Therapy with Samantha Peifer, LMFT
Starting therapy can bring up a lot of questions.
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You may be wondering whether therapy is right for you, whether couples counseling could actually help, how virtual therapy works, or whether I work with the concerns you are experiencing.
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Below are answers to some of the questions I hear most often.
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If you do not see your question answered here, you are welcome to reach out or schedule a free 15 minute consultation.
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Services and Approach
What types of therapy do you provide?
I provide virtual individual therapy and couples therapy for adults located in Pennsylvania and Virginia.
My work focuses on relationship stress, communication problems, emotional disconnection, chronic stress, life transitions, and the ways demanding careers and major life changes can affect emotional wellbeing and relationships.
I have a particular focus on couples, first responders, high stress professionals, new parents, and individuals navigating relationship or life transitions.
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Do you provide couples therapy?
Yes. Couples therapy is a central part of my practice.
I work with couples who are experiencing communication problems, recurring conflict, emotional distance, changes in intimacy, resentment, parenting stress, work related stress, or feeling more like roommates than partners.
You do not have to be in crisis to seek couples therapy. Many couples reach out because they recognize that something has changed and want support before the relationship becomes more disconnected.
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Do you provide individual therapy?
Yes. I provide virtual individual therapy for adults in Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Individual therapy may be helpful if you are feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, stuck, disconnected, or uncertain about what you want.
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I also work with individuals navigating relationship concerns, career stress, burnout, major life transitions, boundaries, self doubt, and the emotional demands of high stress careers.
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Couples Therapy
How do I know if couples therapy is right for us?
Couples therapy may be a good fit if you and your partner:
• Keep having the same arguments
• Have difficulty communicating without becoming defensive
• Feel emotionally disconnected
• Feel misunderstood by each other
• Feel more like roommates than partners
• Are struggling with resentment
• Have noticed changes in emotional or physical intimacy
• Are having difficulty adjusting to parenthood
• Are experiencing stress because of work or other life demands
• Want to strengthen your relationship before problems become more serious
You do not need to be considering separation to benefit from couples therapy.
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Can couples therapy help if we keep having the same argument?
Yes.
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When couples have the same argument repeatedly, the underlying issue is often larger than the immediate topic.
The argument may appear to be about money, chores, parenting, work, or communication. Beneath the conflict, one or both partners may be feeling unheard, unsupported, rejected, unappreciated, or disconnected.
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Therapy can help you identify the pattern you are caught in and develop healthier ways of responding to one another.
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Can couples therapy help if we feel more like roommates?
Yes.
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Feeling more like roommates than partners can be a sign that emotional connection has been replaced by routines, responsibilities, and logistics.
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Couples therapy can provide a space to understand how the distance developed and begin rebuilding emotional connection, communication, affection, and partnership.
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What if we are not fighting but still feel disconnected?
You do not have to be in constant conflict for couples therapy to be helpful.
Some couples seek therapy because they rarely argue but also rarely connect.
You may be functioning well as a household while feeling lonely within the relationship.
Therapy can help you understand what has changed and create more opportunities for connection.
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Can couples therapy help with communication problems?
Yes.
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Communication problems can include frequent arguments, difficulty expressing needs, shutting down, defensiveness, avoiding difficult conversations, or feeling like your partner does not understand you.
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Therapy can help you understand the patterns that interfere with communication and practice more effective ways of responding to each other.
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Can couples therapy help with emotional disconnection?
Yes.
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Emotional disconnection can develop gradually, especially during periods of chronic stress, parenting, career demands, or major life transitions.
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Therapy can help couples understand what is contributing to the distance and work toward greater emotional safety, understanding, and connection.
Can couples therapy help with intimacy concerns?
Yes.
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Changes in emotional or physical intimacy can be connected to stress, resentment, parenting, relationship conflict, life transitions, or feeling emotionally disconnected.
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Couples therapy can provide a place to talk about these concerns openly and understand what may be getting in the way of connection.
First Responders and High Stress Professionals
Do you work with first responders?
Yes.
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I work with first responders and their partners, including people working in law enforcement, emergency services, healthcare, and other demanding professions.
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My background in law enforcement gives me an understanding of some of the pressures that can come with high stress work, including shift schedules, emotional demands, exposure to difficult situations, and the challenge of transitioning from work to home.
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Do you work with police officers and law enforcement professionals?
Yes.
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I work with police officers and other law enforcement professionals experiencing stress, burnout, emotional exhaustion, relationship difficulties, or difficulty adjusting to life outside of work.
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I also work with partners who are navigating the impact that law enforcement work can have on communication, connection, parenting, and family life.
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Can therapy help when work stress is affecting my relationship?
Yes.
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High stress careers can affect relationships even when the work itself never comes up in conversation.
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Long hours, shift work, emotional exhaustion, burnout, and the pressure to stay composed at work can make it difficult to be emotionally present at home.
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Therapy can help you understand how work stress is affecting your relationship and develop healthier ways of managing that stress together.
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Do you work with healthcare professionals and helping professionals?
Yes.
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I work with healthcare workers, helping professionals, and others in demanding careers who may be experiencing burnout, emotional exhaustion, anxiety, relationship stress, or difficulty maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal life.
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New Parents and Family Transitions
Do you work with new parents?
Yes.
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I work with individuals and couples navigating the transition to parenthood.
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This can include pregnancy, postpartum adjustment, early parenthood, changes in identity, sleep deprivation, parenting responsibilities, relationship strain, and changes in intimacy.
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Can couples therapy help after having a baby?
Yes.
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Having a baby can change nearly every part of a relationship.
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Couples may struggle with sleep deprivation, unequal responsibilities, changes in intimacy, communication problems, resentment, or simply not having time to connect.
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Therapy can provide a space to talk honestly about these changes and find ways to reconnect as partners while adjusting to parenthood.
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What if my partner and I disagree about parenting responsibilities?
Differences in parenting expectations are common, particularly during periods of exhaustion and major transition.
Couples therapy can help you communicate about responsibilities, expectations, boundaries, parenting approaches, and the mental and physical load of caring for a family.
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Do you provide family planning therapy?
Yes.
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Family planning therapy can help individuals and couples navigate difficult conversations about whether to have children, when to have children, readiness for parenthood, fertility related stress, pregnancy planning, and changes that occur during the transition to parenthood.
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The goal is not to tell you what decision to make. Therapy can provide a space to understand your needs, communicate more clearly, and navigate important decisions together.
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Virtual Therapy
Do you offer virtual therapy?
Yes.
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I provide virtual individual therapy and couples therapy for clients located in Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Virtual sessions allow you to attend therapy from a private location that works for you without adding another commute to your schedule.
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How does virtual couples therapy work?
Virtual couples therapy takes place through a secure online platform.
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Both partners participate in the session from a private location.
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Before beginning therapy, we will discuss how virtual sessions work and make sure you understand what to expect.
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Is virtual therapy a good option for busy professionals?
It can be.
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Virtual therapy can make it easier to maintain consistent appointments when you have a demanding career, unpredictable schedule, parenting responsibilities, or other commitments.
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You can attend from home or another private location without needing to travel to an office.
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What states are you licensed to provide therapy in?
I am licensed to provide therapy to clients who are physically located in Pennsylvania or Virginia at the time of their session.
Because telehealth regulations and licensure requirements can apply to where a client is physically located, please reach out if you have questions about whether I can work with you.
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Locations
Where do you provide therapy?
I provide therapy virtually to clients located throughout Pennsylvania and Virginia.
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This includes clients in Philadelphia and surrounding communities as well as Northern Virginia.
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Because therapy is provided virtually, you do not need to live in the same city as my practice to work with me.
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Do you provide couples therapy in Philadelphia?
Yes.
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I provide virtual couples therapy and marriage counseling for couples located throughout Philadelphia.
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I work with couples navigating communication problems, emotional disconnection, recurring conflict, parenting stress, career demands, and other relationship concerns.
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Do you provide therapy in Northern Virginia?
Yes.
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I provide virtual therapy to clients located throughout Northern Virginia and Virginia, including couples and individuals navigating relationship stress, demanding careers, parenting, and life transitions.
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Cost and Insurance
How much does therapy cost?
The fee is $175 per session individual therapy and $200 for couples therapy per 50 minute session.
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If cost is a concern, you are welcome to reach out to discuss your options and current availability.
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Do you accept insurance?
I am an out of network provider and do not accept insurance directly.
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I can provide a superbill that you may submit to your insurance company for possible out of network reimbursement, depending on your plan.
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Because insurance benefits vary, I recommend contacting your insurance company to ask about your specific out of network mental health benefits and reimbursement requirements.
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Can I use my HSA or FSA card?
Yes.
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I accept major credit cards as well as HSA and FSA cards.
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How long are therapy sessions?
Most therapy sessions are 50 minutes.
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The length and frequency of sessions can be discussed during the consultation and may depend on your needs and the type of therapy you are seeking.
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Getting Started
What happens during the first consultation?
The first step is a free 15 minute consultation.
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This is an opportunity to briefly discuss what brings you to therapy, what you are hoping to change, and whether my approach and services feel like a good fit.
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The consultation is not intended to replace a therapy session or provide treatment.
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What if I am not sure whether I need individual therapy or couples therapy?
That is something we can discuss during the consultation.
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Sometimes it is clear that couples therapy is the best fit. Other times, individual therapy may make more sense.
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You do not need to determine the right type of therapy before reaching out.
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What if my partner does not want to come to couples therapy?
It is common for partners to have different levels of readiness.
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If your partner is hesitant, you are welcome to discuss your situation during a consultation and explore what type of support may be appropriate.
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Individual therapy can also provide a space to better understand your own needs, communication patterns, and relationship concerns.
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How do I schedule a consultation?
You can schedule a free 15 minute consultation through the booking option on my website.
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You can also contact me directly if you have questions before scheduling.
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A Few More Questions?
If you are still unsure whether therapy is right for you, that is okay.
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You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out.
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A consultation gives us an opportunity to talk about what is happening, what you would like to be different, and whether working together feels like the right fit.
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Schedule your free 15 minute consultation today.
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