Val Sanders
I want your partner to feel like the love of your life again
If your partner feels more like a roommate than the person you turn to first, you're not alone. My goal is to help couples rebuild the deep connection, trust, and emotional bond that make a relationship feel like home.
Most couples aren't failing because they lack effort or intelligence. They're caught in patterns that neither partner fully understands. My approach is grounded in helping you understand the hidden emotional dynamics beneath conflict—I call this the relational "upside down"—and give you practical tools to change those patterns and build healthier ways of relating.
I work best with couples who are willing to look honestly at themselves individually, take responsibility for their part in relationship patterns, and actively engage in the work of change. They’re motivated to start the work themselves, because real change often begins when each partner focuses on the changes they can make themselves rather than waiting for the other person to change first.
I rely most heavily on Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) in my work with couples, and also draw significantly from Internal Family Systems (IFS) as well as utilizing tools from Gottman Method. I work best with couples who care deeply about one another but feel stuck in painful cycles of disconnection, conflict, defensiveness, or loneliness.
I also work with individuals who want to better understand the patterns that show up in their relationships. Using Internal Family Systems (IFS), I help individuals understand the protective parts, old wounds, and recurring patterns that show up in their relationships, and develop new ways of responding to themselves and others.
I am a graduate of Cornell University (BA) and the University of Texas at Austin (MBA) and hold a Master's in Counseling from Bowie State University. I came to counseling after a two-decade career in business and eight years as an executive coach, helping hundreds of individuals navigate career challenges, establish healthy boundaries, and strengthen important relationships.
I live in Potomac with my spouse, our two teenagers, and a lively collection of animals. Outside the office, I enjoy hiking, gardening, reading sci-fi and non-fiction, and spending time with family and friends.
Clinical Degree: Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor
Additional Trainings: Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 1, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy Externship (ICEEFT), Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy Core Skills (ICEEFT)