Family Therapist Providing Family Therapy
in Newport Beach, Orange County, California
My name is Emily Echeverria. I am a Marriage and Family Therapist located in Orange County, CA. I see families for therapy in person in Newport Beach and online throughout California. I help families identify the feelings underneath their behaviors and work with each member to communicate more clearly and vulnerably—leading to greater support and understanding, and less disconnection, anger, and hurt. My goal is to help create more emotionally connected families and emotionally safer environments.
What types of families do I work with?
I work with families whose youngest member is over the age of 13. Families come in all shapes and sizes. Some of the types of families I work with include:
Two-parent families with minor children
Solo-parent families with minor children
Parent(s) with adult children
Parents who are no longer in a relationship but are co-parenting their children
Adult siblings whose parents will not be part of the therapy process
I welcome and work with families from all backgrounds, including diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, and LGBTQ+ identities. I understand that each family brings its own unique set of values, beliefs, and experiences to the therapy process. My goal is to honor and work within your family’s cultural framework—exploring challenges and supporting growth in a way that aligns with what matters most to you.
Who do I not work with?
I do not currently work with:
Families with participating members under the age of 13
Families experiencing ongoing domestic violence in the home
Family members struggling with severe untreated mental health conditions, substance use, or other challenges that may require individual treatment prior to beginning family therapy
Couples without children
I'm happy to offer referrals and more information on this during a consultation.
How is family therapy structured?
My family therapy sessions are typically held once a week and last between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on the size of the family and the issues being addressed. Some sessions may involve just one member of the family, just the parents, or just the children—but ideally, most sessions will include all family members. Sessions can be held in person or virtually.
What causes family conflict?
I believe most family conflict doesn’t come from a lack of love, but from:
A lack of understanding of needs, feelings, and triggers
Limited knowledge of how to communicate clearly, compassionately, and vulnerably
Fears of being hurt, which lead to defensive rather than loving interactions
How can family therapy help?
Every family is unique, so goals and approaches vary. I recommend scheduling a consultation to explore how family therapy can help your family specifically. However, here are some general ideas of what family therapy can do.
Help each family member gain insight into their unconscious fears or triggers and how these impact their relationships
Strengthen the emotional bond between parents so they feel more supported and can, in turn, offer more emotional support to their children
Teach members to communicate in a way that is clear, honest, and vulnerable instead of defensive, passive-aggressive, or angry
Provide a safe, nonjudgmental space for each member to share feelings, reflect on their roles in the family system, and work toward connection
Allow each member to be heard
Create more family unity, connection, and closeness
Deepen family members’ connection with each other without sacrificing the autonomy of each individual
Reduce conflict by increasing communication skills of each family member and helping each family member feel heard and valued
Develop a more nurturing environment where each person can increase their own self-esteem
Support parents by teaching them more effective parenting techniques
Increase emotional regulation and perspective-taking empathy
How much does family therapy cost?
I charge:
$225 for a 60-minute session
$250 for a 70-minute session
$275 for a 90-minute session
I am not in-network with insurance, but I can provide superbills and accept HSA/FSA. If you plan to use insurance, I recommend contacting your provider to verify whether they cover family therapy. Many insurance companies do not cover family or couples therapy unless there is an identified patient with a mental health diagnosis.
Examples of Family Situations That Can Benefit From Therapy
Everyday Disconnection at Home
A woman comes home after a tough day at work where she was reprimanded by her boss. She’s emotionally drained and craving comfort, but when she walks in, her teenage son doesn’t look up from his video game. She notices the dishes still sitting in the sink—despite having asked him to do them that morning. Her feelings from the day bubble over and she snaps, scolding him for being lazy and disrespectful.
Her son has been struggling with his own stressors and was playing video games with friends because it was the only thing that made him feel better. He feels blindsided and hurt by the intensity of his mother’s reaction. He also feels ashamed and embarrassed because his friends heard his mother yelling at him. He yells back, storms to his room, and slams the door.
Later, her partner comes home and doesn’t notice that anything is wrong. Her partner immediately launches into a long-winded story about how stressful the workday was and then casually asks, “What’s for dinner?” The woman, already feeling invisible, unsupported, and not good enough, the woman begins banging pots and pans while cooking—expressing her frustration nonverbally but holding back from sharing more vulnerable emotions, afraid her partner will minimize or dismiss her emotions, as has happened before. Her partner, in turn, feels confused, angry and rejected and retreats to the couch to watch TV.
At dinner, the three sit in silence. No one names the hurt, the stress, or the longing for connection—each caught in their own anger, shame, or self-protection.
Generational Patterns of Protection and Distance
A mother who experienced trauma and instability as a child has always feared her daughter would face the same pain. To protect her, she became strict, critical, and focused on achievement—believing this was the only way to ensure her daughter’s success and safety.
Growing up, the daughter rarely felt accepted for who she was. She learned it was safer to hide mistakes and emotions than risk judgment. Now, as an adult, she keeps her distance. She avoids phone calls with her mom, and when she does call, she keeps things surface-level.
This leaves the mother feeling unappreciated and rejected. But rather than expressing her sadness and fear of losing the relationship, she leads with criticism—asking why her daughter doesn’t visit more, questioning her choices, or making passive-aggressive remarks which results in her daughter feeling guilty and angry and withdrawing more.
Generational Masculinity and Emotional Disconnection
A father grew up being told, “Boys don’t cry.” When he showed sensitivity as a child, he was teased at home and bullied at school. Over time, he learned to suppress his feelings and prided himself on being emotionally tough—believing that was the only way to avoid getting hurt.
Now, as a father of two boys, he struggles. One son is sensitive, and the father worries he’ll be bullied if he doesn’t “toughen up,” so he yells the same harsh phrases his own father used. The other son is angry, rebellious, and distant. When the father can't control him, it triggers old feelings of helplessness from his own childhood—and again, he responds with yelling.
His wife becomes frustrated with his harshness. She believes his approach is damaging and pulls the boys away. He thinks she’s too soft, and that her approach is the problem. Their disagreements turn into arguments, often in front of the kids.
The boys hate when their parents fight, and rather than opening up, they withdraw. When they do seek comfort, they go to their mom—who, in turn, starts relying on the boys to meet some of her emotional needs because she feels disconnected from her husband.
The father feels rejected and isolated—left out of the family’s emotional life, even though deep down, he longs to be close to them.
Contact me.
emily@inwardpsychotherapy.com
(714) 340-5367
Marriage and Family Therapist in Newport Beach, California