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(949) 393-8662
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Erika Hadinata, LMFT: Christian Counselor and Relationship Therapist

Erika Hadinata

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Specialties: Marriage/Couples
Concerns: Couples, Relationships, Communication, Relationship Conflict
Types of Therapy: Couples Counseling, Relational Therapy, CBT, Attachment-Based Couples Work, Gottman Relationship Principles, Optional Faith-Based Counseling
Insurances: Out of Network
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Erika Hadinata

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Meet Erika Hadinata – Couples & Relationship Therapist

Hi, I’m Erika Hadinata, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in couples and relationship counseling.

Many of the couples I work with still love each other. They’re just tired of having the same argument, feeling misunderstood, or wondering how they somehow became better at managing a household than feeling like partners.

I also work with couples facing bigger relationship decisions: Are we ready to get married? Why does one of us keep pulling back from commitment? How do we reconnect after having a baby? What happens to us now that the kids don’t need us in the same way?

My job isn’t to take sides or simply tell you to “communicate better.” I help you slow down what’s happening between you, understand the pattern that keeps pulling you back into the same conflict, and find more useful ways to respond to each other.

Location and Availability: Newport Beach, CA

I see couples in person at our Newport Beach office, and offer online sessions for couples who prefer the flexibility of meeting from home

My Background

I’ve been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 2017 and have been part of OC Relationship Center since 2019. Before that, I spent three years providing faith-based couples counseling through Saddleback Church’s Pastoral Care ministry, supervised by the Lead Pastor of Pastoral Care, who was also a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. That work combined biblical principles with an understanding of how our early relationships shape the way we connect as adults — a foundation I still draw on today.

Couples I Work With

I work with couples navigating:

  • Repeated arguments that never seem to resolve
  • Feeling like roommates instead of partners
  • Feeling unseen, unheard, or unappreciated
  • One partner pushing to talk while the other shuts down or pulls away
  • Premarital questions and readiness for marriage
  • One partner feeling ready for commitment while the other hesitates
  • Adjusting to life as new parents
  • Reconnecting after the kids grow up and leave home
  • The added strain of raising a child with disabilities

Questions Couples Often Bring to Therapy

  • “Why do we keep having the same fight?”
  • “Why does my partner get defensive whenever I bring something up?”
  • “Why do I feel so alone when we’re still together?”
  • “Are we actually ready to get married?”
  • “Why does my partner say they want a future with me but keep pulling back?”
  • “How do we stop feeling like roommates?”
  • “How do we get back to feeling like a couple again?”

Techniques I Use in Couples Counseling

I draw on a few approaches, depending on what a couple needs:

Relational Therapy:

I help you identify recurring patterns in your relationships and work together to create healthier connections. This method lays the foundation for our work.

Attachment-Based Couples Work

We look at how each of you learned to handle closeness and conflict early in life, and how those habits show up in how you relate to each other now.

Gottman Relationship Principles

I draw on well-known Gottman concepts to help couples reconnect. We look at patterns that erode a relationship, like cycles of criticism and defensiveness, as well as habits that repair it, like turning toward each other instead of away and rebuilding fondness and appreciation.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

We identify the internal assumptions and self-talk that shape how you interpret your partner’s words and actions, since those assumptions often drive defensiveness, withdrawal, or criticism faster than the situation itself does.

Solution-Focused Therapy:

We build on what’s already working between you, rather than spending most of our time picking apart what’s wrong.

Mindfulness and Stress-Reduction Techniques:

We work on staying regulated enough during hard conversations that you can actually hear each other, instead of just reacting.

Optional Faith-Integrated Counseling:

For couples who specifically ask for it, I can incorporate faith and biblical principles into our work together.

What You Can Expect From Erika

At OC Relationship Center, we want couples to have more than a passive listener. Erika is warm and easy to talk to, but she’s also active in session — asking direct questions, naming what she’s noticing, and giving you something concrete to work with rather than leaving you to figure it out on your own.

“I feel that she understands whatever situation I describe, and is able to put it in perspective, zero in on where to focus, and show solid steps in how to move forward. She has untangled many things already.”

More About Me

When I’m not counseling, I love spending time outdoors. I enjoy hiking and kayaking because these activities keep me energized. I also relax by watching my favorite shows and reading. Moreover, I experiment with new recipes in the kitchen. 

Take the Next Step Together

If you and your partner are ready to start improving things between you, call or text us at (949) 393-8662, or click here to schedule an appointment.

Not sure which therapist is right for you?

Give our Client Ambassador a call at (949) 393-8662, or text us, or click here to schedule an appointment today if you are ready to get started now.

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