Virtual Therapy for Women Across California
Relationship Therapy for Women · San Francisco, CAYou can be successful, self-aware, and still struggle in relationships.
You may look like you have it together on the outside, but behind closed doors, your relationships feel confusing, unfulfilling, lonely, or emotionally exhausting. Whether you're single, dating, questioning your relationship, or healing old patterns, therapy can help you build relationships that feel secure, connected, and true to who you are.
You're tired of repeating the same relationship dynamics.
You're successful in many areas of your life, but relationships feel like the one place where things still don't fully click.
Maybe you:
- Find yourself repeating the same painful relationship patterns - whether that's being drawn to emotionally unavailable partners, staying longer than you should, or ending up in relationships that leave you feeling disconnected and unfulfilled.
- Spend countless hours overthinking your relationships, analyzing conversations, questioning your choices, and feeling emotionally exhausted by uncertainty.
- Struggle to trust your own judgment in love, feeling caught between the fear of being alone and the fear of choosing the wrong person or settling for a relationship that isn't right for you.
- Suspect that past experiences, attachment wounds, or unresolved trauma may still be influencing your relationships, yet you're not always sure how those patterns are showing up or how to change them.
- Deeply desire closeness, connection, and intimacy, but vulnerability can feel difficult or unsafe, leaving you feeling lonely, misunderstood, or emotionally disconnected - even when you're in a relationship.
You are not alone. Many relationship struggles are rooted in protective patterns developed long ago. Therapy can help you understand those patterns, heal them, and build relationships that feel healthier, safer, and more fulfilling.
Relationship Therapy for Women in San Francisco, California
If you've ever thought, "I have so much going for me - why is this the part of my life that still feels hard?" - you're in the right place.
I'm Elisenda Asencio-MacMartin, LCSW. Most of the women I work with describe feeling stuck between two truths: they've built lives they're proud of, and love still feels harder than it should. They're tired of overthinking dating and communication, of the anxious pit when a partner pulls away, or of feeling lonely in relationships that look "fine" from the outside.
This work is deeply personal to me. Earlier in my life, I spent years in a relationship that, on some level, I knew wasn't right for me. Yet I cared so much, wanted it to work, and couldn't fully see how much I was compromising my own needs and moving further away from myself in the process. Looking back, I understand how easy it is to lose yourself in the pursuit of love, connection, or the hope that things will eventually feel different. I know how confusing it can be when a relationship isn't quite right, but leaving feels even harder. I know what it's like to question yourself, ignore your intuition, and stay longer than you intended because you genuinely want things to work. Those experiences are a big part of what drew me to this work and why I feel so passionate about helping women reconnect with themselves, trust their inner voice, and ultimately create fulfilling relationships.
Areas of Focus
Individual Relationship Therapy
For women working through dating or relationship stress, communication struggles, and recurring patterns - on their own or alongside couples work.
Explore this specialtyTherapy Intensives
Focused, deeper sessions for clarity, momentum, or working through something that needs more space than weekly therapy can offer.
Explore this specialtyCouples Therapy
For partners caught in painful cycles who want to better understand each other, repair connection, and build a more secure relationship.
Explore this specialtyAttachment Wounds Therapy
When past experiences quietly shape who you choose, how close you get, and how safe love feels. Healing the pattern, not just managing it.
Explore this specialtyReal conversations, real change.
Working with me is a space where all parts of you are welcome - even the parts you've learned to hide, dismiss, or feel ashamed of. I respect that meaningful change takes time, and I never believe in forcing the process. At the same time, I won't simply sit back and nod. I'll challenge the beliefs, behaviors, and relationship dynamics that may be keeping you stuck so you can move toward the life and relationships you truly want. I don't believe therapy is about fixing you; it's about helping you better understand yourself.
Together, we'll make sense of your experiences with curiosity rather than judgment, explore the patterns that have shaped you, and decide whether they're still serving you today. Our work will balance deeper exploration with practical tools that help you navigate relationships, communicate more effectively, and trust yourself more fully.
You'll also find that I bring warmth, humor, and the occasional swear word into the room. I believe therapy works best when we can show up as real people, so I tend to be exactly that - and I invite you to be, too. After all, I'm just a human helping another human navigate life's messier moments.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if relationship therapy is right for me?
Relationship therapy can help whether you're single, dating, questioning a relationship, healing from a breakup, or feeling stuck in recurring patterns. If relationships are causing significant stress, confusion, loneliness, or self-doubt, therapy can help you gain clarity, heal underlying wounds, and create healthier ways of connecting.
What can I expect from the first 3 sessions?
The first few sessions are about getting to know you and understanding what's really going on beneath the surface. We'll talk about what brought you to therapy, your relationship history, and your broader mental health history and experiences. We'll also reflect on what has and hasn't been helpful in past therapy or other attempts to make changes. As we begin to understand your story and the patterns you've noticed in yourself and your relationships, we'll identify what you want to change and start creating a plan for how we'll get there. You definitely don't need to have everything figured out before you come in - we'll make sense of it together.
How are sessions structured?
There is no script or "right way" to do therapy. Each session is shaped around what's happening in your life and relationships, and what feels most important that day. We'll check in, explore the patterns underneath what you're experiencing, and work together toward the goals we set at the start of our work together. I'll help guide the process, but you'll always have space to bring whatever feels most important to you.
What if I've already been to therapy before?
Many of my clients have been to therapy before. They understand their patterns intellectually, yet still find themselves repeating them in relationships. Insight is an important first step, but meaningful change happens when we learn how those patterns show up in real time and practice responding differently.
How do I know if I should stay or leave my relationship?
This is one of the most common reasons women seek therapy. While I won't tell you what decision to make, I can help you better understand yourself, your relationship dynamics, and what's contributing to your uncertainty. Together, we'll create the space to explore what you truly want and help you make decisions from a place of clarity, confidence, and self-trust.
Do I need to be in a relationship to benefit from relationship therapy?
Not at all. Many of my clients are single and want to better understand themselves before entering a new relationship. Therapy can help you identify recurring patterns, strengthen self-trust, and build a healthier foundation for future relationships.
How often will we meet?
Most clients begin with weekly sessions. Consistency helps build momentum and allows us to create meaningful change more effectively. As your needs and goals evolve, we can discuss whether a different schedule makes sense.
Steps to Begin...
Book a Complimentary Consultation Call
Let's start with a conversation. During this free 15-minute call, you'll have the opportunity to share what brings you to therapy, ask questions, and get a sense of whether we're a good fit for one another.
Schedule Your First Session
If it feels like a good match, we'll schedule your first session. Together, we'll explore what's been happening in your relationships, identify your goals, and begin making sense of the patterns that may be keeping you stuck.
Experience Meaningful Change
As we work together, you'll gain a deeper understanding of yourself, heal old relationship wounds, and develop new ways of relating. Over time, many clients find themselves feeling more confident, connected, and secure in their relationships - and in themselves.
Send Elisenda a Message
Use the form below, call, text, or email. Whatever feels easier.