Couples Therapy for High-Conflict Relationships

When every conversation turns into a fight, it’s time for something different.

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In-person in Houston, TX | Virtual across Texas

Maybe you wouldn’t call it high-conflict, but something about the way you fight just feels... not right. Too intense. Too frequent. Too painful. And no resolution.

And once again, you’ve had another major fight. Same topic (or maybe a new one but same cycle). Arguing in circles until someone shuts down, says something nasty, gets heated beyond intended or storms out. Shit just keeps hitting the fan between you two. By the end of it, you can’t even remember what started the fight. But you do know this: it happens all the time. It's exhausting. And it's starting to feel hopeless.

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You walk away wondering: How did we get here again? You feel misunderstood, alone, and stuck in a loop neither of you wants, but neither of you knows how to break. You keep wondering if this is ever going to get better. Will we make it?
You're not bad people. You're not broken. You're just caught in a repetitive conflict cycle that keeps getting worse.
At Clear Mind, I help couples understand the patterns beneath the frequent arguing. Because what looks like “we just don’t communicate well” is usually something deeper:

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-Unspoken needs
-Emotional injuries that never healed
-Misattuned bids for connection
-Nervous systems stuck in survival mode (say hello to your past)


And the more you try to fix it mid-argument, the worse it gets. You know when they say “it’s never about the dishes”? Well, yeah, they are right.

So how do we move forward?  First, some ground rules. Rule number one: couples therapy only works if you're both willing to take ownership. It’s not about assigning blame. It’s about learning how to relate differently. To do this, something has to change. And the only thing you can truly change is you. Rule number two: You’ve got to try something different. Not just in session but outside of it too. You already know what doesn’t work. So let’s stop repeating it. Come in open. Be willing to show up in a new way.

All couples fight. But the ones who last learn how to fight without destroying the relationship. That’s the goal, and it is not impossible to achieve it.

Does This Sound Familiar?

“We’re good… until we disagree.”
“We can’t get through one week without a fight.”
“We’re on the verge of separating, but we want to try therapy first.”
“It feels like we’re stuck in the same fight on repeat.”
“One minute we’re fine. The next, we’re spiraling.”
Empty Street Between High Rise Buildings during Houston Texas Nighttime

Tired of the same fight playing on repeat? Y'all don’t have to keep living in reaction mode.
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If you're ready to change how you show up in your relationship, let's get started.

let's talk
Conflict often isn’t just about the here and now. It can be fueled by stress, burnout, or even past relational trauma. If you want to explore those pieces, you can also look at therapy for high-functioning anxiety, stress, and depression or therapy for childhood and relational trauma.

I’m going to be honest with you: couples therapy is hard.


There’s no quick fix. It takes time, commitment, and honesty. But there is a path out of this. One built on insight, accountability, and reconnection. All you need is willingness (and I don’t mean conditional willingness. Not “I’ll try if they try.” Just willingness.) If you’re both ready to show up and do the work, this process can shift the entire tone of your relationship.

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■ Weekly 80-minute sessions
■ Deep Dive sessions for couples who want focused work
■ In-person in Houston, or virtual throughout Texas

A Couple Looking at Mobile Phone while Having an Argument

What we work on in couples therapy

Mapping out the reactive cycles you're getting stuck in
Understanding the role you play in activating those cycles and where they come from (yes, couples therapy involves individual work too. It’s the only way to create lasting change)
Slowing things down to make space for new patterns that we rehearse and test in session
Rebuilding emotional safety so you can actually hear each other’s experience, stories, and needs
Create a new dynamic between the two of you rooted in acceptance, willingness to co-create true love, and ownership.
We won’t just be talking about the problem. You’ll be practicing change right there in session. In real time. No movie-like therapy where you just vent and I nod. We use the whole session to actually do the work.
Managing conflict in a way that builds connection instead of disconnection
Learning how to repair after conflict
Who I work with // I specialize in working with
People who’ve tried to “communicate better” but keep falling back into old patterns
Couples on the verge of separating but not ready to give up
One partner shuts down, the other escalates, and no one feels heard
Couples who can't stop fighting, even about small things
Those who still love each other but are tired of walking on eggshells
Couples that feel emotionally disconnected

You’ve tried silence. You’ve tried yelling. You’ve tried pretending everything’s fine.

Ready to try something different?
It might feel intense. It might feel messy. It might even feel harder at first
But let’s be real. You’re already feeling all of that without resolution.
Let’s get our hands dirty and build something better.

I offer individual therapy in Houston and throughout Texas via telehealth.
FAQ

You ask, we answer

Still have questions?  Check our FAQ page
What if my partner doesn’t want to come to therapy?

It happens a lot. One person is ready and the other is hesitant or completely resistant. Sometimes it helps to start with individual therapy (aka couples therapy for one) so you can make sense of the cycle you're in and figure out what you want moving forward. And sometimes sharing why you want therapy — not to blame, but because you care — can open the door. But no, you can't force someone into therapy. And dragging someone who doesn’t want to be there usually backfires. The willingness has to be theirs fully.

Will the therapist take sides?

No. That’s not how this works. I’m not here to figure out who’s right (playing this game destroys marriages). I’m here to help both of you see the dynamic you’re stuck in and how each of you contributes to it. That means helping you take ownership of your part even when it’s hard. It also means slowing things down so you can actually hear each other. This is about both of you not one of you becoming the problem.

Can therapy really help if we’ve been stuck in this pattern for years?

Yes. But only if both people are willing to look underneath the surface. The longer a pattern has gone on the deeper it gets and the more it becomes your default. That means it takes time and consistency and a real effort to shift it. But I’ve seen couples come back from the edge when they both decide to show up differently. If you’re here reading this and holding on to even a little hope then no it’s not too late.

How many sessions does it usually take to see progress?

It depends. Some couples feel a shift after a few sessions. Others take longer. High-conflict patterns didn’t start overnight and they don’t disappear overnight either. But if both of you are committed to the work even small shifts at the beginning can feel like relief. Think of it less like a quick fix and more like a process to help you build something better.

Is it too late to save our relationship?

Only the two of you can answer that. But here’s what I’ll say. If there’s still a part of you that cares or misses how things used to feel or wants some kind of future together then there’s something to work with. It takes more than love to make it work especially after years of hurt but if you’re both truly willing to do something different then no, it’s not too late.

You’ve tried everything except doing the work together.

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Clear Mind Therapy PLLC is not a crisis service. For immediate support, call 911 or the 988 Crisis Line.