Mara Alverson, Couples and Individual Therapy

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Mara Alverson, Couples and Individual Therapy

Counseling services for couples

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) was developed by Dr. Sue Johnson, who combined the latest research about human bonding with leading edge discoveries about the neurobiological roots of behavior. Research studies find that 70-75% of couples who have completed EFT move from distress to recovery and approximately 90% show significant improvements. This kind of scientifically validated success was previously unheard of in the field of couples therapy.

In short, we now know that partners must feel safe and loved in order to bond closely with each other, and that old patterns of distress and distancing that we bring with us from our childhoods and our past relationships can be healed when we learn to share deeply and honestly with each other in an environment of safety. This is detailed, in-depth training in becoming emotionally available to yourself and to your partner which requires dedication and courage and offers, in return, the opportunity to feel a deeper level of intimacy with your partner than you ever imagined.

11/14/2025

Welcome to my office in Autumn, the time for gratitude and for grieving. A warm fire welcomes and honors all feelings here. That's how we come to love and accept ourselves and each other. May this be a season of deepening, of feeling all of our feelings, so that we may experience life fully.

11/13/2025

Mirabai was a 16th century Rajasthani princess, a composer of devotional songs and a mystic who fought against convention to give voice to her spiritual yearnings. My favorite of her poems contains the words:

"I have felt the swaying of the elephant's shoulders;
and now you want me to climb on a jackass?
Try to be serious. “

This I read as a testament to her dedication to searching for and living a life of meaning and fulfillment in spite of many attempts to thwart her mission. She is a symbol of dedication, perseverance and clarity about what she saw as really important in life.

11/09/2025

Enhancing the Holidays with Your Partner.

The holiday season brings many opportunities for sharing joy as well as many opportunities for stress to derail your connection with those dearest to you. Questions around scheduling activities, choosing who to spend time with and how, deciding how much to spend - these and many other decisions that must be made are all fertile ground for disagreement and tension between you and your partner. When couples learn how to communicate clearly and vulnerably with each other about their preferences and the feelings and experiences behind those preferences, a non-combative, cooperative atmosphere can prevail. This could be the season when you re-commit to a deeper, more rewarding relationship with the person who is most important to you. If you would like to explore the possibilities, call me at 831-588-3013 or visit my website at SantaCruzCounseling.com

07/16/2021

One of the saddest things about being a Couples' Therapist is seeing how long couples wait before asking for help - usually years! Years that could be spent in harmony and deep devotion to each other. I get it. It's scary to ask for help. It's embarrassing to admit that you're stuck and don't know how to get un-stuck. A feeling of hopelessness sometimes sets in and you can't imagine a way out of your distress. Most of us have not had very good role models for deeply satisfying relationships, so it's no wonder that we have such a hard time in our own.

My couples usually feel a sense of relief and hope after our first session. There are simple communication skills which can help you both to feel heard and understood. There are ways to heal the emotional injuries that we all suffer in living 24/7 with another human being. Don't waste your precious life in a relationship that does not feel satisfying. Get some help and start creating the kind of relationship you dream of.

01/20/2021

01/07/2021

Beautiful description of EFT (Emotionally Focused Couple's Therapy) by one of my colleagues:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mindful-relationships/202101/the-most-effective-couples-therapy-far?fbclid=IwAR22RTxE2vHfxPw321hnp0-5chmclAitRLVJx7pGbpfcj3FPyhUtmy39oxA

08/03/2020

A landmark study on dating and relationships found that the person you date doesn’t necessarily affect how happy you’ll be in a relationship — what’s more important is the partnership you build with that person.

06/24/2020

I love it when people "come out" about couples counseling!

The singer and husband Carey Hart celebrate 14 years of marriage this year.

06/09/2020

Things are beginning to open up again! This is a good time to refresh your marriage. If couples knew how quickly they could begin to feel heard, appreciated, and loved deeply by their partner, they would be amazed. I get it. When you've been frustrated and hopeless for years it's hard to believe that anything could help. After all, you've tried everything you could think of to make things better, right? Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy has cracked the code on how to re-establish deep connection even in the most distressed relationships (90% of couples experience noticeable improvement). Let's talk about what you're longing for in your relationship and how I can help. Free phone consultation. 831-588-3013

Address

133 Towne Terrace
Santa Cruz, CA
95060

Telephone

+18315883013

Website

http://HappyPassionateMarriage.com/, http://SantaCruzCounseling.com/

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Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) was developed by Dr. Sue Johnson, who combined the latest research about human bonding with leading edge discoveries about the neurobiological roots of behavior. Research studies find that 70-75% of couples who have completed EFT move from distress to recovery and approximately 90% show significant improvements. This kind of scientifically validated success was previously unheard of in the field of couples therapy. In short, we now know that partners must feel safe and loved in order to bond closely with each other, and that old patterns of distress and distancing that we bring with us from our childhoods and our past relationships can be healed when we learn to share deeply and honestly with each other in an environment of safety. This is detailed, in-depth training in becoming emotionally available to yourself and to your partner which requires dedication and courage and offers, in return, the opportunity to feel a deeper level of intimacy with your partner than you ever imagined.