I spent eight years in a long-distance relationship with my now-husband, James. Seattle to Boston. Three time zones. Way too many airport goodbyes.
Before I started PRESENCE, I worked as a couples counselor. Most of my clients weren't in long-distance relationships specifically—they were navigating transitions. New parents finding less time for each other. Career changes that disrupted established routines. And sometimes, couples suddenly facing distance after years together.
What I noticed, again and again, was that the couples who struggled with distance weren't lacking love. They were lacking tools. Strategies. The deliberate practices that proximity usually makes automatic.
Why I Started PRESENCE
When James got the job offer in Boston, we'd already been together for three years. The next five years of distance taught me more about relationships than any graduate program could have. We developed rituals. We found products that actually helped (and plenty that didn't). We made mistakes and learned from them.
PRESENCE is the resource I wish I'd had. Not another "10 tips for surviving LDR" listicle—real guidance based on what actually works, from people who've actually done it.
What I Write About
I cover the emotional and psychological dimensions of staying connected. When I recommend a product, I'm thinking about the human need it addresses. Touch lamps aren't about technology—they're about ambient presence. Time-released messages aren't about novelty—they're about anticipation, which research shows extends positive emotions.
I try to write honestly. That means acknowledging when something is hard, when there isn't a perfect solution, when the answer is "it depends."
Background
- Eight years in a long-distance relationship (now married, now finally in the same city)
- Background in couples counseling with focus on relationship transitions
- Graduate training in counseling psychology
- Currently: Editor-in-Chief at PRESENCE, based in Seattle