Communication that keeps breaking down
Conversations that escalate, go in circles, or end in silence.
How we help
Couples & relationships
Transform your relationship from surviving to thriving.
Couples therapy and coaching built on the Island of Shared Meaning (ISM) communication model, for neurotypical and neurodiverse couples alike. Healing, hope, and forward motion, faster.
What would you like to work on?
Is this your relationship right now?
Relationships do not thrive without attention and energy, especially when emotional distance and the stress of life divide us. We help couples with:
Emotional distance
Feeling more like roommates than partners, and missing the closeness you once had.
A culture of negativity
Criticism, defensiveness, and blame that have become the default.
Infidelity and broken trust
Working through an affair and deciding, together, what comes next.
Lack of intimacy
Physical and emotional intimacy that has faded or become a source of conflict.
Neurodiversity
Partners whose brains process communication, emotion, and sensory input differently.
Why couples choose Alira.
Our ISM relationship program integrates yet goes beyond other approaches, bringing you the best strategies to reach your relationship goals.
The ISM communication model
Island of Shared Meaning tools, grounded in Nonviolent Communication and brain science, minimize defensiveness and help you reach each other.
A 7-phase Relationship Renewal program
A combination of theory and action, using social experiments and dialogue sprints so you learn quickly what is possible in your relationship.
Evidence-based methods
Treatment draws on CBT, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), tailored to each couple.
A safe, structured space
An unbiased space where each partner can speak their truth and feel Respected, Acknowledged, and Validated.
Accountability
Work between sessions keeps change moving, so neither of you is doing this alone.
Neurodiversity expertise
Specialists in neurodiverse relationships, where one or both partners are autistic or otherwise neurodivergent.
Led by relationship specialists.
Our couples work is led by the creator of the ISM model and clinicians who specialize in helping couples thrive.
Words from couples.
Since my partner and I have known each other (about 20 years) I think we've never communicated like we did last session.
We struggled for years with therapists that didn't understand Asperger's… it is only now that we are getting traction and rebuilding our relationship.
We talk about our life before Dr. Lucking vs. after Dr. Lucking. I certainly did NOT think we would be here.
Tools you can use today.
Relationship self-testA short questionnaire that gives you language for what you're noticing in your relationship.Take the self-test ↗Island of Shared Meaning appISM tools in your pocket, with feeling, thinking, behaving, and relating modes to practice between sessions.Get the app ↗Relationship resourcesBooks and videos on communication, intimacy, and rebuilding trust, recommended by our clinicians.Browse resources →
Common questions.
It is ideal, but not required. Individual work can still help you understand your patterns and communicate your needs, even before both partners are in the room.
Both. Couples therapy or coaching can be life-changing. We'll help you choose what fits during your free consultation.
Sooner rather than later. Couples usually wait too long. At the first sign of trouble that persists, reach out.
We are not an emergency service. Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free and available 24/7. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Your relationship is worth the investment.
What's more important than your intimate relationship? Change begins with your first session.
Emily Brown, Client Care CoordinatorSchedule a consultation with Emily to be matched with the right therapist or coach for your needs and your timeframe.