Hello
I’m Todd Bean (CSW), and I have a deep respect for couples therapy.
Relationships are the place where we feel profound moments of happiness and fulfillment, but also the place where we can feel most exposed, vulnerable, and dissatisfied.
My specialty lies in working with couples (both married and unmarried) to help illuminate and reveal the unhelpful patterns that exist within the relationship that prohibit closeness. Identifying, understanding, and then changing these dynamics within a relationship often leads to more honesty within the relationship, a deeper sense of emotional closeness (intimacy) within the couple, and an increase in sexual desire and sexual satisfaction.
My role is to help individuals and couples understand the two most fundamental drives- wanting to be in a relationship (the we) and wanting to be our own person (the me) at the same time. Holding these two ideas at the same time, not prioritizing one over the other- is an incredibly necessary, but also difficult developmental process that is built into all emotionally committed relationships, and actively affects the emotional and sexual realms.
I specialize in helping individuals and couples identify current patterns, trends, and cycles that lead to feeling stuck, upset or dissatisfied in their relationship, and helping paint a more clear picture of what is going on in their relationship, and what can be different. I’m dedicated to working with couples to empower them to co-create the meaningful, dream partnership they've always wished for. You can expect we’ll discuss:
Communication Issues & Conflict Resolution
Codependency, Enmeshment & Emotional Dysfunction
Boundaries
Emotional Gridlock & Blame Cycle
Under functioning/Over functioning
Self-Confrontation
Individual Emotional Regulation
Differentiation of Self
The very nature of couples therapy is challenging and can be emotionally dysregulating. Relationships reveal weaknesses within us that might be uncomfortable, scary, or painful- and couples therapy involves doing specific relational work regarding these things. The difficulty of the work is not necessarily a sign that anything is going wrong in the relationship (in fact it might be a sign that things are going right!)
I also help individuals with anxiety & depression issues, specifically focusing on men’s mental health (Emotional Suppression, Expectations & Burnout, Relationship Problems, Isolation), or those dealing with issues of faith, sexuality, or out of control sexual behaviors (unwanted pornography use, guilt, shame).
People who work with me appreciate my directness and candid approach, but I understand I may not be everyone's cup of tea and that’s ok! I try to make therapy convenient for your schedule and easy to integrate in your busy life.
My Story
After previously doing my undergraduate degree in psychology and a 5+ year career in recruiting/operations, I made the deliberate choice to switch my focus and spend my time working with couples and individuals. My passion for understanding human relationships- whether familial, romantic, or platonic- fuels my work, is informed by years of dedicated study, research, and personal and professional experiences navigating the complexities of human interaction and connection.
I consider myself an integrated therapist, which means I use a range of elements from many evidence-based techniques (CBT, ACT, Narrative, Emotionally Focused, Family Systems and Differentiation therapies) with my clients and couples. approach therapy with compassion, practicality, directness and a deep commitment to client-focused care.
I believe that successful therapy requires a willingness to face difficult truths and decide to challenge your own beliefs and actions and that self-confrontation is the key to emotional maturity, whether you’re single or in a relationship. Every day I work with people who see and feel real results as they put in the effort. I’m confident you can make the changes you wish for yourself by seeing and understanding the larger picture and dynamics that are at play.
Supervised by Jenivee Akalis