Neurodivergent-Affirming

Couples+ Therapy

LGBTQ-Affirming

Emotionally-Focused Therapy

Trauma-Informed

Neurodivergent-Affirming ✦ Couples+ Therapy ✦ LGBTQ-Affirming ✦ Emotionally-Focused Therapy ✦ Trauma-Informed ✦



Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples and Individuals in Pennsylvania

Sable Arend, MS, LPC


Virtual therapy across Pennsylvania

Feeling stuck in painful patterns? Longing for closeness and a deeper sense of connection?

In my practice, I work with couples+ and individuals who want to feel more securely connected—to their loved one or themselves—but need some assistance to get there. Maybe you’re longing for more from your relationships—to feel closer, fight less, or to experience connection that feels safe and steady. Or maybe you’re wanting more from your life—needing to untangle past traumas, navigating neurodivergence, or exploring LGBTQ+ identity and how it shapes your relationships.

Using Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), I provide an attachment-based framework to help you make sense of your patterns, needs, and emotions.

I’ll teach you to listen deeply to the emotions and innate needs underlying relationship patterns and challenging conflict cycles, using this information to heal pain points, reduce conflict, and foster increased safety in your relationships.

Together, we’ll explore your innermost world and create real, tangible change by building new patterns of connection rooted in safety, loving responsiveness, and emotional attunement—co-creating a space where vulnerability feels safer and deeper healing can take root.

  • I specialize in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), an evidence-based approach that helps couples and individuals understand the deeper emotional patterns driving conflict and disconnection. I have particular expertise working with:

    • LGBTQ+ community members

    • Neurodivergence and cross neuro-type relationships

    • Disability and chronic illness

    • Non-traditional relationships (CNM and open relationships, polyamory, queer platonic relationships)

    • Kink-aligned communities

    In my work with individual clients, I also incorporate Brainspotting, a powerful brain-body approach that helps process trauma and deeply held emotional pain that may be difficult to access through talk therapy alone.

  • Warm, collaborative, curious, and body-aware, my approach is rooted in trauma-informed care and attachment theory. My clinical framework draws from EFT, experiential therapy, feminist theory, and person-centered therapy, alongside Buddhist principles of compassion, mindfulness, acceptance, and non-judgment.

    I strive to create an affirming, supportive space where healing and growth occur through felt, embodied experience in addition to understanding one's thoughts, behaviors, and patterns — exploring and organizing inner life and experience while deepening connection to others and to oneself.

    I am deeply affirming of all relationship structures — including CNM, polyamory, and queer platonic relationships — and work from a sex-positive, kink-affirming, sex-work affirming, and body-positive lens.

  • I enjoy helping individuals and couples+ feel more connected to others, become more attuned and responsive partners, and heal past wounds and trauma. I help people understand their emotions and vulnerabilities, providing a space to take safer emotional risks that repair relationships and support deeper connection.

    I have experience working with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, complex trauma, PTSD, burnout, ADHD, autism, OCD, executive functioning challenges, LGBTQ+ issues, gender and sexual identity, disability, chronic health conditions, and chronic pain.

    In my couples and relationship work, I have particular experience with LGBTQ+ relationships, cross-neurotype partnerships, and relationships of all structures — including throuples, consensual non-monogamy (CNM), polyamory, open relationships, and kink-aligned partnerships.

    While these reflect areas of particular experience, I welcome all individuals and relationships who feel aligned with my practice.

Meet the Therapist


Hi! I’m Sable,

A licensed professional counselor (LPC) trained in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy.

Deep, transformative healing happens in supportive, safe, affirming relationships. As a therapist, I strive to create a space where everyone feels seen, understood, and empowered to become better humans, lovers, and friends.

I welcome you to show up authentically, offering an environment that is supportive, nonjudgemental, and safe.

Counseling Services


Couples+ Therapy


Whether you are a couple or part of a CNM constellation, I can help you move past the "same old fight" and build secure, responsive relationships using Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT).

In session, we will identify the patterns that shape your relationship and dig deeper into the emotions underlying relationship cycles and conflict, practicing new ways of reaching for each other to support a more secure and connected bond.

Extended Couples+ Therapy


I offer extended couples+ sessions using EFCT for partners who want more space to explore complex patterns and facilitate lasting emotional shifts without feeling rushed.

Extended sessions are the recommended format for EFCT due to the experiential nature of this work benefiting from increased time for depth and processing.

Individual Therapy


One-on-one sessions to support you, whether you are navigating neurodivergence, exploring LGBTQ+ identity, or healing from trauma. My approach is deeply collaborative and body-aware, integrating parts work, Brainspotting, and Emotionally Focused Therapy for individuals. We work together to understand the "why" behind your patterns, moving toward a life that feels authentic and self-led.

Whether you’re ready to begin or just curious to know more, reach out to introduce yourself! We can find a time to connect, answer any questions, and see if it feels like a good fit.

Start the Conversation


Email: sable@arendcounseling.com

Call or Text: 412-223-7502

Looking for more EFT insights?

Serving Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Philadelphia, and cities across Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh, East Liberty, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Oakland, Highland Park, Point Breeze, Allison Park, Moon Townshop, Bethel Park, Bridgeville, West Mifflin, Glenshaw, Oakdale, Braddock, Coraopolis,South Park, East Pittsburgh, Lawrenceville, Duquesne, Turtle Creek, Sewickley, Verona, Hendersonville, Clairton, Oakmont

Registered member of:

Logo for Pittsburgh Community for Emotionally Focused Therapy featuring stylized intertwined lines in an infinity sign with the initials PCH and EFT and the full name at the bottom.