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Couple Therapy in Los Angeles | West Hollywood
Reconnect, Heal, and Grow Together
If you and your partner are seeking couples therapy in Los Angeles, our office in the heart of West Hollywood offers a calm, welcoming space to reconnect and grow. Located at 8702 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, we specialize in helping partners rebuild trust, strengthen communication, and rediscover what brought them together.
Whether you’re navigating conflict, feeling emotionally distant, or simply want to deepen your connection, our evidence-based and compassionate approach provides a safe place for both partners to be heard and understood.
Sessions start at $125, and my team and I are here to help you take that first step toward a healthier, more fulfilling relationship.
Local Couple Therapy: Los Angeles | West Hollywood
With over a decade of experience, Oliver Drakeford Therapy is uniquely equipped to meet the emotional and practical needs of individuals and couples in a dynamic city like Los Angeles. Our approach is designed for people with demanding lives — including actors, performers, entrepreneurs, and executives — offering flexible and tailored solutions that help you reconnect and grow together, even in the midst of LA’s fast pace.
What Does Couple Therapy Look Like for Busy LA couples?
We understand that time and accessibility matter. Our practice offers several ways for couples in West Hollywood and the Greater Los Angeles area to engage in therapy that fits their schedules and goals.
In-Person and Online Sessions Across Los Angeles
In-Person Therapy:
Oliver Drakeford Therapy is conveniently located in the heart of West Hollywood on Santa Monica Blvd, within easy reach of Beverly Hills, Culver City, and Century City. The space provides a calm, private environment designed to help couples feel comfortable and supported.
Online Therapy (Telehealth):
For California residents, we offer secure online sessions — ideal for busy couples who travel frequently, have unpredictable work hours, or prefer the flexibility of remote care.
Couples Therapy Intensives and Weekly Sessions
We offer several therapy formats to match your availability and depth of focus:
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Couples Therapy Intensives — Tailored, time-limited programs designed for couples with tight schedules who want deeper insight and progress in a shorter timeframe.
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Relationship Mapping — A 10-day, concentrated process that provides a comprehensive overview of your relationship dynamics, guided by a skilled therapist.
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Focused Time Frames — Therapy can be short-term (10–16 weeks) or ongoing, depending on your needs and goals.
Our flexible scheduling allows couples to engage meaningfully, no matter how busy life gets.
Read My Couples Therapy Relationship Research Report:
Why Los Angeles Couples Face Unique Relationship Challenges
In a city as vibrant and demanding as Los Angeles, relationships face unique pressures. Long work hours, creative ambition, and the constant drive to succeed can make it difficult for couples to remain emotionally connected. When every moment feels scheduled, relationships can easily take a back seat.
Many LA couples also live far from family or long-term support networks. Without that nearby safety net, everyday stress — from communication breakdowns to childcare — often falls solely on the couple, amplifying strain and emotional fatigue.
The city’s high-performance culture adds another layer of complexity. Entrepreneurs, executives, and performers often experience unpredictable schedules, instability, and intense competition that can challenge even strong relationships.
At Oliver Drakeford Therapy, we recognize these realities and offer specialized services such as Business Therapy for Entrepreneurs, Executive Coaching in Los Angeles, and Therapy for Actors and Performers — designed to help couples manage external pressures while nurturing connection, trust, and understanding at home.
About Me —
Oliver Drakeford, Licensed Therapist in Los Angeles
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, specializing in couples and family therapy. For nearly a decade, I’ve helped partners and families navigate conflict, strengthen communication, and rediscover emotional safety through structured, evidence-based approaches.
I draw from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, and Family Systems Theory to guide couples toward insight and reconnection. My practice offers both in-person sessions in West Hollywood and online therapy across California, making care accessible no matter your schedule or location.
My Approach — Empathy, Communication, & Evidence-Based Techniques
My work integrates both systemic and depth-oriented psychology to help couples uncover and transform long-standing relationship patterns. I view each partnership as a dynamic system — one that can heal when both individuals feel seen, understood, and emotionally secure.
Family Systems Theory
I rely heavily on Bowen and Structural Family Systems models to view couples as interconnected systems. These frameworks reveal the patterns, roles, and boundaries shaping your relationship. I often use genograms and other mapping tools to uncover multigenerational influences that might affect present dynamics.
Differentiation of Self
A key aspect of my work involves helping each partner strengthen their sense of identity and emotional steadiness while staying connected to their partner — what Family Systems calls differentiation of self.
Psychoanalytic Influence
My approach is also shaped by advanced training in psychoanalytic theory at the Los Angeles Institute and Society for Psychoanalytic Studies (LAISPS). This gives me a nuanced understanding of unconscious patterns and attachment wounds that can quietly drive relational conflict.
Training and Specializations in Couples and Relationship Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT):
I use a lot of EFT - it's a short-term, structured model based on attachment theory. EFT helps couples identify negative interaction cycles and express the vulnerable emotions that often go unspoken — fostering stronger, more secure bonds.
The Gottman Method:
I’m a Gottman Method Level One Certified Couples Therapist, integrating this research-based approach to help couples improve friendship, trust, and conflict management. The Gottman framework provides practical tools to deepen connection and sustain intimacy over time.
Professional Qualifications and Leadership Experience
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with nearly a decade of clinical experience supporting individuals, couples, and groups.
Beyond private practice:
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Certified Group Psychotherapist (AGPA): I hold certification from the American Group Psychotherapy Association, reflecting my background in facilitating deep, process-oriented group work.
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Leadership and Teaching: I’ve served as Clinical Director of a residential treatment center in Malibu and occasionally teach as an Adjunct Professor at Antioch University Los Angeles — experiences that keep me connected to the evolving field of mental health.
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I am very interested in helping people with anxiety and work in a unique, powerful and effective way - read more about my Anxiety Treatment Program in Los Angeles.
Specializations and Unique Service Delivery
The practice is tailored to address specific, high-demand client groups and logistical constraints common in Los Angeles:
My practice is designed to meet the needs of Los Angeles’ diverse and high-performing community, offering therapy formats that fit complex schedules and specific identities.
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LGBTQ+ Affirming Care: I specialize in serving LGBTQ+ couples and families, providing a supportive and affirming therapeutic space. Read more about therapy for LGBTQ Couples here.
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High-Demand Clientele: I offer focused services such as Business Therapy for Entrepreneurs, Executive Coaching in Los Angeles, and Therapy for Actors and Performers, addressing the stress and relational challenges of high-pressure careers.
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Intensive Couples Therapy (Relationship Mapping): For busy couples, I offer Relationship Mapping Intensives, a concentrated therapy experience that meets multiple times over one week. This format allows for deeper exploration and accelerated progress, guided by myself and an experienced co-facilitator.
Book a Couples Therapy Session in Los Angeles
Please schedule a free consultation call for an initial conversation to see if you think I might be able to help you.
I can answer your questions, discuss scheduling options and see if we’re a good fit.. I provide in-person therapy in my West Hollywood Office and offer online therapy sessions, too.
If you're not quite ready for therapy - take advantage of the free resources I offer - The 7'-Day Relationship Rescue PDF is filled with activities and tools for couples. I'll also send you an emotional intimacy quiz to help you understand the four pillars of relationship success - fill this form in to get it right away:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What should we expect during our first couples therapy session?
A: In the first session, I’ll help both partners share what brings them in and what you’d like to achieve in therapy. We’ll explore key concerns, discuss your relationship dynamics, and set clear goals together. My approach is collaborative and structured — you’ll leave with a sense of direction and clarity about next steps.
Q2: How do I know if couples therapy is right for us?
A: If you feel stuck in recurring arguments, emotionally distant, or unsure how to communicate effectively, therapy can help. You don’t need to be in crisis — many couples use therapy proactively to strengthen their relationship, build empathy, and improve communication.
Q3: Do you offer online couples therapy in California?
A:Yes. I provide secure, HIPAA-compliant online sessions for couples anywhere in California. Virtual therapy offers the same depth and structure as in-person work and is especially convenient for couples with busy schedules or who travel often.
Q4: What makes couples therapy in Los Angeles unique?
A: Los Angeles couples often face high levels of stress, long work hours, and demanding creative or professional careers. Therapy here often focuses on maintaining connection and communication despite busy, high-pressure lifestyles. My work helps couples find balance and intimacy while navigating the unique pace of life in LA.
Q5: How long does couples therapy usually take?
A: Every relationship is different, but many couples benefit from 10–16 weekly sessions. Some choose shorter, intensive formats like Relationship Mapping, while others prefer ongoing therapy for deeper work. We’ll create a plan that matches your needs, goals, and availability.