Ben Levenson, MA

Couples come to me at different points in their relationships. Some are working through a specific rupture, an affair, a major loss, a parenting disagreement that has become a structural problem. Some are functional on the outside and quietly stuck in a pattern they have not been able to break. Some are deciding whether to stay together or to separate well.

My work with couples is rooted in the belief that the way you have ended up relating to each other usually makes sense, given everything that went into it. Patterns are not just bad habits; they are protective structures that worked at one point and may not be working now. The work is about understanding what each of you is protecting and finding ways to want more for the relationship without losing yourselves.

With individuals, I see clients ages 12 and up. The work is often about trauma, life transitions, or the long-running patterns that have started to feel like a cage rather than a personality. I draw on ACT to help clients reorient toward what they value, and on psychodynamic work to understand where the patterns came from. The blend lets the work be practical and deep at the same time.

I do not pretend to be neutral when something is harmful. I do work hard to hold complexity without taking sides. Sessions with me tend to be direct, sometimes uncomfortable, and grounded in care.