Relationship Counseling for Diverse Relationships & Identities

Affirming couples counseling for LGBTQ+ relationships, polyamorous relationships, open relationships, kink communities, and nontraditional partnerships.

Relationships do not all follow the same script — and therapy shouldn’t assume they do.

Whether you are navigating communication challenges, trust concerns, neurodivergence, life transitions, intimacy changes, parenting, identity exploration, or simply wanting a stronger connection, counseling can offer a space to slow down, reflect, and build new patterns together.

At Small Works Counseling, I strive to provide relationship counseling that is affirming, trauma-informed, and curious rather than judgmental. You should not have to spend sessions educating your therapist about your identity, relationship structure, or community before beginning the work that matters.

You deserve support that meets you where you are.

  • Description tMany couples or partners come to therapy because of:

    • Communication difficulties

    • Repeated arguments or conflict cycles

    • Trust concerns or rebuilding after hurt

    • Life transitions and stress

    • Parenting differences

    • ADHD or neurodivergence affecting relationships

    • Intimacy and sexuality concerns

    • Navigating poly/open relationship agreements

    • Jealousy and insecurity

    • Boundary setting

    • Identity exploration

    • Feeling disconnected or “more like roommates”

    • Wanting preventative support before problems grow

    You do not need to be in crisis for counseling to help.

  • Therapy is not about assigning blame or choosing who is right.

    Instead, counseling often focuses on:

    Understanding patterns
    How do conflict cycles start? What keeps them going?

    Improving communication
    Learning ways to express needs without escalation or shutdown.

    Exploring expectations
    Unspoken assumptions often create tension.

    Increasing emotional safety
    Building environments where honesty feels possible.

    Supporting connection
    Helping partners move toward the relationship they want—not the relationship others expect.

  • Many relationship struggles are influenced by differences in nervous systems, trauma histories, communication styles, sensory needs, and executive functioning—not a lack of care.

    Therapy can create space to better understand these differences with less shame and more curiosity.

  • Do you work with polyamorous or open relationships?

    Yes. Counseling is intended to be affirming of diverse relationship structures and explore the needs, agreements, communication, and challenges within those relationships.

    Are you kink-aware?

    I aim to provide counseling that is respectful of kink/BDSM communities and avoids pathologizing consensual adult practices.

    Do you only see LGBTQ+ clients?

    No. Services are open to many clients while intentionally working to provide affirming care for LGBTQ+ individuals and relationships.

    Can we come even if our relationship is “mostly okay”?

    Absolutely. Many people seek counseling for maintenance, growth, or preventative support rather than crisis.

    Do you provide virtual sessions?

    Virtual counseling can offer flexibility, privacy, and accessibility across Ohio.

Two young women with dyed hair lying on grass in a field, relaxing and looking at each other, during daytime.
A couple sitting on a large rock by a lake with mountains in the background, during the daytime.
Two people face each other with foreheads touching, expressing affection and closeness, in a room with a shelf of colorful vases and a bouquet of white roses in the background.
Two men walking hand in hand on a grassy hilltop near a cliff under a clear blue sky.
Two women sitting on a bed, looking at a gray Microsoft Surface laptop and laughing. One woman has curly hair, wearing glasses and a light blue shirt. The other woman has braided hair with orange highlights, wearing a green top. There are two lamps and a large abstract painting on the green wall behind them, with a bowl of popcorn and colorful socks on the bed.
Infographic about couples counseling, emphasizing understanding patterns and learning new skills over choosing sides, finding a villain, or winning arguments. Includes a simple line drawing of two people with a heart between them.
Information about relationship counseling from Small Works Counseling, including topics like communication, ADHD, parenting stress, intimacy, life transitions, conflict patterns, and feeling more like roommates than partners; with an illustration of two people holding a heart.
A flyer titled 'Small Works Counseling Relationship Counseling' with support information for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, polyamorous and open relationships, kink/BDSM communities, neurodivergent partnerships, and nontraditional family structures. The flyer emphasizes that support should see relationships as they are, not as they should be. At the bottom, there is a simple line drawing of two people with a heart between them.