Leah Pifer-Swenson, LMFT

(she/her/hers)

I work with individuals and couples who long for deeper, more authentic relationships & want to feel more connected to those around them. I believe that genuine connection is a radical act in a world that consistently tries to keep us disconnected from both ourselves and others.

In individual therapy, I support adults healing from emotionally unavailable or inconsistent relationships, shame, complex trauma, and the exhaustion of having to be “the strong one.” My work helps clients understand the protective strategies they developed to survive, reconnect with their emotions & bodies, and build a more compassionate & trusting relationship with themselves.

With couples, I help partners understand the vulnerable feelings, unmet needs & relational patterns driving recurring arguments. I have particular expertise in working with imbalances in emotional labor, difficulty expressing needs, and the accumulation of hurt that can make accountability and repair difficult. Rather than viewing one partner as the problem, I help couples recognize the cycle they have become caught in while still making room for honesty, responsibility, and the impact each person has on the other.

My approach is compassionate, collaborative, curious, and gently direct. I draw from attachment theory, family systems, somatic approaches, and trauma-informed care, while remaining attentive to the ways identity & culture, race, gender, and power shape our relationships.