Inna Zusman

I help couples and families who are navigating cultural differences, immigration, and the weight of generational trauma — and struggling to understand why their relationship feels so hard.

I especially work with couples who come from different cultural backgrounds, and with clients for whom English is a second language, no matter what their first language is. I am bilingual, so I can work with you in the language where you feel most like yourself.

I am a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC), certified in Imago Relationship Therapy and trained in EMDR. And beyond my credentials — I have lived this. I've navigated cross-cultural relationships myself, intercultural marriage, divorce done well, remarriage, and raising a blended family of five kids across cultures. I know what it feels like when your cultural background shapes everything about how you love, fight, and communicate, and your partner has no map for that.

My approach is practical and relational. I record sessions and provide detailed written follow-ups so nothing gets lost between appointments. Most couples begin to see real shifts within a few months of consistent work.

If cultural differences, immigration stress, or patterns passed down through generations are quietly eroding your relationship — I can help you figure out what's actually happening and build something better.

My approach is direct, deep, and relational — I don't do surface-level work.

I believe real change happens when we get to the root of what's driving the patterns — not just manage the symptoms. In our work together, we go beneath the presenting conflict to understand the deeper emotional and cultural layers underneath. My goal is not just to help you communicate better, but to shift the entire family system — how each person shows up, how you respond to each other, and what you pass on to the next generation.

I draw on Imago Relationship Therapy, EMDR, and culturally sensitive approaches, adapting to what each couple or family actually needs rather than following a rigid protocol.

One thing that makes my work different: after every session, I send you a detailed written follow-up by email. You'll see what we worked on, what emerged, and what to pay attention to before we meet again. Over time, these notes become a record of your progress — so you can actually see how far you've come, not just feel it.

I work with the whole person and the whole system. That means individual history, family of origin, cultural background, immigration experience, and intergenerational patterns are all part of the conversation. Nothing that shaped you is off the table.

First of all — if you made it here, you have already done 80% of the work.

Deciding to reach out, to try, to not give up — that takes more courage than most people realize. The hardest part is already behind you.

I know couples therapy can feel scary. People worry they will be put on the spot, that someone will decide who is wrong, or that a stranger will try to "fix" them. That is not how I work.

Here is what I actually believe: every couple, every family that walks through my door already has everything they need to feel loved and understood. They are not broken. They are in a crisis. Something that worked before simply stopped working — and nobody handed them a new map.

My job is to help you find that map.

In the first session we slow down, we look at what is really happening underneath the conflict, and we start to see the pattern clearly — often for the first time. Most of the time I can identify the core issues within one to three sessions. And once we see them clearly, we can actually shift them — not just talk about them endlessly.

You will not leave our first session feeling worse. You will leave with clarity.