Janine Piernas M.A.,

Do you and your partner have the same arguments over and over? Do you long to get back to the “good times?” Do you miss laughing together? Do you feel that your spark has dwindled? Couples therapy can help! I believe therapy should work. That means setting clear goals when we start our work and meeting weekly until your goals have been achieved. We also set commitments at the end of each session to insure accountability and direction. What this means is that every client walks out of my office with a plan knowing specifically what they will be working on in the coming week. I work diligently with couples by teaching practical skills to help foster and improve genuine communication, manage conflict, and reduce relationship stress to ultimately increase marital satisfaction and avoid separation and divorce. I provide a safe space for you and your partner to work through your relationship challenges. I don’t take sides, which is the beauty of couples counseling – you get to work with someone impartial who is trained to help you and your partner increase communication and rekindle the romance. You can heal from this, you can grow and learn new skills to build your relationship. Of course it takes work, practice, and re-institution of trust and commitment, but I will be here to help guide you through it all. What we focus on in couples therapy : * Improving friendship, fondness, and admiration  * Enhancing romance and intimacy  * Managing conflict constructively * Gaining skills to address perpetual and solvable issues  * Creating shared meaning  I might be the right therapist for you if: - You and your partner argue often and you would like to reduce your arguments - You feel your partner does not hear you - Your partner feels unheard by you - You or your partner are often defensive - You feel heavily criticized by your partner - Your partner reports feeling criticized by you - You hold in things that bother you in order to avoid arguments - You feel disconnected in your relationship - You do not spend quality time alone with your partner - Sharing details about your relationship with friends or family has backfired in the past - You and your partner need to improve your communication - You or your partner has difficulty being vulnerable with each other - You need to revive your romance - You or your partner have been unable to see each other’s perspective - You have been to couples therapy before but felt like there was no structure or specific tools shared to effect change My name is Janine Piernas, I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#105849). I earned my master’s degree from Pepperdine University and I am committed to working with Individuals, Couples, and Families to strengthen and transform your relationships. I work with couples, individuals, and families to address issues that they may be experiencing concerning communication and conflict. My aim is to provide insight, but also to nurture and develop insight when needed. I provide a safe non-judgmental space for facing transitions that bring up feelings of fear, loss, anger, disappointment, and ultimately growth. I meet the most vulnerable moments of my client’s lives with understanding and acceptance. I have spent my career working in the areas of community mental health, in group homes, with pregnant and parenting foster youth, in school-based therapy programs, in Child Welfare, and with juvenile probation programs. I have also had extensive experience with couples and utilize the theories of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Gottman to help support clients. I am not going to judge you for feeling overwhelmed and pushed to the limit. I listen, I relate, I provide clients with encouragement, understanding, and support. I have a passion for facilitating healing. I will take this journey with you. I am committed to partnering with clients to increase their self-awareness and enhance the quality of their lives. You can heal from this. You can grow and learn new skills to build your sense of self. This will take time, effort, and energy, but I will help guide you through it, every step of the way to healing. I have been happily married since 2012 and I am a mother of three. I enjoy traveling, reading, and writing.