with Zahra Somani, MS, LMFT
Couples Therapy
For 15+ years, my work with couples has been grounded in systems theory and across therapy disciplines.
Do you keep having the same fight?
Are you trying to communicate, but somehow the conversation keeps going sideways?
Do you love each other but feel more like roommates than partners?
Some clients come to me because they keep fighting about the same thing.
Others experience a dynamic where one partner shuts down while the other pushes harder. Maybe outside stressors such as kids, parents, finances, and work-life imbalance have started taking over the relationship.
Or perhaps there are long-standing issues or a major blow that you’re ready to address.
Often, couples come in saying they need help communicating. But there’s something deeper getting in the way.
Couples Come to Me When They Are:
Caught in a cycle
Fighting about everything
Feeling misunderstood
Living like roommates
Struggling with intimacy
Facing outside stress
Disconnected
Broken trust / infidelity
Considering divorce or separation
Looking for an LGBTQ+ affirming space
Wanting to navigate neurodiversity and ADHD in relationships
How Couples Therapy With Me Works
We look at all of it - the big, deep emotional pieces that hurt us along the way and that we can’t seem to let go of (yes, even if it happened on your first date, it matters.)
And the small, everyday death by a thousand cuts pieces - the dishes, the dog, their tone, the thing you’ve asked for 100 times.
We get honest about what’s really going on underneath all of it.
This happens by creating safety in the room so you can have the courage to say what actually matters to you. Along the way, both you and your partner learn how to say the hard thing- and how to hear it too.
How we’ll work
1. We address what’s on the surface
The fights, the tension, the distance, the thing that keeps happening.
2. We go deeper
We figure out what’s really going on underneath because it’s never about the thing we say it is. Here we map out a cycle or, in therapeutic language “the dance,” - every couple has one.
3. We learn how to talk about it
It’s normal to feel defensive, want to shut down, attack, or run. We learn to recognize and hold our own feelings while still being able to listen to our partners. Through regular sessions, you’ll learn practical tools to be able to say what you want and actually be heard.
4. We plan for the future
The good news: therapy isn’t meant to last forever. We look ahead and prepare you to continue living your life together with the skills and tools to handle the hard stuff when it comes up. It’s really tempting to ask for #4 and call it a day but the success is in trusting the process that gets you there.
Remember: you are not each other’s enemies.
The real enemy is the old patterns you’re stuck in.
Once you see the patterns, you can team up to defeat it together
Modalities I Use
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Identifies patterns and track a cycle so you can respond to each other differently.
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Explains why certain moments feel so loaded and why your partner can trigger such strong reactions.
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Understanding what happens in your brain and body during conflict so reactions make more sense and you can feel empowered to get ahead of them so they don’t control you or your relationship
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Separates the critical, negative thoughts in our head from our true self, lessening the grip over time so that you can show up as your best, authentic self.
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Understanding how different parts of you show up during conflict for protection, advocacy, safety. You are always doing the best you can, but sometimes there are even more effective ways to explore.
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Research-based ways to understand relationship patterns and build stronger connection.
Therapy is a co-created process. Your goals are my goals, and we will keep the work focused on what matters to both of you.
You Do Not Have To Stay Stuck
The goal is not simply to stop what’s going on.
It's to understand what is underneath the conflict and find your way back to each other.
After Couples Therapy With Me, Clients Report:
Meaningful Connection
New found respect
Deeper compassion
Lasting understanding
Renewed intimacy
Feeling like a team
Fun together again
Relationships are some of the most beautiful and potent opportunities to work through old wounds. Spoiler alert: Your partner is going to trigger you…so let’s use it as an opportunity to grow and become more aware of yourself and each other.
About Zahra Somani, MS, LMFT
My Masters Degree, including coursework and clinical work, is entirely grounded in couples, families, and systems theory. I believe relationships are about much more than communication. There is enormous value in being seen and witnessed by another person. Our work is about helping you feel understood, valued, and connected.
I’m direct, compassionate, and honest. I weave neuroscience, research-based tools, and emotionally focused work into our sessions. My background as a history teacher also shapes how I work. Context and patterns matter, and understanding where something came from can change how we respond to it.
I have worked with families and children for more than 15 years and also work with queer, poly, and sexual minority clients. My research includes relationship satisfaction and sexual attitudes and behaviors among women and minorities.
Availability: I provide in-person therapy in Dallas, Texas, and virtual therapy via telehealth for clients across Texas.
Education, Credentials, and Trainings
Master of Science in Marriage & Family Therapy — Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX
Master of Teaching, with Distinction
Master of Arts in Education, with Distinction — Muslim Civilizations & Societies, Institute of Education, University of London
EMDR Trained
Gottman Method Couples Therapy — Level 2
Certified SAGECare Trainer
Researcher: Gender Roles & South Asian Women’s Well-Being — Awarded more than $18,000 in research grants
Research Presented At:
World Family Therapy Congress, Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Annual Conference, Muslim Studies Conference at Michigan State University
Current Research: Sexual communication among sexual minority populations
3 Steps to Get Started
Contact Me
Fill out the contact form and share what has been happening in your relationship.
Free 15-Minute Video Consultation (optional)
We’ll talk about your goals and see whether my approach feels like a good fit for both of you.
Begin Therapy (you can skip to this if you’re ready)
We’ll begin with your relationship history, current patterns, and what you both want to change.