Couples & Family
The most important relationship you will ever have is the one with yourself.
Couples and individual work, guided by Maya Rasak, MFT.
Approach
Communication that actually changes things.
Every relationship runs into conflict, distance, or miscommunication at some point — what matters is whether a couple or family has the tools to move through it together. Maya works with couples and families to identify the patterns that keep conflict escalating, and to build new patterns of listening, speaking, and repairing that hold up under real pressure, not just in the therapy room.
What This Work Helps With
Where couples and families begin.
- Communication breakdowns and recurring arguments
- Intimacy and connection that has grown distant
- Trust repair after a rupture
- Codependency and unhealthy relational patterns
- Life transitions that put strain on a partnership or family
- Grief, loss, and change within a family system
Grounded In
The Six Pillars, applied to relationships.
Connection is the second of Maya's Six Pillars of Wellbeing — building secure, authentic relationships with others and with yourself. Sessions often draw on Relational, Interpersonal, and Humanistic modalities to help couples and families rebuild trust from the inside out.
Areas of Focus
Where relationship work often begins.
Relationship Issues
Relationship issues are one of the three areas Maya works with most — the recurring arguments, the slow drift toward distance, the sense that you're speaking two different languages. As a marriage and family therapist in California, Maya helps couples name what's actually happening beneath the conflict, and build new ways of listening and repairing that hold up outside the therapy room.
Couples Therapy Across California
Many couples across Southern California choose this practice — drawn to a process that treats both partners as equally responsible for change. Sessions are held in person in Santa Monica or by secure telehealth video, so couples can meet from wherever they split their time.
Couples Counseling
Couples counseling with Maya isn't about assigning blame — it's about learning the specific patterns that keep a particular relationship stuck, and practicing new ones together, in the room, until they start to feel natural.
Attachment Styles & Trust Repair
Attachment style — anxious, avoidant, or secure — shapes how each partner reacts under stress, and why the same argument tends to repeat. Research from the Gottman Institute has found that couples who successfully rebuild trust after conflict rely on specific, learnable repair attempts made in the moment, not just a single big conversation. Maya helps couples recognize their attachment patterns and practice repair in real time, so trust rebuilds through consistent small moments. Read more on understanding your attachment style and rebuilding trust after infidelity.
LGBTQ+-Affirming Care
Maya's relationship work is LGBTQ+ affirming, supporting couples navigating identity, family, and partnership in ways that feel authentic to who they actually are.
Grief & Life Transitions
Loss and major life transitions — a move, a birth, a death, a divorce — put real strain on family systems. Maya helps families and couples navigate these shifts without losing each other in the process.
In Their Words
"Choosing a therapist is not easy. Both my husband and I look forward to meeting with her every single week and wish we had found her sooner. We find her methods and process are exactly what we need. I promise you will not be disappointed in going to Maya!"
— ZJ, Venice, CA
"My partner and I sought out Maya's help when we decided to start a committed relationship. Both of us really want to make sure we are in the same page and give ourselves the best possible foundation we can. Maya totally gets it and is helping us more than I'd even imagined. She is so easy to talk to, she hears both of us. She uses visuals and has helpful ways to get one to see things that can sometimes be hard concepts. I think any couple could benefit from Maya's insight. Straightforward, and caring, she is smart and genuine. 10/10"
— Deborah W., Toronto, Canada · Yelp, May 2023
"Seeing Maya has been an excellent addition to my life. I started seeing Maya six months ago with my partner for couples therapy, and it has exceeded our initial goals and helped us form a deeper relationship. She has helped me gain perspective, which has allowed me to understand and empathize more. This gained perspective also applies to understanding myself; these sessions taught me more about how I react to certain situations or events. Recognizing problems more clearly has allowed me to slow down and become less reactive. She has also given practical tools. These tools are straightforward to apply and have had an immediate and positive impact on my life. I genuinely appreciate all Maya has done for us, and I could not recommend her enough! She is a great couples therapist."
— Uriah I., Ann Arbor, MI · Yelp, November 2022
"Finding the right therapist can be a journey fraught with uncertainty, but from the moment my partner and I started our sessions with Maya, we knew we had struck gold. In the span of a year, Maya has transformed our approach to our relationship, offering not just her expertise but a profoundly safe and nurturing space for us to explore, understand, and grow together. What sets Maya apart is her incredible ability to create a “safe container,” a unique environment where my partner and I felt truly heard, respected, and valued. This safe space allowed us to be vulnerable, a critical aspect of our journey towards understanding and togetherness. Maya is equipped with an exceptional toolkit of strategies and insights that have empowered us to build a stronger, more resilient relationship. Her techniques are not just about navigating the present; they are lessons we will carry with us for the rest of our lives, enriching not only our partnership but every aspect of our interactions with others. We cannot help but feel a profound sense of gratitude for Maya’s influence in our lives. Her guidance has been a beacon of hope and transformation, helping us to not only navigate our challenges but to emerge stronger, more connected, and with a deeper understanding of each other. For anyone considering couples therapy, we cannot recommend Maya highly enough. She is not just a therapist; she is a guide, a mentor, and a catalyst for change. We thank God every day for bringing Maya into our lives, and we know that any couple fortunate enough to work with her will feel the same."
— Bobby A. · Yelp, March 2024
"My wife and I had a very positive experience with Maya. She created a safe and supportive environment where we both felt heard and understood. She was able to create a comfortable environment during our sessions that supported challenging ourselves to grow as individuals and as a couple. Her expertise and empathy helped guide us through challenges, and we gained valuable insights and tools that will help us achieve our goals individually and as a couple. I highly recommend Maya for her exceptional care and dedication to helping others."
— Matt Z. · Yelp, June 2023
Read more reviews from Maya’s clients over the years on Yelp.
Have questions about how couples or family therapy works? Read our FAQ.
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