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Couples Therapy West Hollywood:
Grow Great Relationships
If you and your partner keep circling back to the same arguments, feel emotionally distant, or worry that it might be too late to reconnect, don't wait to reach out.
As a West Hollywood couples therapist, I help partners rebuild trust, communication, and closeness through Emotionally Focused Therapy, the Gottman Method, and Family Systems Therapy.
My practice offers both in-person sessions in West Hollywood and online couples counseling throughout California, so you can begin working on your relationship wherever you are.
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Why Couples in West Hollywood Choose Therapy with Oliver Drakeford, LMFT — and How I Help Relationships Heal
Welcome! I'm Oliver Drakeford, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Los Angeles. If you're looking for Couples Therapy, my office is located in West Hollywood on Santa Monica Blvd.
I love helping couples improve their relationships, lower conflict, increase connection and improve communication - and I've been doing this for nearly 10 years!
Meet Oliver Drakeford: Couples Therapy In West Hollywood
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Gottman Method Level One Couples Therapist with nearly a decade of experience serving couples throughout West Hollywood and Los Angeles.
Previously, I served as Clinical Director at a residential treatment center in Malibu and have taught as an Adjunct Professor at Antioch University Los Angeles.
My approach combines Family Systems Theory, The Gottman Method, and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) — all research-backed approaches shown to improve communication and emotional intimacy. I also integrate psychoanalytic insight from my training at LAISPS and ICP to help couples recognize and shift patterns that block connection.
Navigating Relationships in a Fast-Paced Los Angeles Lifestyle
Living in West Hollywood or anywhere in Los Angeles can feel intense — packed schedules, constant motion, and little time for connection. My West Hollywood office, located near the Sunset Strip, Beverly Grove, and Westwood, offers a calm, private space to slow down and rebuild communication.
For couples who prefer flexibility, I also offer online therapy sessions anywhere in California. Limited sliding scale fees are available, with session rates ranging from $150–$250.
What to Expect in Couples Counseling With Me in West Hollywood
In couples therapy at my West Hollywood office (or online anywhere in California), we’ll explore the dynamics that shape your relationship through a collaborative and compassionate process.
Using approaches like the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), we’ll uncover how emotional triggers and past experiences affect your connection—so you can communicate more clearly, resolve conflict, and rebuild a secure, loving bond.
A Safe, Judgment-Free Space for Every Couple
Couples in West Hollywood and across Los Angeles can expect a warm, inclusive environment where both partners feel heard—without blame or criticism.
Therapy becomes a space to slow down, express emotions safely, and rebuild trust through honest, compassionate dialogue.
My goal is to help you understand each other’s emotional needs and begin to move toward connection and understanding.
What Happens in the First Session?
Your first relationship counseling session is focused on understanding what brings you in and what each partner wants to change.
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), I’ll help you identify the communication patterns and emotional habits shaping your relationship. Together, we’ll start mapping small but meaningful shifts that create long-term improvements in connection and satisfaction.
Evidence-Based Methods (Gottman, EFT, CBT for Relationships)
I draw from research-backed frameworks proven to strengthen relationships and promote emotional security, including:
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The Gottman Method — improving communication and reducing defensiveness.
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Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) — rebuilding emotional trust and closeness.
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Bowen Family Systems and Structural Family Systems — understanding relationship dynamics and patterns that pass between families and generations.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Relationships — reshaping thought patterns that fuel conflict.
Each session blends these evidence-based approaches with a personalized understanding of your relationship, helping you grow connection, empathy, and shared meaning.
How to Find the Right Couples Therapist in West Hollywood
Choosing the right therapist is one of the most important steps in improving your relationship.
After our consultation, I’ll always share names and contact information for other trusted couples therapists if you’d like to explore additional options — because finding the right fit truly matters.
As you begin your search for couples counseling in West Hollywood or Los Angeles, consider how a therapist’s training, personality, and therapeutic approach align with your goals as a couple. The best therapy happens when both partners feel comfortable, understood, and supported.
Questions to Ask Before Starting
Before you begin, it helps to ask questions that clarify how your therapist works.
Consider asking:
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What approach do you use in couples therapy — such as the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), or Family Systems work?
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How do you help couples like us address specific challenges or patterns?
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What should we expect during the first few sessions of relationship counseling?
These questions will help you feel confident and informed, ensuring that your therapist’s style and method fit your relationship’s unique needs.
In-Person vs. Online Therapy Options
If you live in West Hollywood, you might prefer in-person sessions, where it’s easier to read nonverbal cues and feel your partner’s presence.
However, online couples therapy in California offers flexibility for partners with busy schedules or those living outside Los Angeles County. Many Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), including myself, offer both — helping couples stay consistent even when life gets hectic.
My Approach To Healing Relationships at Oliver Drakeford Therapy WeHo
At Oliver Drakeford Therapy in West Hollywood, my approach to couples and family therapy is grounded in authenticity, inclusivity, and deep emotional understanding. I help partners and families rebuild trust, improve communication, and strengthen connection through proven, compassionate methods.
Why Local Expertise Matters
Working with a West Hollywood couples therapist means choosing someone who understands the unique rhythms of life in Los Angeles as well as being able to work with your specific relationship issues and concerns. From long work hours and creative careers to the city’s vibrant social scene and evolving relationship dynamics, living in Hollywood can stress anyone out.
A therapist who knows the community can tailor sessions to reflect these realities, offering practical tools for communication, intimacy, and emotional repair.
As an LGBTQ+-affirming therapist, I also create space for diverse relationships and attachment styles and provide LGBTQ+ Therapy. helping every couple feel safe, seen, and supported.
Culturally Sensitive & LGBTQ+ Affirming Counseling
At our West Hollywood couples therapy clinic, inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do. We provide a space where all couples — regardless of culture, identity, or orientation — feel seen, respected, and supported.
Our work is rooted in cultural competence, trauma-informed care, and a deep understanding of LGBTQ+ relationship dynamics. For those seeking relationship counseling in Los Angeles, this is a safe and affirming space to grow, repair, and reconnect.
Integrative and Personalized Care
Every relationship is unique — which is why our approach blends evidence-based methods with a personalized plan tailored to your story.
We draw from:
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Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for rebuilding emotional connection
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The Gottman Method for improving communication and reducing conflict
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Family Systems Therapy for understanding intergenerational patterns and dynamics
Through this integrative model, couples learn to communicate clearly, repair disconnection, and build a secure, resilient bond. Whether you’re navigating attachment wounds, family transitions, or communication breakdowns, couples counseling in Los Angeles and West Hollywood can help create lasting, meaningful change.
Serving: West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Century City, Hollywood, Mid-City, Miracle Mile, and Greater Los Angeles Easy parking available • Accessible via Metro
Success Stories from West Hollywood Clients
Couples and families in West Hollywood and across Los Angeles County describe their therapy session and experience as transformative — improving communication, connection, and family harmony. Many share that the tools and insights from therapy continue to guide them long after sessions end.
The tools you provided us are working to better help my family during our daily lives and overcome some very difficult situations. GRACIAS
J.R
Professional, caring, involved, and effective. Our family cannot recommend more!
GM
The entire family has learned so much & it's completely changed our perspective on communication and parenting, as a whole.
LdG
Best therapy my daughter and I ever received <3
APO
MORE Resources FOR COUPLES & COUPLES Counseling
Books:
"The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work" by John Gottman: This book by renowned therapist John Gottman provides practical advice and insights into improving relationships and marriages, a go-to for most couples therapists in Los Angeles.
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Link: Amazon
"Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love" by Dr. Sue Johnson: Dr. Sue Johnson's book delves into the science of attachment and offers guidance for strengthening emotional bonds in couples, and a hard core primer on emotionally focused couples therapy.
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Link: Amazon
"Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence" by Esther Perel: Esther Perel is a renowned couples therapist, and in this book, she explores the complex interplay between intimacy and desire in long-term relationships, also a great read for premarital counseling.
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Link: Amazon
Websites
Gottman Institute:
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Website: https://www.gottman.com/
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The Gottman Institute, founded by renowned relationship experts John and Julie Gottman, offers research-based articles, tools, and resources to improve relationships. Their research focuses on the science of love and relationships.
Intimacy Love Language Assessment Quiz
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Website: https://5lovelanguages.com
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Gary Chapman introduced the idea of the 5 Love Languages, helping us understand that we all have our own preferences regarding how we like to give or receive love. Similarly, we have unique preferences regarding how we like to feel close and connected. There are three kinds of intimacy: emotional intimacy, physical intimacy, and intellectual intimacy.
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Website: https://WhatsYourConflictStyle.com
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Knowing your conflict style can be the start of transforming your relationship, especially when facing challenges like life changes, sexual identity concerns, and self-esteem. When you understand the automatic patterns of interaction that go on in your relationship, it becomes much easier to break them.
Expert Answers to Your Couples Therapy Questions: Everything You Need to Know
What type of couples therapy is best?
The best couples therapy is one that embraces a holistic approach, addressing the mind, body, and soul of each individual. By delving into the depths of a person's experiences and psychological nuances, this therapy aims to uncover the root causes behind behaviors and emotions within the relationship.
Rather than focusing solely on surface issues, this method strives to understand how past experiences shape one's present behaviors and emotional responses, ultimately leading to a more effective and profound therapeutic process.
Is Couples Therapy Ever Too Late To Start?
There's often a concern people have that comes in the form of the question: "When is couples therapy too late?"
Couples therapy may be considered too late when fundamental trust and communication issues have deteriorated to a point where both partners are unwilling or unable to engage in the process. When there is a pervasive lack of commitment or openness to change, couples therapy may not be effective. Additionally, if one or both partners have already checked out emotionally or mentally from the relationship, the likelihood of successful intervention decreases.
If you're reading this, it might speak to a commitment to your relationship and a willingness to continue working through your issues, so book that consultation call with us now.
It is crucial to seek couples therapy as early as possible when difficulties arise, as unresolved issues can compound over time. Early intervention allows for a better chance of addressing and resolving conflicts before they escalate and become more entrenched. In many cases, the sooner couples seek therapy and commit to working on their relationship, the more likely they are to achieve a positive outcome.
What's the recommended frequency for attending couples therapy sessions?
This varies per couple, but typically, a marriage therapist will want weekly sessions to be common at the start, possibly reducing frequency as progress is made.
Why might someone feel worse after a couples counseling meeting?
It's not uncommon for clients to feel worse initially as you begin to explore sensitive issues. This can be a necessary part of the healing process, and you should feel free to address this with your family therapist.
What are typical issues that couples bring to therapy?
Common concerns people address with a therapist include connection problems, trust, feeling overwhelmed, depression, anxiety, intimacy concerns, and conflicts about finances or parenting.
What differentiates couples therapy from couples counseling?
The terms are often used interchangeably. However, some perceive therapy with a marriage and family therapist as more in-depth, addressing deeper issues, while counseling might focus on resolving specific conflicts.
Should all couples consider therapy?
Many couples can benefit from couples counseling, not just those in crisis. It can strengthen relationships and improve communication. Are there any potential negatives to couples therapy? It can be challenging, emotionally taxing, and might not always yield the desired results. However, many find it beneficial.
Does seeking couples therapy mean a relationship is nearing its end?
Not necessarily. Many couples seek therapy to strengthen their bond and resolve problems, not just as a last resort.
What's the cost range for couples therapy in Los Angeles?
Costs vary between each couples therapists. You're paying for the quality of work and the therapist's experience. Oliver Drakeford Therapy is in the $225-$295 range, depending on if you see Oliver or one of his experienced and trained associates.
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