Certified Gottman Therapist
Licenses:
California LMFT #99008 | Texas LMFT #205614
Dr. Dana McNeil is a licensed marriage and family therapist and the founder of The Relationship Place, a San Diego couples therapy practice specializing in high-acuity relationships, emotional disconnection, conflict repair, and intimacy concerns. She has achieved the highest level of training in the Gottman Method Couples Therapy and is known for her compassionate, direct, and practical approach to helping couples rebuild trust, communication, and closeness.
She is also the founder of Therapy Getaway, a structured couples intensive model designed for couples seeking deep, focused relationship repair. Dana has specialized expertise in midlife marriage challenges, empty nest transitions, and gray divorce, and provides training and professional education for therapists, including work connected to the Gottman Institute.
Her expertise has been featured in national publications including Oprah Daily, Martha Stewart Living, Men’s Health, Bustle, and SELF Magazine.
She is passionate about helping couples move from feeling like roommates to rebuilding emotional and physical connection.
- Why Am I So Anxious in My Relationship? - October 9, 2026
- Breadcrumbing in a Relationship: Why Crumbs Never Add Up to a Cupcake - September 25, 2026
- Dr. Dana McNeil Featured in Good Housekeeping: The Real Lesson Behind “Gummy Bear Mom” Parenting - September 9, 2026
You strengthen the bond in a relationship through small, everyday habits: listening to understand, appreciating your partner out loud, making regular device-free time together, doing small kind things often, showing empathy for their feelings and communicating openly about what you each need. None of these take much time, but practiced consistently, they make a relationship feel closer and more secure. If you’d like support, relationship counseling for couples can help you build these habits together.
Love is a beautiful thing, and there’s nothing more amazing than feeling the bond you share with your partner get stronger. If you’re in a happy relationship, you can keep it that way by introducing a few new things into your relationship. Here are 6 approaches that will help you enjoy a more fulfilling connection.
1. Listen
Listening is a great way to boost intimacy. Make a sincere effort to always listen to your partner, especially when they’re talking about something that relates to your relationship. Listen to understand what they’re saying, not just to give a response. This helps your partner feel like you value the relationship and care about them deeply.
2. Appreciate Your Partner
Think about something your partner does that makes your life easier, especially something you view as their responsibility, such as paying their share of the bills. Thank them sincerely for it. This might feel strange since it’s something they would do anyway, but it makes them feel good and your relationship more satisfying. So take five minutes to say something like “I appreciate how hard you work so we can pay the bills,” and watch for the smile on their face afterward.
3. Schedule Device-Free Time Together
In today’s world it’s incredibly hard to focus on one thing. At least once a week, turn off all electronic devices and do something you both enjoy. You could watch your favorite movie, give each other a massage or play a board game. This gives you time to enjoy each other and connect on a deeper level.
4. Do Small Acts of Kindness Often
Do things that will make your partner feel important and loved, and do them often. It can be as simple as making their favorite breakfast, creating a playlist or sending them a love note by email. Dr. John Gottman often sums this up as “small things often”: frequent, everyday gestures of care add up to a relationship that feels warm and secure, in a way that occasional grand gestures can’t replace.
5. Show Empathy
Always take your partner’s feelings seriously, even when you feel they’re irrational. When you find it difficult to empathize, take a deep breath and remind yourself that their feelings are important, and try to understand why they might feel that way.
6. Communicate Openly
Communication is key. Good communication skills help your relationship thrive. This means asking your partner what they need and telling them what you need as well, checking in regularly to make sure they’re feeling good, and learning to argue in a way that doesn’t hurt your relationship.
If you would like to improve your relationship and strengthen the bond between you and your partner even more, call The Relationship Place at (619) 535-8890 to book a relationship counseling session.