Is Couples Therapy Worth It?
Couples therapy can be incredibly valuable when both partners are committed to understanding their patterns, communicating more openly, and practicing
May 3, 2026
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Therapy can provide a structured place to address emotional distress, relationship difficulties, grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, and major life changes. Jan Rakoff, LCSW, offers therapy in San Diego for adults, individuals, and couples who want to understand recurring patterns, develop practical coping skills, and make informed changes in their lives.
Appointments are available in person at Jan’s San Diego therapy office and online for clients who prefer telehealth sessions.
Jan Rakoff is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with an established private practice in San Diego. She works with individuals and couples experiencing grief and loss, relationship concerns, trauma, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and difficult life transitions.
Jan’s approach is collaborative, direct, and responsive to each client’s needs. Therapy may involve identifying patterns in thoughts, emotions, behavior, and relationships; examining how past experiences affect present concerns; and developing practical strategies that can be used outside of sessions.
Her work is informed by cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, attachment theory, and mindfulness-based practices. Depending on the client’s goals, sessions may also incorporate boundary-setting, meditation, relaxation techniques, and tools for managing difficult emotions.
Jan provides both in-person and online therapy for clients in the San Diego area.
Jan provides therapy services for individuals and couples facing a range of emotional, behavioral, and relationship concerns. Treatment is personalized according to each client’s circumstances, symptoms, history, and goals.
Grief can follow the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, a health change, job loss, relocation, or another significant transition. Grief therapy provides space to process difficult emotions, understand how loss is affecting daily life, and develop ways to adjust without imposing a fixed timeline on the healing process.
Jan offers grief counseling in San Diego for clients experiencing sadness, anger, guilt, numbness, anxiety, isolation, or difficulty moving forward after a loss.
Couples therapy can help partners address recurring conflict, communication problems, emotional distance, trust concerns, infidelity, parenting disagreements, and uncertainty about the future of a relationship.
Sessions give both partners an opportunity to discuss concerns, examine unhelpful interaction patterns, and practice clearer ways of communicating. The objective is not to assign blame or determine whether a couple should remain together, but to support productive discussion and informed decision-making.
Traumatic experiences can continue to affect thoughts, emotions, relationships, sleep, concentration, and a person’s sense of safety. Trauma therapy can help clients understand these responses, identify triggers, improve emotional regulation, and gradually reduce the effect of trauma on daily life.
Jan works with clients affected by PTSD, complex trauma, childhood experiences, relationship trauma, accidents, medical events, and workplace incidents. Treatment is paced according to the client’s needs and does not require discussing every detail before the client is ready.
Anxiety and depression can affect concentration, motivation, sleep, decision-making, relationships, and everyday responsibilities. Some people experience persistent worry or panic, while others feel withdrawn, discouraged, emotionally numb, or unable to enjoy activities they previously valued.
Therapy can help clients recognize patterns that contribute to distress, reconsider unhelpful thoughts, build coping strategies, and respond differently to difficult situations. Jan offers anxiety and depression therapy in person and online for adults throughout the San Diego area.
The therapy resources below address common questions about mental health, relationships, grief, trauma, and the counseling process.
Couples therapy can be incredibly valuable when both partners are committed to understanding their patterns, communicating more openly, and practicing
Grief is supposed to hurt. Losing something or someone important is a human response—not a problem to fix. Most people
Living with PTSD means carrying memories that shape your daily life in ways that can be hard to understand. If
Jan Rakoff’s therapy office is located at:
12636 High Bluff Drive, Suite 400
San Diego, CA 92130
The office is accessible to clients from nearby communities including Sorrento Valley, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Bernardo, Solana Beach, 4S Ranch, Del Sur, Encinitas, and surrounding areas.
Online therapy appointments are also available for clients who prefer to attend sessions remotely.
Contact Jan to ask about appointment availability or schedule an initial consultation.
