How do I know if Lisa Chen & Associates is the right fit for me?

We offer a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation. It's a chance to get to know us, understand our approach, and see if we align with your needs. The purpose of an initial consultation is to determine if you are a good fit for working together. You can expect a 15–20 minute conversation where you will have the opportunity to share your concerns, goals, and what you hope to achieve through therapy. This is also a chance for you to ask questions and get a sense of the therapist's approach and personality.

Our fees range from $180 to $350 per 50-minute session based on the clinician's experience, specialized training, and services provided. Lisa Chen's fees are $350 per 50-minute session for both individual and couples counseling. Licensed Client Session fees are $200 for individual and $225 for couples counseling per 50-minute session. Associate Clinician fees are $180 for individual and $200 for couples counseling per 50-minute session. We also reserve spots for clients requesting a sliding-scale rate to accommodate financial needs.

Do you accept insurance?

Lisa Chen & Associates are out-of-network providers. We provide monthly insurance statements ('Superbills') for you to seek partial reimbursement from your insurance company according to your policy. For questions about your out-of-network benefits, please contact your insurance carrier before scheduling.

What is your cancellation policy?

Weekly clients are allowed 3 free cancellations every 6 months, and bi-weekly clients are allowed 2 free cancellations every 6 months, beginning from the date of your first session. You will be responsible for payment for your normally scheduled session time for all cancelled appointments beyond this. Please provide at least 48 hours' notice for cancellations. You may always choose to reschedule and/or take sessions virtually to accommodate occasional scheduling conflicts.

How often should I expect to meet?

We recommend weekly therapy sessions for optimal progress. However, there are times when clients prefer to meet twice a week for more complex challenges. During your initial phone consultation, let us know if you are interested in more frequent sessions.

Are you offering in-person sessions?

Yes, we are seeing clients in our South Bay office located at 2615 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 326, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. We also offer telehealth sessions for California residents.

How do I get started with counseling?

The first step is to schedule an initial consultation by calling our office or submitting the contact form on our website. This allows us to understand your needs and match you with the best therapist for your situation. From there, we'll work with you to schedule ongoing sessions.

Gottman Conflict Blueprint | How to Navigate Relationship Conflict

Gottman Conflict Blueprint

A Step-by-Step Framework for Navigating Conflict Without Disconnection

By Lisa Chen, LMFT | Lisa Chen & Associates Therapy | Hermosa Beach, CA

Most couples don’t struggle because they argue.

They struggle because they don’t know how to argue in a way that keeps them connected.

The Gottman Conflict Blueprint is a research-based framework designed to help couples slow down conflict and move from reaction to understanding. Instead of trying to “win” the argument, the goal becomes something different. To understand each other’s experience, validate both perspectives, and take responsibility for your role in the interaction.

Because most relationship conflict isn’t about solving a problem. It’s about learning how to stay connected while navigating differences.

Research shows that many conflicts in relationships are ongoing rather than fully solvable, which means the goal is not resolution, but creating a productive dialogue around them.

Inside this worksheet, you’ll learn how to break down a recent conflict step by step. What each of you felt, how you experienced the interaction, where things escalated, and how to repair after the fact.

This process helps you move out of blame and into understanding.

And over time, that’s what builds trust.

Download PDF Guide

Lisa Chen, LMFT California License #140374

Lisa Chen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and founder of Lisa Chen & Associates Therapy in Hermosa Beach, California. She specializes in high-achieving professionals navigating burnout, anxiety, trauma, and relationship strain, and holds advanced training in EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and Gottman Method Couples Therapy. Her clinical approach is informed by a prior career in investment banking and business development, including education at The Wharton School and Harvard Business School. She provides individual and couples therapy in person in the South Bay and via telehealth throughout California.

Read full bio· Meet the full team

Quick Summary (For Fast Insight)

The Gottman Conflict Blueprint is a structured process that helps couples understand and repair conflict. Instead of trying to solve every disagreement, it focuses on listening, validation, and shared understanding.

If you feel stuck in repeated arguments, working with a therapist at Lisa Chen & Associates Therapy can help you apply this process more effectively.

Who This Guide Is For

This guide was created for couples who want to handle conflict differently, but keep getting pulled into the same reactive patterns. It is especially helpful if you are:

Recurring Arguments

Having the same conflicts come up repeatedly without resolution or closure.

Escalation

Noticing that conversations quickly turn into defensiveness, criticism, or emotional overwhelm.

Feeling Misunderstood

Leaving conversations feeling unheard, invalidated, or misinterpreted.

Repair Struggles

Finding it difficult to reconnect or move forward after conflict.

Couples Therapy Work

Using Gottman-informed therapy and wanting a structured tool between sessions.

High-Functioning Couples

Functioning well outwardly but struggling with tension or disconnection underneath.

This guide is not a substitute for professional care. If you are ready to go deeper, we are here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Gottman Conflict Blueprint?

It’s a structured framework used in Gottman Method therapy to help couples process conflict by focusing on understanding, validation, and shared responsibility.

Does the Conflict Blueprint resolve arguments?

Not always. Many relationship conflicts are ongoing. The goal is to manage them in a way that preserves connection rather than trying to eliminate them entirely.

When should couples use this worksheet?

It’s most helpful after a conflict, when both partners are calm enough to reflect and understand what happened.

Continue the Work

The practices in this guide are most effective when supported by skilled clinical care.

At Lisa Chen & Associates, we offer evidence-based approaches for individuals and couples throughout Los Angeles and California.

Our Approach

How We Treat →

EMDR, IFS, Gottman, and somatic approaches explained

Specializations

What We Treat →

Anxiety, burnout, trauma, and relationship strain

Modality

EMDR Therapy →

The clinical modality that shares roots with somatic tools

Modality

Internal Family Systems →

IFS and somatic work are deeply complementary

Couples

Couples Therapy →

Co-regulation is most powerful within a healthy relationship

Free Resources

Resource Library →

More clinical guides, quizzes, and tools

This guide is a clinical educational resource produced by Lisa Chen & Associates Therapy and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment. If you are in crisis, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

Published March 2026 · Last reviewed March 2026