Dr. Elise Landau treats behavioral sleep disorders, which refers to sleep-related issues that are primarily influenced by unhealthy sleep habits, thought patterns, or behaviors, rather than by underlying medical or physical conditions. These disorders often involve difficulty with sleep onset, sleep maintenance, or quality of sleep due to factors like stress, anxiety, poor sleep hygiene, or irregular sleep routines. Most commonly, this means insomnia and hypersomnia issues.

For other sleep disorders which may have a more physical, neurological, or medical underlying cause (e.g., respiratory sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea, circadian rhythm-based disorders, REM sleep behavior disorder, or sleep difficulties resulting from chronic shift work), it is recommended to meet with your GP for a referral to a sleep physician as other pharmacological and/or appliance-based interventions are necessary. Check out the Resources page for referrals.

No, therapy can be helpful for anyone looking to improve their emotional well-being, manage stress, work through relationship or personal issues, or make positive changes. It's not just for people with diagnosable mental health conditions.

Recognizing early warning signs of relationship stress is crucial for nurturing a healthy partnership and effectively resolving conflicts. Be on the lookout for:

• A noticeable decline in shared activities

• Recurring arguments about unresolved issues

• A Reduction in physical/sexual intimacy

• If either partner increasingly prioritizes activities outside the relationship

• A palpable loss of warmth and friendliness

Couples therapy is fundamentally designed to foster understanding, strengthen your bond, and promote healthy communication , rather than to facilitate the end of your relationship. It serves as a constructive space where both individuals can explore their emotional landscape, uncover underlying issues, and develop tools for conflict resolution. Therapists facilitate dialogue, encouraging couples to articulate their feelings and perspectives, which often leads to increased empathy and a deeper connection. However, in some cases through this process, couples learn that they are unable to resolve past hurts or no longer feel the desire to improve the relationship which may mean that separation is the healthiest choice for all parties. Ultimately, the goal is to empower couples, equipping them with the skills necessary to navigate their challenges and emerge stronger.

Couples therapy for affairs focuses on rebuilding trust, improving communication, and addressing the underlying issues that led to infidelity. A nonjudgmental therapist provides a safe and supportive space where both partners can openly express their feelings without fear of blame or criticism. Your therapist will work collaboratively to explore the emotional impact of the affair, identify patterns in the relationship, and create a path toward healing and mutual understanding. With commitment, self-reflection, and open communication, couples can emerge stronger, rediscovering intimacy and building a healthier, more fulfilling relationship.

In short, no. Dr. Elise Landau is a couples therapist, not a sex therapist. The key difference between a couples therapist and a sex therapist lies in their areas of expertise and the focus of the therapy.

Couples therapists specialize in improving overall relationship dynamics. They help partners address communication issues, conflicts, trust concerns, emotional disconnection, and other interpersonal challenges. While they may touch on sexual issues as part of the relationship, their work is broader, focusing on the emotional and relational aspects of the partnership.

Sex therapists, on the other hand, focus specifically on sexual health and intimacy concerns. They are trained to address challenges such as mismatched libidos, sexual dysfunctions, performance anxiety, or the impact of trauma or medical conditions on sexual well-being. While they may also consider relationship dynamics, their primary goal is to improve sexual satisfaction and functioning.

The choice between the two depends on whether the primary concern is relationship-focused (couples therapist) or specifically about sexual issues (sex therapist).

Couples therapy may not be recommended in the following situations:

• Where there is active abuse, whether emotional, physical, psychological, sexual, or financial

• Where one partner feels unsafe or is experiencing manipulation or coercion, the therapeutic environment can inadvertently enable harmful dynamics rather than foster healing.

• If one partner is unwilling to engage genuinely in the process or is using therapy as a means to control or undermine the other

• When you expect therapy to ‘fix’ your partner, without reflection and compromise from you

• If there is an unwillingness to discontinue on-going affairs in monogamous relationships

• If one of you has a serious addiction problem (gambling, alcohol, drugs), or if one member of the couple has a serious untreated mental health problem or severe, unresolved trauma.

Individual therapy or safety planning may be more appropriate in these circumstances to ensure the well-being of each partner before any joint efforts can be effective. Please refer to the Resources page for appropriate crisis management services.

Due to the nature of therapy, we kindly ask that you do not bring any babies or children with you to your appointment.  You and your clinician need to discuss often complex or sensitive topics which requires full attention and consideration by all parties.  This applies for both in person and online sessions.