For almost thirty years, I’ve lived and worked in both Silicon Valley and Portland, Oregon—two vibrant regions with very different energies and values. Each city brings its own culture, pace, and relationship dynamics. Providing couples therapy and marriage counseling with couples and individuals in both places has given me a nuanced understanding of how local context can shape everything from career stress and family roles to communication patterns and expectations in intimate partnerships. This perspective helps me meet each client with awareness of the world they’re navigating—not just personally, but socially and culturally.