The Relationship Place Counseling and Therapy

12/26/2025

Boundaries aren’t punishments - they’re clarity.
They show others what feels safe, what your limits are, and how to stay in relationship with you in a healthy way.

The right people adjust.
The wrong people resist.
And the people you outgrow?
They test limits to see what still works in their favor.

A partner who respects you won’t push past your boundaries- they’ll honor them with their behavior, not just their words.

Pay attention to who leans in when you express your needs…
and who only leans in when you make yourself smaller.

This season isn’t just about giving, it’s also about protecting your peace.
Are you learning to hold your boundaries without apologizing for them?
Comment below if this resonates

12/24/2025

Love doesn’t fall apart because couples don’t care.
They fall apart when emotional availability is out of sync.

One partner reaches out because they crave closeness.
The other retreats because conflict feels overwhelming.
Both responses come from nervous system patterns — not character flaws.

Healthy connection happens when both partners learn the dance:
The anxious reach becomes gentler.
The avoidant retreat becomes shorter.
Both stay present long enough to repair.

If you’ve ever felt like you were the only one trying- this one is for you.



anxious attachment, avoidant attachment, emotional presence, repair, nervous system patterns

12/22/2025

12/19/2025

New year energy often starts with goals.
Lasting change starts with values.

ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) reminds us that goals tell us what we want to achieve, but values guide how we live along the way.
When growth is only about outcomes, missed goals can turn into shame and avoidance.

When growth is rooted in values, there’s always a way to return.
This is the foundation of the work we do in ThriveWays - helping men clarify what matters, build psychological flexibility, and take meaningful action even when life gets uncomfortable.
Progress isn’t about perfection.

It’s about alignment - again and again.
If you’re ready for a different kind of reset, ThriveWays is here.

CLICK LINK IN BIO TO READ THE FULL BLOG POST




12/18/2025

Flooding makes conflict feel impossible because your nervous system gets overwhelmed before your words can even form.

This isn’t weakness.
This isn’t avoidance.
This is biology.

When your body hits its limit, the most productive move is to pause, regulate, and reconnect later.

📲 Share this- Someone needs to know their shutdown isn’t a flaw — it’s a signal.



conflict overwhelm, nervous system shutdown, communication tools

12/16/2025

If you had to earn love growing up, your nervous system won’t trust love that feels easy.

When connection was tied to performance, perfection, or self-sacrifice, your body learned that love had a cost. So when someone shows up with steadiness or softness, it can feel unfamiliar —even unsafe.

That isn’t brokenness.
It’s conditioning.
Healthy love isn’t a test.
It’s a regulating presence.

You can learn to recognize safety.
You can learn to receive ease.
You can learn to trust love that doesn’t require you to shrink.

Save this if you’re unlearning conditional love.


 attachment patterns, emotional safety, soothing, earned love, childhood conditioning, relationship healing

11/25/2025

Most women don’t want a perfect partner- they want a present one.

We’re talking about the real relationship glue here:
the small moments, the turn-toward gestures, the “I see you” energy Gottman calls bids for connection.

Here’s the truth most men never get taught:
✨ Presence outranks perfection
✨ Gratitude is emotional leadership
✨ Knowing her inner world (your Love Map) builds trust
✨ Reducing her mental load is an act of love, not a chore
✨ Consistency > intensity, every time

When a man understands these fundamentals, the whole relationship shifts.

And if you want to go deeper into how & why this works we broke it all down in our newest blog:
“Guys, Gratitude & Gottman.”

🔗 Tap the link in our bio to read the full post.
It’s packed with insights couples keep telling us they wish they’d known sooner.

11/24/2025

💬 Say hello to Tierra Terrell, AMFT and a wonderful clinician on our team!

Tierra believes that healthy, fulfilling relationships are about more than avoiding conflict- they’re about feeling seen, understood, and safe while navigating the everyday ups and downs of life.

💡 She’s especially passionate about helping couples with topics many shy away from, like sexual desire discrepancy, transition to parenthood, and creating deeper intimacy rooted in growth, compassion, and pleasure.

⛱ Her style? Inviting, energetic, playful, and productive. She brings empathy and directness- addressing hard topics while making space for enjoyment and real change.

📍 Based in San Diego and offering Telehealth across California, Tierra welcomes individuals and couples across all backgrounds, orientations, and relationship structures.

If you’re ready to grow together or heal a disconnect, Tierra’s here to guide you

11/20/2025

You’ve probably heard us mention the 𝐆𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝, but what does that really mean and why do our therapists use it?

The Gottman Method is an evidence-based approach to couples therapy developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman after over 40 years of research studying what makes relationships thrive (and what makes them fall apart).
Unlike generic “talk therapy,” the Gottman Method gives couples practical tools they can use right away to:

💛 Strengthen friendship and intimacy
💬 Improve communication and emotional understanding
⚡️ Repair conflict in healthy, productive ways
❤️ Rebuild trust and deepen connection

At The Relationship Place, we use Gottman tools and assessments to help you identify patterns, understand each other’s needs, and create a shared roadmap toward a stronger relationship.

And it works!

#𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 #𝐆𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝 #𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲 #𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲 #𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐃𝐢𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐭 #𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬 #𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬

11/18/2025

𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘨 𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘵: 𝘔𝘢𝘮𝘢’𝘴 𝘉𝘰𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱.

When a partner is overly tied to a parent, it can quietly impact emotional availability, boundaries, and even how conflict is handled. This isn’t about judgment- it’s about awareness, clarity, and understanding the patterns that shape your relationship dynamic.

In our newest post, breaks down:

✨ What “mama’s boy” behavior actually looks like (beyond the stereotype)
✨ How enmeshment forms
✨ Why these patterns can affect intimacy + partnership
✨ What healthy boundaries look like
✨ How couples therapy can help both partners feel seen, supported, and connected

If you’ve ever wondered whether this dynamic is showing up in your relationship or if you’ve felt like you’re “competing” with a parent- this one’s worth the read.

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨 ↠ 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘪𝘰.

11/18/2025

Our doors (and hearts) are open. 💬

At The Relationship Place, all are welcome. Every background, every identity, every story.

If you’re ready to feel seen, supported, and understood… come see us.

11/13/2025

Say hi to 𝐉𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠, 𝐋𝐌𝐅𝐓, licensed in both California and Texas

With a background that spans over a decade in counseling, crisis work, and relationship repair, Jeffrey brings both professional expertise and deep empathy to his clients.

🧠 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬:
• Reconnecting couples in crisis
• Gottman Method (Level 3 trained)
• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Trauma-informed and mindfulness-based approaches

💬 “𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟.”

Jeffrey believes that creating, fostering, and maintaining relationships is both our greatest challenge and our greatest opportunity for growth. His goal is to help each client develop curiosity, acceptance, and compassion, both for themselves and their partners.

Whether he’s guiding couples through communication breakdowns, supporting veterans rebuilding intimacy, or helping individuals live in alignment with their values, Jeffrey’s approach is calm, insightful, and deeply human.

✨ We’re honored to have him on the team.

#𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 #𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲𝐈𝐬𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐥 #𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲 #𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐃𝐢𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐭 #𝐆𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝 #𝐄𝐅𝐓 #𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲 #𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 #𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 #𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬