Licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and accepts 32 insurances. Specializes in Couples Counseling, Self Esteem, Sex Therapy and 10 more.
(she/her)
Hi, I'm Elvan Kama Kurtz, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Pennsylvania and the founder of Praxis Relationship Therapy. I work with adult individuals and couples who feel stuck in painful relationship patterns and want real, meaningful change. My professional journey began with a double major in Psychology and Sociology at Koc University Istanbul, Turkiye and continued with my master's degree in Family Therapy at Drexel University in the United States. I've spent over a decade working with individuals and couples navigating communication breakdowns, sexual intimacy issues, betrayal trauma and affair recovery, depression, anxiety, grief, life transitions, workplace and caregiver burnout, parent and adult child relationship dynamics, parents trying to conceive, narcissistic abuse recovery, and complex relationship challenges. The word praxis means turning theory into practice, and that's exactly how I approach therapy. In our work together, we don't just talk about your relationships. We actively work on them. I'm bilingual in English and Turkish, and as a dual citizen of Turkiye and the U.S., I warmly welcome clients from diverse cultural and relational backgrounds. I offer telehealth across Pennsylvania and in-person sessions in Swarthmore. I'm a proud mom of two rescue dogs, powered by coffee, great music, and dark humor. I have huge respect for art and artists, and an endless curiosity about the world. I truly love traveling and meeting people from different cultures and learning their stories along the way!
In your first session with me, you can expect a warm, structured, and collaborative conversation focused on getting to know you, and what you are hoping to change. We will begin by exploring your previous therapy experiences, including what felt helpful, what did not work for you, and what you would like to be different this time. I will invite you to share what brings you to therapy now, what feels most urgent, and what you would like your relationships and your life to look like moving forward. We will also talk about your strengths as an individual and couple, your goals, expectations from therapy, and any concerns you may have about starting this process. A central focus of the first session is to establish emotional safety and rapport. You will always feel respected, understood, and supported by me as you share your story. You do not need to have everything figured out prior to starting to therapy. This is a space where we being making sense of challenges together, at your own pace. Because my approach is grounded in praxis, putting insight and theory into practice, we will also begin discussing how therapy will be active and skill-based, not just reflective. Over time, our work will focus on understanding patterns, strengthening emotional connection, improving communication, and developing practical tools you can use in your everyday life and relationships. My goal is to help you have the relationship that you not only want but deserve. If you are coming in as a couple, I will help create a balanced and respectful space where both partners can feel heard. We will begin identifying areas of strength as well as patterns that feel most stuck or painful. Increasing your relationship satisfaction is my top priority. Above all, your first session is about starting our therapeutic relationship built on trust, collaboration, and clarity. I am looking forward to meeting you!
Through my work, I support adult individuals and couples in understanding themselves more deeply in their emotional patterns, unmet attachment needs, psychological barriers to intimacy, communication styles, and the relationship cycles they often feel trapped in. I help my clients gently identify what keeps repeating in their relationships and guide them toward healthier, more secure and emotionally connected ways of relating, both with others and with themselves. I believe therapy should feel both supportive and purposeful, not just reflective. I value evidence-based approaches and practical tools clients can actually use in their lives. I'm trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Gottman Method Affair Recovery, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Grief Counseling and Adult ADHD. I care deeply about emotional safety, honesty, transparency and accountability. I'm direct in my work, while staying warm and deeply respectful of your pace, readiness and where you are in your process. I believe nothing in relationships happens in isolation. Context matters. This is where my sociology background and systems-oriented training come in; helping my clients understand not just what is happening but why, and how their relationships, culture, age, race and ethnicity, gender, sexual orientations, upbringing, socioeconomic status, religion and environment... all play a role in their mental health.
My ideal individual client or a couple is curious, open to change, and committed to have honest and transparent conversations with me where we can build trust, honor the space that is designated to you and work towards your goals and expectations from therapy. I work with adult individuals and couples on relationship issues including but not limited to betrayal trauma and affair recovery, self-esteem issues, anxiety and depression, relationship distress, communication, emotional and sexual disconnection, premarital counseling, life stage transitions such as from partners to parents. For more detailed information about me and my services, please visit www.praxisrelationshiptherapy.com.
Cash - $180 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Arlo
AvMed
Centivo
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Evernorth
Geisinger - Commercial
Golden Rule
GTEB
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Surest (formerly Bind)
Tufts Health/Cigna
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
I use ACT to help clients develop greater awareness of their thoughts and emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them. This approach helps individuals and couples respond more intentionally rather than reacting from fear or past wounds. ACT is especially helpful in my work with relationship anxiety, betrayal trauma, and intimacy concerns, supporting clients in creating more secure, values-driven relationships.
I'm extensively trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy also in Gottman Method Affair Recovery. I use the Gottman Method to help couples improve communication, manage conflict, rebuild trust, and strengthen emotional and sexual intimacy. This research-based approach helps partners understand their patterns, increase emotional safety, and develop practical skills to create a more secure and connected relationship.
EFT helps couples understand and change the emotional patterns that keep them feeling disconnected. I use EFT to help partners express deeper needs, increase emotional safety, and rebuild trust and intimacy - especially for couples healing from betrayal or long-standing conflict.
I integrate sex therapy to help individuals and couples address concerns related to sexual intimacy, desire discrepancies, and emotional disconnection. This work focuses on improving communication, reducing shame and guilt, and helping partners build a more fulfilling and connected intimate relationship.
I help couples understand their patterns, repair trust and intimacy, and create more secure, connected and fulfilling relationships.