Couples Therapy in New Jersey: Rebuilding Connection, Trust, and Love

Introduction

Every relationship goes through difficult seasons. Whether you and your partner are struggling with communication, trust, emotional distance, recurring conflict, or the aftermath of a life-changing event, these challenges do not mean your relationship is beyond repair. They mean you are human — and that you may benefit from professional support to help you find your way back to each other.

At Light Street Psychotherapy in Short Hills, NJ, our team of licensed therapists specializes in couples therapy in New Jersey. We work with partners at every stage — from couples in crisis to those simply wanting to deepen their connection and build a stronger foundation together.

Our therapists offer in-person couples therapy in Short Hills, NJ and telehealth sessions throughout New Jersey and Florida — making expert support accessible wherever you are.

📞 Call us today: (973) 544-8617
✔️ In-person and telehealth sessions available
✔️ Free consultation available
✔️ Serving New Jersey and Florida

Why Couples Seek Therapy

There is no single reason couples come to therapy. Some arrive in the middle of a crisis. Others come because they sense a growing distance they cannot seem to close on their own. Some want to strengthen a relationship that is already good. Whatever brings you through the door, the decision to seek support is a sign of courage — not weakness.

Common reasons couples seek therapy at Light Street Psychotherapy include:

Constant arguments or conflict that never seems to get resolved
Feeling emotionally disconnected or like roommates rather than partners
Breakdown in communication — feeling unheard, unseen, or misunderstood
Rebuilding trust after infidelity or betrayal
Navigating a major life transition — new baby, job loss, relocation, illness
Differences in parenting styles or family values
Sexual intimacy concerns or growing emotional distance
One or both partners struggling with anxiety, trauma, or depression
Blended family challenges
Preparing for marriage or deepening an already strong relationship
Deciding whether to stay together or separate with clarity and respect

No matter where you are in your relationship, our couples therapists in New Jersey at Light Street Psychotherapy are here to help.

Meet Our Couples Therapists at Light Street Psychotherapy

At Light Street Psychotherapy, we are proud to have a team of highly trained, compassionate therapists who specialize in couples work. Each therapist brings a unique set of skills, training, and clinical experience — and together, they offer one of the most comprehensive approaches to couples therapy available in New Jersey.

Meredith Strauss, LCSW — Founder

Meredith Strauss, LCSW is the Founder of Light Street Psychotherapy and one of the leading trauma and relationship therapists in New Jersey. With over a decade of clinical experience, Meredith brings a deeply holistic and integrative approach to couples therapy — merging eastern psychotherapy approaches with traditional western psychology to create an innovative path toward healing and connection.

Meredith is listed among the Best Marriage Therapists in Short Hills, NJ and is recognized as one of the top providers of EMDR therapy in the country. She is IFS Level Three Certified and EMDR Level Three Certified — bringing an exceptionally deep level of training to her work with couples and families.

Meredith’s approach for couples includes:

EMDR for Couples — helping partners process past trauma and painful relationship experiences that are keeping them stuck in negative patterns
Internal Family Systems (IFS) for Couples — helping each partner understand the protective parts of themselves that drive conflict and disconnection, and learning to lead from a place of greater openness and self-awareness
Couples Counseling — addressing communication breakdown, trust issues, emotional distance, and recurring conflict with compassion and clarity
Family Therapy — trained in Structural Family Therapy, Meredith works with the entire family system when needed to support lasting relational change
Interpersonal Therapy — helping couples and individuals understand how their relationship patterns and interpersonal dynamics affect their emotional wellbeing
Yoga Psychology — integrating mind-body awareness into the therapeutic process to help couples regulate their nervous systems and deepen their connection
Short-Term Solution-Focused Therapy — for couples who want practical, goal-oriented support to address specific relationship challenges
DBT Skills — building emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness within the relationship

Meredith also offers telehealth sessions for Florida residents and runs group therapy programs incorporating IFS, EMDR, and DBT for individuals healing from trauma and relationship difficulties.

📞 Contact Meredith: (973) 544-8617

Gina Totino, LCSW — Partner

Gina Totino, LCSW is a Partner at Light Street Psychotherapy and a specialist in trauma-informed couples therapy. Gina brings deep expertise in the emotional patterns that drive conflict and disconnection, and she helps couples access the underlying feelings — fear, grief, longing, shame — that are often at the root of their struggles.

Gina believes that true intimacy begins with self-understanding. Her work with couples is grounded in curiosity, compassion, and the belief that even deeply entrenched patterns can change with the right support.

Gina’s training and approach for couples includes:

Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) for Couples — helping partners identify and break negative interaction cycles and build more secure emotional bonds
Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO) — an IFS-informed approach to couples therapy that helps each partner understand their own inner world and how it shows up in the relationship
DBT for High-Conflict Couples — providing practical skills for de-escalation, emotional regulation, and effective communication in relationships marked by intense conflict
Trauma-Informed Couples Therapy — for couples where one or both partners carry unresolved trauma that is affecting the relationship dynamic
EMDR Therapy — processing distressing memories and past experiences that are contributing to current relationship struggles

📞 Contact Gina: (973) 544-8617

Additional Therapists at Light Street Psychotherapy

In addition to Meredith Strauss and Gina Totino, the full clinical team at Light Street Psychotherapy brings a rich and diverse range of training and expertise to couples and family work. Our therapists work collaboratively to ensure every couple receives care that is thoughtful, personalized, and effective.

Our clinical team collectively offers expertise in:

Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) for individuals and couples
Gottman Method Couples Therapy principles
Internal Family Systems (IFS) for couples and individuals
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for relationship patterns
Trauma-informed and attachment-based couples therapy
Premarital counseling and relationship enrichment
LGBTQ+ affirming couples therapy
Multicultural and interfaith couples counseling
Parent coaching and training
Sand tray therapy for children and teens

To learn more about our full clinical team and find the right therapist for you and your partner, visit our Meet the Team page or call us at (973) 544-8617.

Our Approach to Couples Therapy

At Light Street Psychotherapy, we believe that every relationship has its own language — its own history, patterns, wounds, and strengths. Our approach to couples therapy is never one-size-fits-all. Instead, our therapists take time to understand each couple’s unique dynamic and design a treatment approach that addresses the specific challenges and goals of that relationship.

Our approach is guided by several core principles:

Safety first — both partners need to feel emotionally safe in the therapy room before real work can begin
Understanding before changing — we help couples understand their patterns before trying to change them
Both partners matter — our therapists hold space for both partners equally, without taking sides
Emotions are information — we help couples listen to and learn from their emotions rather than being overwhelmed by them
The goal is connection — regardless of the presenting problem, the ultimate goal is deeper understanding and genuine connection

Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) for Couples

Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is one of the most well-researched and effective approaches to couples therapy available today. Developed by Dr. Sue Johnson, EFT is based on attachment theory — the understanding that humans are wired for close emotional bonds, and that relationship distress is often a signal that those bonds feel threatened or insecure.

EFT helps couples:

Identify and break negative interaction cycles — the recurring arguments and patterns that leave both partners feeling hurt and unheard
Access and express the deeper emotions and needs beneath surface conflict
Build more secure emotional bonds and a stronger foundation of trust
Develop new, more positive ways of connecting and communicating

Research shows that EFT is effective for approximately 70 to 75 percent of couples, with results that are maintained long after therapy ends.

EMDR for Relationship Healing

Both Meredith Strauss and Gina Totino are trained in EMDR therapy and use it within couples work to help partners process past trauma, painful relationship experiences, and negative core beliefs that are keeping them stuck. EMDR is particularly powerful for couples where one or both partners carry childhood trauma, attachment wounds, or the effects of previous relationship betrayal.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) for Couples

IFS helps each partner understand the different parts of themselves — the protector, the inner critic, the part that shuts down or explodes in conflict. Both Meredith and Gina use IFS-informed approaches to help couples develop greater self-awareness and self-leadership, leading to more honest, compassionate, and connected communication.

DBT for High-Conflict Couples

For couples caught in patterns of intense, escalating conflict, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers powerful, practical tools. DBT for couples focuses on building skills in four key areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills help partners de-escalate conflict in the moment, communicate more clearly and respectfully, and build a relationship culture of greater compassion and balance.

Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO)

Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO) is an IFS-informed approach to couples therapy. IFIO helps each partner develop greater self-awareness and self-leadership — understanding the protective parts of themselves that show up in conflict, and learning to speak and listen from a place of greater openness and curiosity. The result is a more intimate, honest, and connected relationship.

Trauma-Informed Couples Therapy

When one or both partners carry unresolved trauma — whether from childhood, past relationships, or a shared experience like a medical crisis or loss — that trauma inevitably shows up in the relationship. Our therapists are trained in trauma-informed couples therapy, helping partners understand how trauma affects their nervous systems, their attachment patterns, and their ability to connect.

Couples Therapy for Specific Challenges

Infidelity and Betrayal Recovery

Recovering from infidelity or betrayal is one of the most painful and complex journeys a couple can undertake. Our therapists provide a structured, compassionate process for working through the aftermath of betrayal — helping the hurt partner process their pain, helping the partner who caused the harm take genuine accountability, and guiding both partners toward a decision about whether and how to rebuild the relationship.

Couples Navigating Anxiety and Trauma

When anxiety or trauma affects one or both partners, it changes the relationship dynamic in profound ways. Our therapists — including both Meredith Strauss and Gina Totino — specialize in helping couples understand these dynamics with compassion and develop new ways of supporting each other through them.

Premarital Counseling

Premarital counseling is one of the most valuable investments a couple can make before entering marriage. Our therapists work with engaged couples to explore values, communication styles, conflict patterns, family-of-origin dynamics, financial expectations, and long-term goals — helping couples build a strong, informed foundation before saying their vows.

Couples in Life Transitions

Major life transitions — the birth of a child, a career change, relocation, illness, retirement, or the loss of a loved one — can place enormous stress on a relationship. Our therapists help couples navigate these transitions with greater understanding, flexibility, and connection.

LGBTQ+ Affirming Couples Therapy

Light Street Psychotherapy is proud to offer LGBTQ+ affirming couples therapy in New Jersey. Our therapists provide a fully inclusive, respectful, and affirming space for couples of all identities, orientations, and relationship structures.

What to Expect in Couples Therapy at Light Street Psychotherapy

Beginning couples therapy can feel daunting — especially if one or both partners have had difficult experiences with therapy in the past, or if there is significant pain or conflict between you. Here is what you can expect when you work with our team:

A neutral, balanced space — our therapists hold space for both partners equally, without blame or taking sides
An initial assessment — your therapist will take time to understand your relationship history, current challenges, and goals for therapy
A personalized treatment plan — your sessions will be tailored to the specific needs and dynamics of your relationship
Practical skills and tools — you will leave sessions with concrete strategies to use between appointments
Compassionate honesty — our therapists will be honest with you in a supportive way, helping you see patterns and possibilities you may not have been able to see on your own
Flexibility — we offer individual sessions alongside couples sessions when clinically appropriate

Why Choose Light Street Psychotherapy for Couples Therapy in New Jersey?

Highly trained team of licensed therapists including Meredith Strauss, LCSW and Gina Totino, LCSW
Meredith Strauss is IFS Level Three Certified and EMDR Level Three Certified
Listed among the Best Marriage Therapists in Short Hills, NJ
Voted NJ Top Docs for multiple years
One of the top providers of EMDR therapy in the country
Multiple evidence-based modalities including EFT, DBT, IFS, IFIO, EMDR, and trauma-informed approaches
Warm, inclusive, and non-judgmental environment
LGBTQ+ affirming practice
In-person sessions in Short Hills, NJ
Telehealth available throughout New Jersey and Florida
Individual, couples, and family therapy available
Free consultation available

Start Your Couples Therapy Journey Today

Your relationship deserves the same care and attention you give to every other important area of your life. Whether you are in crisis or simply ready to grow closer, couples therapy at Light Street Psychotherapy can help you get there.

If you are searching for:

Couples therapist in New Jersey
EFT couples therapy near Short Hills or Millburn NJ
Marriage counseling in New Jersey
EMDR therapy for couples in NJ
IFS couples therapy New Jersey
DBT for high-conflict couples in NJ
Infidelity and betrayal recovery therapist New Jersey
Premarital counseling New Jersey
LGBTQ+ affirming couples therapy New Jersey
Telehealth couples therapy in New Jersey or Florida

👉 Contact Light Street Psychotherapy today and take the first step toward a stronger, more connected relationship.

📞 (973) 544-8617
🌐 www.lightstreetpsychotherapy.com
✔️ Free Consultation Available
✔️ In-Person and Telehealth | New Jersey and Florida

Areas We Serve — Couples Therapist Near You

Meredith Strauss, LCSW and Gina Totino, LCSW along with the full team at Light Street Psychotherapy provide couples therapy, marriage counseling, EFT, EMDR, DBT, IFS, and trauma-informed relationship therapy in-person and via telehealth throughout New Jersey and Florida. If you are searching for a couples therapist near you, we proudly serve the following communities:

In-Person Couples Therapy — New Jersey

Couples Therapist Short Hills NJ | Marriage Counseling Short Hills NJ | EFT Couples Therapy Short Hills NJ | EMDR Couples Therapy Short Hills NJ | IFS Couples Therapy Short Hills NJ
Couples Therapist Millburn NJ | Marriage Counseling Millburn NJ | EFT Couples Therapy Millburn NJ | EMDR Therapy Millburn NJ | Trauma-Informed Couples Therapy Millburn NJ
Couples Therapist Springfield NJ | Marriage Counseling Springfield NJ | EFT Therapy Springfield NJ | DBT Couples Therapist Springfield NJ | Relationship Counseling Springfield NJ
Couples Therapist Maplewood NJ | Marriage Counseling Maplewood NJ | EFT Couples Therapy Maplewood NJ | EMDR Couples Therapy Maplewood NJ | Premarital Counseling Maplewood NJ
Couples Therapist South Orange NJ | Marriage Counseling South Orange NJ | EFT Therapy South Orange NJ | IFS Couples Therapy South Orange NJ | DBT Couples Therapy South Orange NJ
Couples Therapist Summit NJ | Marriage Counseling Summit NJ | EFT Couples Therapy Summit NJ | EMDR Therapy Summit NJ | Relationship Counseling Summit NJ
Couples Therapist Madison NJ | Marriage Counseling Madison NJ | EFT Couples Therapy Madison NJ | IFS Therapy Madison NJ | Premarital Counseling Madison NJ
Couples Therapist Chatham NJ | Marriage Counseling Chatham NJ | EFT Therapy Chatham NJ | DBT Couples Therapist Chatham NJ | EMDR Couples Therapy Chatham NJ
Couples Therapist Livingston NJ | Marriage Counseling Livingston NJ | EFT Couples Therapy Livingston NJ | EMDR Therapy Livingston NJ | DBT Couples Therapy Livingston NJ
Couples Therapist Florham Park NJ | Marriage Counseling Florham Park NJ | EFT Therapy Florham Park NJ | IFS Couples Therapy Florham Park NJ | Premarital Counseling Florham Park NJ
Couples Therapist Westfield NJ | Marriage Counseling Westfield NJ | EFT Couples Therapy Westfield NJ | EMDR Therapy Westfield NJ | Relationship Counseling Westfield NJ
Couples Therapist Cranford NJ | Marriage Counseling Cranford NJ | EFT Couples Therapy Cranford NJ | DBT Couples Therapy Cranford NJ | IFS Therapy Cranford NJ
Couples Therapist Whippany NJ | Marriage Counseling Whippany NJ | EFT Therapy Whippany NJ | EMDR Couples Therapy Whippany NJ | Premarital Counseling Whippany NJ
Couples Therapist Berkeley Heights NJ | Marriage Counseling Berkeley Heights NJ | EFT Couples Therapy Berkeley Heights NJ | DBT Therapy Berkeley Heights NJ | IFS Couples Therapy Berkeley Heights NJ
Couples Therapist Union NJ | Marriage Counseling Union NJ | EFT Couples Therapy Union NJ | EMDR Therapy Union NJ | DBT Couples Therapy Union NJ
Couples Therapist Scotch Plains NJ | Marriage Counseling Scotch Plains NJ | EFT Therapy Scotch Plains NJ | IFS Couples Therapy Scotch Plains NJ | Premarital Counseling Scotch Plains NJ
Couples Therapist Morristown NJ | Marriage Counseling Morristown NJ | EFT Couples Therapy Morristown NJ | EMDR Therapy Morristown NJ | Relationship Counseling Morristown NJ
Couples Therapist New Providence NJ | Marriage Counseling New Providence NJ | EFT Couples Therapy New Providence NJ | DBT Couples Therapy New Providence NJ | IFS Therapy New Providence NJ
Couples Therapist Mountainside NJ | Marriage Counseling Mountainside NJ | EFT Therapy Mountainside NJ | EMDR Couples Therapy Mountainside NJ | Premarital Counseling Mountainside NJ

Telehealth Couples Therapy — New Jersey and Florida

Online Couples Therapist New Jersey | Telehealth Marriage Counseling NJ | Virtual EFT Couples Therapy New Jersey | Online EMDR Couples Therapist NJ | Remote Relationship Counseling New Jersey
Telehealth Couples Therapist Florida | Online Marriage Counseling Florida | Virtual EFT Couples Therapy Florida | Online EMDR Therapist Florida | Remote Couples Counseling Florida