Business Details
26 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Partner for Counseling Services in Newport Beach, CA
Better Relationships is a private psychotherapy practice founded by Jim Swaniger, a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with over two decades of experience. Our practice combines clinical expertise with personalized care to address emotional, relational, and behavioral challenges. We specialize in individual counseling, marriage and couples therapy, and grief counseling, utilizing evidence-based approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy. Our mission is to help clients develop self-awareness, resolve conflicts, and build meaningful connections.With a background in mechanical engineering and technical management, we uniquely understand the intersection of professional stress and personal fulfillment. Our services cater to adults and couples in Southern California communities, emphasizing sustainable lifestyle changes and emotional resilience. We are committed to ethical practice, continuous professional development, and community engagement through educational resources and publications.
Services
Individual Counseling
Marriage Counseling
Couples Therapy
Grief Counseling
Psychotherapy
Relationship Therapy
Hypnosis Services
Clinical Consultation
Details
- Year established: 2000
Highlights and features
- We have over 20 years of clinical experience since 2000.
- Our therapist is a published author on relationship dynamics.
- We integrate cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and hypnotherapy techniques.
- Specialized focus on men's emotional and relational challenges.
- Proven approach to sustainable behavioral and relationship changes.
Services
Individual Counseling
Individual counseling addresses self-defeating behaviors and emotional challenges through personalized therapy sessions. We help clients develop self-awareness, modify harmful patterns, and implement sustainable lifestyle changes. Our approach combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with psychodynamic therapy to resolve underlying issues affecting mental well-being.
Marriage Counseling
Marriage counseling focuses on improving communication and resolving conflicts in committed relationships. We help partners understand childhood relationship patterns, address emotional triggers, and rebuild intimacy. Our therapy emphasizes mutual understanding and behavioral changes to strengthen long-term connections.
Grief Counseling
Grief counseling provides structured support for processing loss and emotional trauma. We guide clients through the stages of grief, helping them accept reality, express emotions, and rebuild meaningful lives after bereavement. Our approach combines empathetic listening with practical coping strategies.
People
Jim Swaniger
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Jim Swaniger is a licensed psychotherapist with over 20 years of clinical experience. Formerly a mechanical engineer, he brings unique insights to relationship dynamics. Author of 'Building Better Relationships: A Guidebook for Men', he specializes in behavioral change and emotional resilience.
Questions
What types of counseling do you offer?
We provide individual therapy, marriage and couples counseling, grief support, and behavioral change programs tailored to adult clients.
How can therapy help with relationship issues?
Therapy identifies childhood relationship patterns affecting current dynamics, teaches communication skills, and addresses emotional triggers to improve connections.
Do you accept insurance?
We operate as a private pay practice. Clients receive detailed receipts for potential insurance reimbursement or HSA/FSA claims.
What is your approach to behavioral change?
We use the Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change) to guide sustainable modifications in habits, incorporating cognitive-behavioral techniques and hypnotherapy.
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Reviews (5)
Mai Bui
Dec 04, 2019
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Jim has experience, expertise and is an effective therapist to work with. He's compassionate and quickly makes you feel at ease and welcomed. He's focused on solutions that you can use immediately. I refer people to him without hesitation. His book is a great read for both men and women.
Joanne Meyerson
Jul 31, 2016
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I have known Jim several years as a therapist and colleague. He is an ethical and skilled clinician. He works well with others and is well liked among his peers. He has 16 years in private practice and is an author of a self-help book for men. I would refer clients to Jim without reservation.
Angela Leavitt
Jul 31, 2016
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I have know Jim for 11 years and about a year ago I used him as a therapist to help me with a tragedy. At first, I was a little gun shy to use a professional colleague as my therapist but that dissipated immediately once I was his patient. Jim made me feel comfortable right away. He is highly professional, thoughtful and empathetic. His visualization technique has helped me immensely and still use it as a coping mechanism to date. I would highly recommend Jim Swaniger.
Summer Petrichor
Jul 30, 2016
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Jim is a great therapist and friend. I feel obligated to share the great experience I've had conversing with him. He will listen to you and give you tactical advice on how to approach a solution. Most importantly, he will help you find the true underlying problem. Once he enables you to see that, you will see the solution.
Timothy Maas
Jul 10, 2016
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I have worked with Jim Swaniger for over twenty years and during this period he has impressed me with his empathy and care for clients, and his competency as a therapist. He is able to understand clients" worlds, as individuals and in marriages, and guide people through improvement in functioning, especially in relationships.
