Robin Bryant, Ph.D.

Often a person is drawn to psychotherapy because of lonliness coupled with an inability to find success in a close relationship.  Maybe you feel you just can’t connect to another person, or feel awkward and clumsy at socializng in general.  This can lead to avoidance of social gatherings where you might meet someone special.  Perhaps you are shy in group settings because you feel you have nothing to say or are not “interesting” or even “likeable”.  These are common feelings experienced by both men and women and they can be understood at a deeper level, and ultimately resolved through the work in our sessions.

Another common problem is to be in a relationship with someone you truly love, yet seems unwilling to commit to anything long term, which is what you want in life.  Or maybe you are the one who is unsure if this is a good match for you.  These issues can be explored resulting in a better understanding of why you are with that person, and what may be drawing you to someone who seems reluctant to get closer.  You may learn that you are almost equally fearful of getting close to someone and this fear is actually the basis of your attraction to each other.

I work with individuals and with couples, so there are many paths to understanding all sides of the problem, whether you come into sessions alone or with your mate.  My work with couples is flexible to suit what is comfortable for you and for your partner, if he or she is willing to be involved in the process.

I work with gay couples as well as straight whether the couple is already committed to each other or is thinking about moving in that direction.  Having a neutral place to air your frustrations with each other can bring some immediate relief to your conflictual relationship even if you aren’t able to resolve all of your conflicts as rapidly.