Couples therapists in Miami Beach, FL

Hello, I’m Abby Pease, LCSW, QS! As a therapist, I strive to create a safe and welcoming space where clients feel truly seen and supported. I bring warmth, energy, and a touch of humor into my work, helping clients navigate challenges while also reminding them that healing doesn’t always have to be heavy. My goal is to walk alongside you with compassion and clarity as you move toward growth and resilience.

Partner 1: “I reach for you, but it feels like you’re already gone.” I’m left wondering if I matter to you at all.” Partner 2: “When you come close, I feel the pressure to be perfect, so I pull back to protect us both.” These unspoken messages leave couples lonely and stuck. I help break this anxious–avoidant cycle so partners feel safe, seen, and deeply connected again.

“I don’t understand why I want closeness so badly, yet feel disappointed when I have it. Why do I feel lonelier than others, even when I’m not alone?” Or: “I care deeply, but people say I’m distant or hard to read. When emotions get intense, I shut down—not because I don’t feel, but because it feels like too much.”

These quiet tensions live beneath awareness for many people. Longing and self-protection pull in opposite directions. Needs feel confusing, emotions feel overwhelming or unsafe, and core beliefs quietly form—I’m too much, I’m not enough, connection costs me something.

I help people loosen these patterns, reconcile the Self with more truthful and adaptive beliefs, and move toward self-acceptance and interdependence—where connection no longer threatens safety, but deepens it.

After nine years serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, I realized my deepest fulfillment came not from fixing systems, but from walking with people. Leaving the military was not a departure from service—it was a continuation of it. I pursued social work and theological training to better support people in their most important relationships. Today, my practice is devoted to couples counseling and trauma-informed care. Drawing primarily from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and EMDR, I help couples slow conflict, understand what drives disconnection, and emotional safety. As a veteran and seminary-trained therapist, I bring structure, compassion, and steady hope—meeting clients with respect, grace, and a belief in lasting change.

Welcome! My name is Dr. Natalia Kuzmina, PhD. I hold a LMFT/LCMFT license in the states of Florida, Georgia, and Kansas. I earned my PhD. in Couple and Family Therapy from Kansas State University and my Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Valdosta State University.

I had many years of corporate experience prior to getting my degrees in psychology. I use this expertise to help with problem solving as I did when I managed a large employee base.

Generous, Dependable, Supportive, Kindhearted, Insightful, assertive, courageous, bold, compassionate

~Meliorism- the belief that the world gets better; the belief that humans can improve the world. --This is not only the name of my practice, Meliorism Counseling LLC, but it's a core value I truly believe in. Using a focus on relationships, I work with individuals, couples, and families to obtain a sense of overall well-being and balance. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Qualified Supervisor in the State of Florida I have had the privilege to work in the dependency system, child advocacy setting, not-for-profit sector and private agencies. Services are available in office or through teletherapy.

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Master’s Level Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP) with a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. I specialize in treating substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions, using evidence-based approaches like motivational interviewing and individualized treatment planning. My experience includes facilitating group therapy and working with diverse adult populations in recovery. I strive to create a safe, supportive environment where clients feel heard and empowered to make positive changes.

I believe therapy is not about “fixing” you-It’s about empowering you. Together, we will work to uncover your strengths, clarify your goals, and build skills that support meaningful, lasting change. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or simply seeking personal growth, I’m here to walk alongside you in this therapeutic process.

I look forward to connecting with you.

Feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, depression, trauma, or the effects of addiction can make it difficult to feel like yourself. You may be exhausted from carrying emotional pain, struggling with relationships, navigating major life changes, or feeling stuck in patterns that no longer serve you. If you're trying to manage intense emotions, heal from past experiences, or regain a sense of stability and control, therapy can provide a supportive space where you feel understood without judgment and empowered to move forward.