3-4).

Gretchen provides individual and couple therapy, couples intensives, workshops. Through telehealth services are available throughout California and the State of Texas.