Harvey Center for Relationships

Harvey Center for Relationships What we seek in our partner is connection. Deep, relaxed, secure connection is the springboard to passion.

We help couples re-connect and stay connected by enhancing the positive, eliminating the negative and becoming each other's advocate. As Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and certified Imago Relationship Therapists, we have helped hundreds of couples turn their marriage around and achieve lasting romance. Duane was trained by Harville Hendrix (author of Getting the Love You Want) in 1991. Additionally, Thea is a certified Kundalini yoga and meditation teacher. Married for over ten years, we practice together out of our home a few blocks up from the beach in beautiful Santa Monica. Every day we embody the relationship principals that we advocate for our clients.

Make your space s*x-ready.
Piles of laundry, family photos, or harsh lighting can dim the erotic mood.Part of keeping lo...
02/08/2026

Make your space s*x-ready.

Piles of laundry, family photos, or harsh lighting can dim the erotic mood.

Part of keeping long-term love sizzling is preparing your environment so you can relax, feel safe, and feel sensual. Small, intentional shifts can make a meaningful difference—softening the lighting, diffusing essential oils, locking the door.

You might even play with something unexpected, like a black light or colored bulbs, to completely alter the vibe of the room.

Take a look around your bedroom and ask yourself: What would help me feel more sensual in this space?

Music is another powerful aphrodisiac—what songs turn you on?

Incorporating sensual elements helps your scheduled, bespoke intmacy feel intentional—distinct from everyday life.

Single? This applies to you too.
What lighting, scents, and music help you feel aroused, present, and connected to your body?

Why focus on intimacy in long-term love?
Why not let this part of your relationship - or life - quietly fade?At Harvey C...
02/05/2026

Why focus on intimacy in long-term love?
Why not let this part of your relationship - or life - quietly fade?

At Harvey Center for Relationships, we understand s*xual pleasure as an essential part of overall health, well-being, and self-determination. When personal s*xual health and pleasure are avoided, the impact is often felt not only in the relationship, but in one’s sense of self and self-acceptance.

We all carry some degree of s*xual wounding - that’s part of being in a human body.

When you explore your erotic self with love, patience, and understanding, you embark on a deeply healing—and potentially ecstatic—journey. Committed relationships uniquely hold this possibility.

Very few couples reach the physical, emotional, and spiritual intimacy I’m describing—not because it’s unattainable, but because many give up on it as a possibility. Of course, letting go is always an option.

But together, you can also choose to create something truly magical.

Single? Empower yourself to know what turns you on and how you like to be touched.

Follow along this month for reflections and practical guidance on cultivating sacred intimacy.

f*ck it february was inspired by Dr. Sally Greenwald, an OB who specializes in women’s s*xual health. She often prescrib...
02/01/2026

f*ck it february was inspired by Dr. Sally Greenwald, an OB who specializes in women’s s*xual health. She often prescribes s*x to help patients increase desire and libido. Research shows that the more s*x you have, the more s*x you want.

She encourages her patients, during the month of February, to have s*x three times a week. For some, that may feel too ambitious; for others, it may be a worthy (and exciting) challenge.
Let this month be an invitation to focus on your intimacy. I’ll be sharing gentle prompts to help you cultivate this as a sacred part of your connection. DM your partner to get the conversation started.

Single? This is an invitation for you, too—to connect with what turns you on and brings you alive.

*xtherapy

In long-term relationships, intimacy deepens not through spontaneity alone—it grows through intention, conversation, and...
01/31/2026

In long-term relationships, intimacy deepens not through spontaneity alone—it grows through intention, conversation, and practice. This month, I invite you into Sacred Intimacy February, playfully called, f*ck it february, a gentle, grounded exploration of how couples can cultivate erotic connection with care, curiosity, and presence. Throughout February I’ll be posting tips to cultivate this part of your relationship.

Single? This is for you too. Sacred intimacy begins within - through attunement to your body, your desires, and your capacity for pleasure and connection.

01/25/2026

Thank you, 2025 - a year of growth, love, and deepening connections.

Holding couples through crisis, collaborating with beloved colleague and prioritizing romance.

Here’s to cultivating sacred intimacy and conscious partnership in 2026.

Enjoy our guided couples hand caress meditation - link in the bio.

*xtherapy

01/19/2026

Real change in relationships begins with small shifts —
pausing before reacting, replacing criticism with desire, softening your tone, listening with curiosity.
If you’ve completed all 7 days of this challenge, take a moment to appreciate the effort you’ve made! 💛 Even a little more awareness and intention can create powerful ripples in how you love — and how you’re loved in return.
🌿 Today’s invitation:
Don’t stop here. Let this be the beginning of a more conscious, connected way of relating.
✨ Download the Zero Negativity Pledge and sign it together as a commitment to ongoing care and connection. Click the link in my bio to access the pledge and deepen your practice.

💛 Single? Bring these practices inward.
✨ Write your own Self-Compassion Pledge.
What would it sound like to move through life with less inner criticism, and more self appreciation?

📲 Follow along .phd for more tools, guidance, and inspiration for creating the relationship you truly desire — with a partner, or with yourself.



01/18/2026

Sarcasm may seem playful, but in intimate relationships, it often lands as a put-down — not a punchline. It can quietly erode trust and emotional safety.
What might feel like a joke to one partner can feel dismissive or cutting to the other.
💡 Today’s Challenge:
Notice when sarcasm shows up in your tone, humor, or body language.
Instead of masking a need with wit, try saying what you feel — clearly and kindly.

✨ During the , set sarcasm aside and see what happens.
Your connection deepens when your words invite closeness, not defense.

💛 Single?
Pay attention to how you speak to yourself.
Is your inner voice sarcastic or self-mocking?
The tone you use with yourself becomes the tone you bring to others.

01/16/2026

There’s so much going on in the world right now. It’s overwhelming.
And when life feels out of control, it’s easy to bring tension into our closest relationships.

But your intimate relationship is one area where you DO have the power to create change and connection.

✨ Today’s challenge:
Instead of criticizing, uncover the deeper desire underneath your frustration.

❌ “You never make the bed.”
💞 “When you make the bed, I feel cared for.”

❌ “You don’t listen to me.”
💞 “I feel valued when you really listen. Can we take 5 minutes to connect?”

When you name your desire and how it would feel to have it met, your partner is far more likely to follow through.

💛 Single?

Notice where you turn criticism inward.
Ask: What do I really need right now?
You can bring more love into the world by starting with how you treat yourself.

01/15/2026

Want to shift the energy in your relationship today?
Try this: replace negativity with heartfelt appreciation.
💡 Today’s Challenge:
Offer your partner 3 genuine appreciations — out loud, in a text, or whispered before bed.

They can be simple, everyday moments:
☕ “I love that you make coffee every morning.”
🚗 “I appreciate you for taking the kids to school.”
😊 “Your smile makes my whole day better.”

Appreciation nurtures your connection — and gives both of you a boost of serotonin (yes, the feel-good hormone!). It’s one of the most powerful tools for keeping love alive.

💛 Single?
This practice is for you, too.
Look inward: What do you appreciate about yourself today? Celebrate the small things — your resilience, your creativity, your warmth.

📩 Tag your partner or a friend and share one appreciation now.

01/14/2026

Create a Signal
Ever had a conversation with your partner turn tense… fast?
A reset word invites both partners to slow down, breathe, and re-attune.

Today’s practice: Interrupt the escalation. Create a reset signal.

Choose a phrase that signals: “Let’s pause and try again.”
Some couples say:
🫧 “Marshmallow”
🔄 “Snap”
💬 Or even just “Ouch”

Then, practice repair:
* Clarify what you meant
* Ask what your partner heard
* Offer a hug, a softer tone, or a simple apology
* Try redoing the moment with more tenderness

Clearing up tension early prevents negativity from lingering — and helps you reconnect faster.

Single - Notice when your inner dialogue becomes harsh or reactive.
Choose your own reset cue — a loving word or breath. Soften the tone you use with yourself.

💬 What will your reset word be?
Tag your partner (or a friend) and choose one together.

01/13/2026

Choose Curiosity Over Defensiveness

Most disconnection in relationships isn’t caused by cruelty — it’s caused by misunderstanding.
It’s so easy to jump into defensiveness when we feel misunderstood. But when we pause and get curious, something shifts. Defenses soften. Walls come down. Understanding becomes possible.

Today’s practice:
When your partner shares something emotional — instead of explaining, correcting, or shutting down — lean in.
Try asking:
“Can you tell me more about that?”
“What was that like for you?”
These simple questions can turn conflict into connection.

Curiosity is an act of love.

Single? You can practice this too.
Notice your own inner reactions when you’re feeling misunderstood by a friend, coworker, or even yourself.
Instead of rushing to judgment or self-criticism, pause and ask:
“What am I feeling right now?”
“Can I get curious instead of critical?”

Every relationship — including the one with yourself — grows stronger with compassion and curiosity.

🕊 Try today’s practice with your partner or within yourself.
💬 Let us know: What helps you stay open when it’s hard to hear?

Address

2803 Highland Avenue
Santa Monica, CA
90405

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 9pm
Tuesday 9am - 9pm
Wednesday 9am - 9pm
Thursday 9am - 9pm
Friday 9am - 12pm

Telephone

+13109484727

Website

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