Ashkan Shadi

I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works with individuals and couples to better understand themselves, improve communication, and create more fulfilling relationships. My approach is collaborative and grounded in curiosity—I’m not here to tell you what to do, but to help you make sense of patterns, build insight, and develop practical tools that actually work in your day-to-day life.

I have training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps us identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns, as well as evidence-based couples work, including approaches informed by the Gottman Method. I integrate these tools to support clients in navigating challenges like anxiety, relationship conflict, communication breakdowns, and feeling stuck or overwhelmed.

I see therapy as a space where we slow things down and really look at what’s going on beneath the surface. Whether you’re coming in as an individual or as part of a couple, my goal is to help you feel understood while also gently challenging patterns that may no longer be serving you.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, practical, and insight-oriented. I draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify patterns in their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and work toward making meaningful, sustainable changes. At the same time, I focus on slowing things down in session so we can better understand what’s happening beneath the surface—not just what’s going wrong, but why.

When working with couples, I integrate evidence-based approaches to help partners improve communication, navigate conflict more effectively, and rebuild connection. Rather than taking sides, I focus on helping each person feel heard while also identifying the patterns the couple gets stuck in together.

In our first session, you can expect a conversation that is both structured and relaxed. We’ll start by getting a sense of what’s bringing you in, what you’ve been experiencing, and what you’re hoping to get out of therapy. I may ask some questions about your background, relationships, and any patterns you’ve noticed, but there’s no pressure to share everything all at once—we’ll go at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

My goal in the first session is to begin understanding the bigger picture while also helping you feel a sense of clarity and direction. For individuals, that may mean identifying initial thought or behavior patterns we can start working on. For couples, it often involves understanding the dynamic between you and beginning to map out the cycle you may be getting stuck in.

You can also expect this to be a collaborative space. I’ll share my observations, ask thoughtful questions, and start to outline how I might approach our work together. By the end of the session, we’ll have a clearer sense of your goals and what next steps could look like moving forward.