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Every couple has conflict. What separates thriving relationships from struggling ones is not the absence of disagreement — it is knowing how to navigate conflict without it becoming destructive. When arguments escalate, turn cruel, or leave one or both partners feeling defeated or unheard, the relationship itself begins to suffer.
Dr. Sally Hackman, PhD, MFT, helps couples in Santa Monica and Los Angeles develop the skills to manage conflict productively — turning disagreements into opportunities for deeper understanding it goes for yourself and get in the way of good conflict resolution, rather than inflicting wounds that accumulate over time.

Learn to de-escalate in the heat of a fight, regulate your own emotional responses, and re-engage with your partner from a place of curiosity rather than defensiveness.

Sessions offer a structured, safe environment to practice conflict resolution skills — and to explore what drives each partner's particular patterns in conflict.

Dr. Hackman helps couples understand the emotional triggers and attachment dynamics that fuel their conflicts — and build a repertoire of healthier responses.
Conflict, handled well, can actually strengthen a relationship. It is the process of working through disagreement together — and surviving it — that builds genuine trust and intimacy.
Not at all. Conflict is a normal part of any close relationship. The nature of the conflict — and how it's handled — matters far more than its presence.
Emotional shutdown (often called 'stonewalling') is a common conflict pattern that therapy addresses directly. It usually reflects overwhelm rather than indifference — and it can change.