ROBERT CAPLAN, LCSW

Relationship pain shows up in a lot of different ways. You might notice:

• The same fights on repeat. Different trigger, same outcome. You can see the cycle but can't seem to break it.
• A growing distance you don't know how to close. From a partner, a parent, a friend. The gap feels real but hard to name.
• A sense that you give more than you receive. Or that your needs are too much, too complicated, or easier to suppress.
• Confusion about what you actually want. In a relationship, from a relationship, or whether the one you're in is right for you.

These aren't signs that you're difficult.

They're signs that something worth understanding is going on beneath the surface.

You won't leave therapy with a perfect relationship. But you can expect to understand yourself in a relationship much more clearly.

Over time, you might find:

• Fewer moments of feeling blindsided by your own reactions. You'll start to recognize the pattern before it takes over.
• More ability to say what you actually mean. And to hear what someone else is saying without it feeling like an attack.
• A clearer sense of what you need. And more confidence asking for it, setting limits around it, or recognizing when it isn't being met.
• Relationships that feel more like a choice. Less driven by fear, habit, or a script you didn't write.

The shifts are gradual.

But people consistently find that understanding their relational patterns changes not just one relationship — it changes the way they move through all of them.

A lot of relationship pain makes more sense when you look at where it comes from.

The ways you learned to connect, to protect yourself, to read other people — those patterns took shape early. They made sense then. In your current relationships, they may be getting in the way.

Together, we'll slow down and look at what's actually happening beneath the surface. Not to assign blame or analyze others, but to help you understand your own emotional world more clearly.

When it's useful, we'll also work on the practical side:

• How to communicate more directly
• How to navigate conflict without shutting down or escalating
• How to build the kind of trust that feels sustainable

This practice is affirming of all relationship structures, including ethical non-monogamy, polyamory, and LGBTQ+ relationships. You don't need to fit a particular mold to do this work.

Your first session is a chance to share what's been going on.

You might come in the middle of something hard. Or with a longer history you've been carrying for a while. Either way, you set the pace.

From there:

• Sessions are 45 minutes, typically once a week
• Some people find this work moves quickly once it starts
• Others take more time, especially if the patterns run deep
• You'll never be pushed further or faster than feels right for you

This work is for adults 18 and older navigating difficulty in any kind of relationship:

• Romantic partnerships
• Family dynamics
• Friendships
• The broader question of how you connect with people

You don't need to be in a crisis to benefit.

Many people come in simply feeling stuck, lonely, or like they keep ending up in the same place no matter how hard they try. That's enough.

• Session fee: $175 for 45 minutes
• Insurance: Not accepted directly, but out-of-network reimbursement may apply
• Documentation: Provided for any insurance claims you submit
• Payment: Credit card, Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App

In-person sessions are available at the Flatiron District office in Manhattan. Virtual sessions are available by secure video anywhere in New York State.

In-person availability is limited. Please mention your preference when you reach out.