Dating and Relationship Counseling in San Francisco

Clear, compassionate support for when dating feels confusing, stuck, or disconnected .

Dating and relationship counseling gives you space to slow down, reflect, and make sense of what’s getting in the way of the connection you want. Todays dating culture can feel transactional, exhausting, or confusing. Whether you're single, seeing someone, or caught in familiar patterns, we’ll look at what’s driving your choices—both in your mind and in your body. My work includes somatic tools that help you tune into what feels right or off, so you’re not just thinking your way through it. We’ll explore your needs, how you communicate them, and where you might be holding yourself back. Together, we’ll build clarity, self-respect, and the capacity to show up more fully in your relationships.

You’re successful in many ways—but relationships feel like the missing piece.

Repeating relationship patterns
You keep ending up in the same kinds of dynamics and want to understand why—and change it.

Fear of vulnerability
Dating feels risky, and it’s hard to stay open. We’ll build safety so you don’t have to shut down or pretend.

Anxiety in early relationships
Overthinking, over-attaching, or pulling away? We’ll work on staying steady when connection feels uncertain.

Trust issues
Whether it’s trusting yourself or someone else, we’ll explore how trust actually feels in your body—not just your mind.

People-pleasing or losing yourself
You tend to over-accommodate or shape-shift in relationships. We’ll help you stay connected to yourself.

Struggles with boundaries
It’s hard to say no—or hard to know what’s okay. We’ll build your ability to sense and communicate your limits.

Sexual disconnection or discomfort
You want sex to feel safe, connected, and real. We’ll explore desire, consent, and comfort at your pace.

Avoidance of intimacy
You want closeness but find yourself checking out or keeping distance. We’ll work with that pattern gently.

Healing from past relationships
You’re carrying grief, hurt, or old attachment wounds that keep showing up. We’ll help you release and repair.

Figuring out what you really want
We’ll clarify your needs and values—not just what sounds right, but what feels right in your whole system.

Relationships - romantic, or otherwise - can be confusing to navigate. If you’re struggling with any of these common challenges, or are experiencing something else that you’d like support with, please reach out and set up a complimentary discovery call.

Ready to Get Started?

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Schedule a complimentary 20-minute phone consultation.

If it feels like a fit, we will schedule your first appointment.

Sessions are 50 minutes long.

Where We’ll Meet

I offer both in person and virtual sessions.

In person sessions are offered at The Marina Counseling Center. Virtual sessions are available to all California residents.

 

Dating and Relationship Counseling FAQs

  • If dating feels frustrating, confusing, or repetitive—or if relationships bring up anxiety, disconnection, or self-doubt—it’s a good time to start. You don’t need to be in a crisis. Wanting more clarity, connection, or confidence is reason enough.

  • Make sure that the logistics work (fee, insurance, location, and scheduling). Beyond that, you want to make sure it feels like a good fit. Think of questions ahead of time that you’d like to ask a prospective therapist. I recommend speaking to a few therapists to get a feel for who you’d connect with.

  • Version 1
    Past experiences often reflect a mismatch in approach or timing. This time, we’ll identify what wasn’t helpful before and tailor the process to fit your goals, communication style, and readiness.

    Version 2
    Counseling works best when there’s a strong therapeutic fit and a clear focus. If your last experience fell short, we’ll explore why and do things differently to create a more productive and respectful space.

    Version 3
    Not all counseling is the same. Different therapists, methods, and timing can lead to very different results. We’ll build a plan that addresses your concerns directly and works with how you actually relate.

  • Absolutely! Working through dating challenges together with your partner can be a wonderful tool. Couples therapy is also an option for siblings, friends, co-founders, and parent/child pairs.

  • Sessions are 50 minutes long. I will support you in mapping out your most challenging dynamics, and through a combination of talk therapy and somatic techniques we will work to slow down the dynamics at play and discover different ways of understanding and relating to others.

  • Many people report feeling better after 3-6 months, but it can sometimes take longer than that.

    While I can’t promise a timeline, I can work with you to clarify goals and ensure you feel good about the progress that’s being made toward achieving your goals.

  • I offer rates on a sliding scale. We will go over fees in your first consultation call.

    I don’t take insurance, but I can provide you a superbills for our sessions and you may be able to get out-of-network reimbursements. Please reach out to your insurance company to check your benefits.

Hi, I’m Mikayla.

After nearly a decade working as an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist at large tech companies, I quit my job to pursue my Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.

I specialize in Somatic Psychotherapy, but each session will look different depending on a client's unique needs. I offer virtual and in-person sessions for individuals and couples at The Marina Counseling Center in San Francisco.

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