Structured, Evidence-Based Therapy That Creates Real Change
David Lechnyr, LCSW, is a Certified Gottman Therapist providing evidence-based couples therapy and individual therapy for relationship issues via telehealth in Oregon and Arizona, and is based in Eugene. His structured approach integrates the Gottman Method, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help couples and individuals identify destructive relationship patterns and build concrete skills for lasting change. He is one of the 13 Certified Gottman Therapists in Oregon and one of 13 in Arizona. [View video transcript]
You’re Here Because Something Isn’t Working
Your relationship is stuck in patterns you can see but can’t seem to break. The same conflicts surface with different content. Distance has replaced intimacy. Conversations escalate into fights or shut down into silence. You’ve tried talking it through, reading the books, promising to do better. Nothing has produced lasting change.
Or maybe you’re struggling with relationship issues on your own. Your patterns show up across all your connections. Past relationship damage affects how you show up now. You need skills you were never taught: how to set boundaries without guilt, communicate clearly under stress, regulate your emotions when they spike, repair connection after damage.
You don’t want another therapist who just sits there and nods, asking “how does that make you feel?” You want someone who will hold you accountable and call you on your patterns when they get in your way. Someone professional and supportive, yet willing to challenge you toward actual growth and measurable change.
That’s exactly how I work.
What Makes This Approach Different
Unlike traditional talk therapy that focuses primarily on emotional processing, I combine emotional awareness with structured skill-building based on decades of research. You’ll learn specific, evidence-based techniques that change interaction patterns, not just understand them.
My approach:
- Evidence-based Gottman Method, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Internal Family Systems
- Structured assessment protocols that identify your specific patterns with precision
- Active skill practice with immediate feedback
- Between-session assignments that build new patterns through consistent application
- I’m not a passive listener. I offer direct feedback, call you out when you’re avoiding responsibility, and hold you accountable
Choose Your Path
Couples Therapy
Stop the Cycle Before It’s Too Late
You’ve tried talking it through. You’ve promised each other you’ll do better. And here you are again, having the same fight with different words. Learn the specific patterns research shows destroy relationships and the skills that actually repair them.
For couples who:
- Are stuck in recurring conflicts that keep resurfacing
- Have lost intimacy, connection, or feel like roommates
- Are considering separation but want to know if the relationship can be saved
- Have tried other therapists and left frustrated without actual tools
Individual Therapy
Get Clear When Everything Feels Impossible
Your relationship is breaking you down. You don’t know if the problem is them, you, or both. You need skills for setting boundaries, managing emotional flooding, communicating clearly under stress, and deciding whether to stay or leave.
For individuals who:
- Are in difficult relationships and need to develop their own capacity first
- Are navigating relationship issues alone and isolated
- Need concrete relationship skills they were never taught
- Want clarity about what’s actually happening in their relationship
What Clients Are Saying
“After 15 years together, we kept pushing each other’s buttons. David helped us see our negative patterns and gave us practical tools to communicate without triggering each other. For the first time in years, we feel like partners again.”
– Ted & April, married 15 years
“We’d been to two other therapists and honestly didn’t think counseling worked. It was just us complaining for an hour. With David, we actually learned things we could use at home. We still fight sometimes, but we don’t spiral like we used to. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but we actually like each other again.”
– Sarah & Tom, in a relationship 8 years
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you accepting new clients?
Yes. I’m currently accepting new clients for couples therapy and individual counseling. New clients typically begin within 2-4 weeks.
What if my partner isn’t ready for couples therapy?
That’s common. You can start individually to learn skills and gain insights that often help your partner feel safer joining later. Individual work also helps you determine whether relationship issues are about patterns between you or skills you’re missing regardless of who you’re with.
How is this different from other couples counseling?
Most therapy focuses on emotional processing and is based on the therapist’s intuition. The Gottman Method is built on 50 years of research identifying what actually predicts relationship success or failure. Sessions are structured with clear goals. You learn specific skills, practice them, and each session builds toward measurable change rather than endless processing.
How long does therapy take?
Most clients see measurable improvement within the first month when they practice skills between sessions. Essential conflict skills typically take 3-4 months. Comprehensive relationship rebuilding takes 6-12 months. This isn’t open-ended therapy. We’re working toward specific outcomes.
Do you bill insurance?
I bill PacificSource Health Plans directly. For all other insurance, I’m an out-of-network provider and provide detailed documentation (superbills) you can submit for reimbursement. Most clients choose private pay for added confidentiality and flexibility.
Do you offer in-person sessions or only telehealth?
I provide telehealth services throughout Oregon and Arizona via secure video. Most clients find virtual sessions equally effective and more convenient. No commute, easier scheduling for both partners, and the ability to meet from the comfort of your own space.
Do you serve couples in Portland, Phoenix, or Scottsdale
Yes. I provide telehealth couples therapy and individual therapy to clients throughout Oregon and Arizona, including Portland, Bend, Salem, Eugene, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, and Gilbert. All sessions are conducted via secure video.
Do you work with clients outside Oregon and Arizona?
For therapy, I’m limited to Oregon and Arizona residents due to licensing requirements. For clients outside these states, I offer relationship coaching worldwide via secure video. Coaching uses the same structured, skills-based Gottman Method approach but in a non-therapeutic format.
Get Started with David Lechnyr
“I’ve had a lot of therapists over the last 17 years and I’ve never had a counselor bring me through this much progress…. ever. Not even close.” – Client review