Couples, Parenting & Family Therapy in San Clemente
Relationships are the heart of emotional safety—and often the place where wounds show up first. Whether it’s a couple feeling disconnected, a parent unsure how to support their child, or an entire family navigating a painful shift, the moments when relationships strain can feel overwhelming.
At Denney Family Therapy in San Clemente, we work with couples and parents who want to strengthen communication, rebuild trust, and create emotional safety in their homes and partnerships. Our approach is grounded in attachment, trauma-informed care, and deep respect for every person in the system.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. Healthy connection is possible, even after rupture.
Couples Therapy
Couples often seek support when they feel stuck in cycles they can’t seem to break—misunderstandings, distance, resentment, overwhelm, or repeating arguments that never resolve.
In couples therapy, we explore:
communication patterns that keep you disconnected
how past relationships or trauma influence present reactions
rebuilding emotional safety and trust
navigating conflict without escalation or shutdown
reconnecting after rupture
aligning around parenting, life transitions, or faith shifts
strengthening intimacy and understanding
Some couples also integrate individual trauma work through EMDR therapy, or find grounding in Walking Therapy when movement helps them communicate more openly.
Couples therapy is not about choosing sides.
It’s about helping you hear each other again.
How We Work Together
Jennie
Works primarily with teens, adults, couples, and parents using:
attachment-based therapy
experiential approaches
trauma and grief work
EMDR (when appropriate)
support for self-harm, identity shifts, and religious trauma
emotionally safe communication and repair
Ryan
Supports couples, parents, and whole families from a relational and interpersonal neurobiology lens, helping clients:
deepen emotional awareness
build steady, grounded communication
navigate conflict thoughtfully
understand how past experiences shape present reactions
strengthen leadership within the family system
Some families choose to work with both of you, either individually or collaboratively, depending on the dynamics and goals.
Support for Parents
Parenting through emotional distress—especially when your child is struggling with anxiety, trauma, or self-harm—can feel terrifying and isolating. Many parents tell us they feel lost, scared, or unsure what to say or do.
We support parents who are navigating:
a child or teen expressing self-harm urges
emotional shutdown, overwhelm, or high conflict
anxiety, depression, or identity shifts
grief or family transitions
communication breakdowns
co-parenting challenges
ruptures connected to faith, culture, or expectations
Parents don’t need to be perfect—they need to be present, attuned, and safe.
If self-harm is part of your child’s story, visit our Self-Harm Support page for more detailed guidance.
Parents also find grounding by understanding their own attachment patterns, emotional triggers, and nervous system responses.
To learn more about support across ages, visit our Children, Teens & Adults page.
Family Support & Repair
Family therapy can help when communication breaks down, roles become rigid or overwhelming, or old hurts start resurfacing. Many families come wanting to rebuild trust, shift unhealthy patterns, or navigate transitions with more compassion and less fear.
Family sessions explore:
attachment ruptures and repair
patterns of communication and miscommunication
generational wounds
identity shifts affecting the whole family
faith deconstruction and spiritual transitions
stress caused by school, work, conflict, or expectations
rebuilding connection after periods of distance or shutdown
If faith differences are impacting your relationships, our Faith Deconstruction page offers more insight.
Families often make meaningful progress when each person is supported as an individual and as part of the system.
A Steady Place to Build Something New
Whether you’re feeling disconnected from your partner, overwhelmed as a parent, or struggling to communicate as a family, there is a path forward.
We offer in-person sessions in San Clemente and virtual care across California.
If outdoor processing feels more natural for you, Walking Therapy is also available.
Reach out whenever you’re ready.
We’ll meet you exactly where you are—steady, grounded, and without judgment.