Relationships can be our greatest joy and deepest pain.
They can bring closeness, support, and belonging. They can also bring tension, confusion, distance, and hurt that feels hard to name or repair.
Sometimes the difficulty is in a romantic relationship. Other times it shows up in family dynamics, friendships, or the gradual realization that your values or life choices no longer align with the people closest to you. We’re broken in relationships and healed in relationships, and that experience shows up in many different ways.
At Orange Tree Psychotherapy, we offer relationship therapy for individuals and couples in Phoenix and throughout Arizona through both in-person therapy and telehealth sessions. Our work together is grounded in curiosity, honesty, and a deep respect for the complexity of human connection.
We also provide affirming, inclusive care for LGBTQIA+ individuals, neurodivergent clients, and people navigating identity-based differences within their relationships or families.
When Relationships Feel Difficult
Relationship challenges don’t always look like conflict. Sometimes they look like distance, silence, or uncertainty about how to move forward.
You might be experiencing:
Repeating patterns of conflict or miscommunication
Emotional distance in a romantic relationshipChallenges with in-laws or extended family
Estrangement from family members
Tension related to political, cultural, or value differences
Feeling misunderstood or unseen in important relationships
Navigating queer identity within family or relational systems
Uncertainty about whether to stay, leave, or redefine a relationship
Relationship therapy can help you slow down and understand what is happening beneath the surface of these patterns.
Family Estrangement & Distance
Family relationships can be especially complex.
For some people, estrangement is a clear boundary that has already been made. For others, it is an ongoing question, marked by grief, guilt, relief, or confusion. And for many, it exists somewhere in between, shaped by years of unmet needs, miscommunication, or emotional pain.
Therapy offers space to explore what this distance means for you, without pressure to reconcile or stay disconnected. The focus is on understanding your experience and supporting your emotional well-being.
How We Help
Relationship therapy at Orange Tree Psychotherapy is collaborative and grounded in real-life complexity. We do not approach relationships with rigid rules or assumptions about what “should” happen.
Instead, we help you:
Understand recurring relational patterns
Explore attachment dynamics and emotional responses
Improve communication and boundary-setting
Navigate conflict with more clarity and intention
Make sense of values-based differences in relationships
Decide what feels healthy, sustainable, or aligned for you
Our therapists draw from attachment-based therapy, trauma-informed care, Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, and somatic approaches to support deeper understanding and change.
Romantic relationship challenges
Family estrangement or ongoing conflict
In-law and extended family stress
Identity-based differences (including LGBTQIA+ identity, politics, religion, or life choices)
Communication breakdowns or recurring conflict cycles
Grief or uncertainty about a relationship’s future
Who This Is For
We work with individuals and couples navigating:
You do not need to have a clear “goal” for your relationship in order to begin therapy. Many people come simply wanting clarity, support, or space to think.
In-Person & Online Relationship Therapy in Arizona
We offer relationship therapy in Phoenix, with in-person sessions available at our Midtown location. Telehealth sessions are also available for individuals and couples throughout Arizona.
What It’s Like to Work With Us
Our approach is warm, honest, and reflective. We help you slow down the pace of relational stress so you can better understand what you’re feeling, what you need, and what choices align with your values.
We don’t push for a single outcome. Instead, we support you in making thoughtful decisions about your relationships based on understanding, not pressure or assumption.
Getting Started
If you’re navigating relationship challenges, estrangement, or uncertainty about a connection in your life, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
You can take the next step in whatever way feels most comfortable:
We’re here when you’re ready.
Meet the Therapists Who Support This Work
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![A woman with long, wavy, reddish-brown hair and light blue eyes, smiling softly, standing in front of a colorful abstract painting.]()
Ashlee Traasdahl, LAC (she/her)
Anxiety, Depression, Adolescent mental health, LGBTQIA+ / Identity, Religious trauma and faith transitions
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![Woman with turquoise and green hair, wearing glasses, a white T-shirt, and black pants, smiling, standing indoors with a plant in the background.]()
Ashley Lawrence, LPC, BC-TMH (they/she)
Trauma-informed care with a focus on LGBTQIA+ affirmation and healing
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![A young woman with long, wavy brown hair smiling outdoors with green trees and sunlight in the background.]()
Caitlin Rudgear, LPC (she/her)
Supporting self-worth, body image healing, and trauma recovery
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![A young woman with curly brown hair smiling at the camera. She is wearing a floral kimono-style top over a gray t-shirt, and a beaded bracelet on her wrist. There is a tall floor lamp with a beige shade in the background, and a framed picture on the wall.]()
Julia Rambeau, LPC (she/her)
Exploring identity, relationships, and meaning through a holistic lens
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![A woman smiling, with glasses, long dark hair, and a yellow and black patterned top, sitting in front of a colorful, ornate tapestry.]()
Kayla Messinger, LPC, RPT (they/she)
Neurodivergence-affirming, trauma-informed support grounded in connection and nervous system awareness
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![A smiling man with dark hair and a beard wearing a light blue button-up shirt outdoors on a sunny day with trees and grassy field in the background.]()
Nicholas Rudgear, LPC (he/him)
Helping clients navigate ADHD, depression, and shame-based patterns
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![A smiling woman with brown hair, dressed in a black blazer and white blouse, sitting on a gray couch in a cozy room.]()
Winter Groeschl, LPC (she/they)
Compassionate support for anxiety, trauma, body image, and identity-related stress
