Holly Parker, PhD

Relationships are my passion. I have extensive training and expertise in helping couples communicate better, improve their bond, and build trust. I'm also experienced in supporting individuals to cultivate healthier and more connected relationships with themselves and others.

If you yearn for a more fulfilling relationship, greater self-esteem and self-compassion, healing from the past, and a more enjoyable and purposeful life, it means you’re paying attention. There’s always room for growth. Perhaps you aspire to improve one aspect of your life or several areas. Maybe you feel discouraged and lost because you’ve worked hard to make things better and haven’t seen a difference, or you’re newly aware of the need for a shift in life and this is your first try; either is okay. Successful change doesn’t have to start with self-confidence or a plan. It just requires the willingness to reach out and not take the journey alone.

I realize that it can feel intimidating and scary to take that first step into therapy, and I deeply value creating a space in which people can feel as comfortable and as emotionally safe as possible to open up as they're ready. I flexibly and thoughtfully integrate evidence-based approaches tailored to each individual and couple, and my style is authentic, compassionate, collaborative, and warm. I'm attentive, actively engaged, and straightforward in sessions, and I firmly believe in the beauty of playfulness and humor. I stay up-to-date with the latest research, and my work is grounded in science. In addition to my work as a therapist, I teach a university course on close relationships and write a blog for Psychology Today. I've also written books on addressing emotional unavailability in a romantic relationship and on how denial can both help and hurt.

I've been able to help couples to transform painful communication patterns, manage conflict more effectively, build greater security and trust, increase intimacy, heal relationship wounds, and resolve uncertainty about their relationship. I've also helped people to feel better about themselves, understand themselves and their relationships more deeply, create happier relationships, advance healing from painful losses and other highly stressful experiences (including trauma), cope in healthier ways, and make changes in multiple areas of life. I welcome individuals and couples of diverse races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, beliefs, gender identities, and ages.

It's possible to feel less alone, to build better relationships, to feel more comfortable in your own skin, and to create a more satisfying life. Therapy can help you get there, and I'd love to take that journey with you. Please feel free to visit my website and call or email me so we can explore whether I'd be a good fit. You deserve to work with a therapist who is the right match for you, and I offer a free 30-minute consultation phone call so you can see what it's like to talk with me and get a sense of whether I can help. Thank you for stopping by to read this, and I hope to hear from you!