Sharon Winkler, MSW, LICSW, MAC

In couple therapy, the primary goal is to identify and change the repetitive, unsatisfying patterns that couples can develop over time – those interactions that create that "here we go again" feeling – and therapists need extensive specialized coursework and many hours of working with couples to be able to understand and interrupt those patterns. There is a particular mindset that is important too, as couple therapists must maintain a supportive relationship with two people who are often in conflict with each other. Becoming an effective couple therapist requires specialized skills, and, when you need help in your relationship, you’ll want to seek out an expert in this area. You have a lot at stake. After finishing graduate school, I completed an additional four years of training in relationship therapy (couples and families) at The Family Institute of Westchester in New York, a premier training facility. Since then, I’ve worked with couples for 35+ years and trained in various treatment modalities (family systems, psychodynamic, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Gottman), which I am able to draw on to create an individualized approach for each couple. I specialize in couple therapy; it isn't something I do as an afterthought. Couples usually seek help for problematic communication, feelings of disconnection, infidelity, or recurring cycles of non-productive conflict. My goal is to help the couple with the presenting problem and to identify and change the underlying patterns so that those changes are solid and lasting over time. If you are seeking couple therapy of depth and durability, please call or email to schedule an appointment.