Kelly Smerz, Ph.D.

Our closest relationships carry profound psychological significance. They can be a source of deep joy and fulfillment, and just as easily, a place of frustration, pain, and disconnection. 

When we enter adult partnerships or marriages, we bring not only our hopes and intentions for a loving relationship, but also the emotional residues of earlier experiences that can resurface during times of change. 

Life transitions, such as becoming parents, navigating midlife or career shifts, or adjusting to an empty nest, often invite couples to encounter new aspects of themselves and one another, sometimes stretching the relationship in unexpected ways. 

Couples who seek therapy often need more than a compassionate listener; they need a skilled guide who can support both individual growth and relational change in ways that foster emotional connection and well-being.

As a clinical psychologist with nearly 20 years of experience, I’ve developed a deep understanding of how relationships shape us across the lifespan. 

In my work as a couples therapist, I help partners create a compassionate relational space that supports individual growth, mutual understanding, and an evolving partnership that allows for greater depth, resilience, and fulfillment.

Couples who work with me can expect a thoughtfully integrated, evidence-based approach to treatment. I draw from the Gottman Method, helping couples recognize and interrupt harmful communication patterns, strengthen friendship and fondness, and build a relationship grounded in trust, admiration, and emotional connection. 

From an Emotionally Focused Therapy perspective, I support couples in developing more secure attachment dynamics through increased emotional attunement and responsiveness. Together, we often explore the “emotional dance” that has developed over time. Patterns that may once have been protective, but now interfere with closeness and vitality. 

In addition, I incorporate interventions that foster greater self-awareness, helping individuals translate insight into more meaningful and skillful connection with their partner. As a clinical psychologist, I also bring particular expertise in working with couples navigating challenges related to ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma or PTSD, and addiction.

Many people choosing a couples therapist are understandably curious about the person who will be guiding them through this work. I have been married to my husband, Dr. Paul Smerz (also a clinical psychologist) for 20 years. We’re life partners, business partners, and parents to an adolescent daughter. With him, I have experienced the joys of marriage, parenting, and shared professional purpose, as well as the inevitable challenges that arise when time is limited, demands are high, and life feels relentless. These experiences inform my deep respect for the effort required to sustain a strong, healthy, and vibrant relationship over time.

Through my work at the Relationship Center of Milwaukee, I collaborate with my husband and a team of colleagues to offer couples a unique and comprehensive therapeutic experience. One designed to support meaningful and enduring change. I believe you will find that we provide exceptional care.

I enjoy working with couples in all configurations and warmly welcome LGBTQ+ individuals into my practice. I also maintain a national psychologist license and offer virtual sessions for clients outside the Milwaukee metropolitan area and in states covered by my licensure.

I invite you to reach out and begin this journey together.