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Maring Higa


Therapist for Couples Seeking Deeper Connection | New Path Couples Therapy
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💛 Lived Experience Shapes the Way I Work
 

I know what it’s like to fight for connection—and to finally find it, in a way that feels real, earned, and deeply alive.
 

Earlier in life, I was in a marriage that was filled with both love and difficulty. Navigating deep differences in communication, emotional rhythms, and expectations taught me more than any textbook or training ever could.
 

That experience was humbling and transformational—it opened my heart to what it truly takes to build a relationship that works for both people.
 

Now, I’m over a decade into a partnership with someone I truly consider my soulmate. But “soulmate” doesn’t mean smooth sailing—it means we’re committed to doing the work.

That includes blending families, healing old wounds, and facing the inevitable friction of two complex lives coming together. We still stumble. But we keep showing up—with curiosity, humility, and care.
 

Having lived through both disconnection and deep repair, I bring a grounded, compassionate hope to couples who are struggling. I don’t offer quick fixes—I offer real tools for real relationships.
 

🌱 Parenting with Heart
 

I’m a mom of two incredible kids. My daughter is 9, and my son is 14 and autistic.

Parenting has stretched me in every possible way. I’ve walked through sleep-deprived seasons, tricky school dynamics, and countless moments of wonder, frustration, and joy.
 

Later in life, I was diagnosed with ADHD. That revelation helped me make sense of so many things—years of hidden overwhelm, shame, and the pressure to function in a world that didn’t seem to fit.
 

That insight fuels my passion for helping other parents navigate life with more clarity, grace, and self-compassion.
 

I support parents who are balancing emotional labor, advocacy, and personal growth—because parenting isn’t just about raising kids. It’s also about healing ourselves.
 

🧠 How I Work with Couples
 

I specialize in helping couples who feel stuck, frustrated, or disconnected find their way back to each other.

Whether you're navigating miscommunication, emotional distance, or long-standing conflict, I create a space where both partners can feel heard—without blame, and without shame.
 

Together, we:
 

  • Slow things down so both people feel safe and understood
     

  • Shift from cycles of criticism to a shared sense of purpose
     

  • Build a relational language that reflects both partners’ needs
     

  • Learn how to repair hurts with honesty and care
     

  • Develop tools to stay connected through life’s inevitable stressors
     

My approach blends emotional depth with practical support. Some of the methods I draw from include:
 

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to build security and connection
     

  • Imago Therapy to explore how childhood wounds affect current dynamics
     

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help each partner access compassion for themselves and each other
     

  • Gottman tools for strengthening communication and building rituals of connection
     

  • Somatic work to release what's held in the body and create safety from the inside out
     

  • Bioenergetic Somatic Therapy to reconnect with the body and release emotion through breath, movement, and grounding
     

Every couple is different. My job is to help you understand the patterns you’re caught in—and to walk alongside you as you create new ones.
 

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Co-Parenting After Separation
 

Co-parenting is one of the most challenging—and most important—relationships you’ll ever have. I’ve lived it.
 

Trying to communicate with an ex while protecting your kids’ emotional safety, managing schedules, and staying true to your values can feel overwhelming.

I work with clients to develop clear, respectful strategies for communication, boundary-setting, and conflict resolution. My goal is to help you move from gridlock to collaboration—for the sake of your children and your own peace of mind.
 

🏡 Blended Families: A New Blueprint
 

Blending families is no small task. It’s not just a logistical shift—it’s an emotional journey.
 

As someone who’s walked the path of becoming a stepparent and navigating complex family dynamics, I bring empathy and insight to the unique struggles that arise: role confusion, loyalty binds, discipline disagreements, and the slow process of building trust and connection.
 

Together, we’ll create a new blueprint that honors each person’s role and helps your new family system thrive.
 

🌿 Healing Through the Body
 

Before becoming a therapist, I spent 17 years practicing acupuncture and holistic bodywork.

That background shaped how I view healing—not just as a mental or emotional process, but as something deeply rooted in the body.
 

Many of us walk through life disconnected from our physical selves—numbing out, powering through, or living in a chronic state of tension without realizing it. I help clients gently tune back in.
 

Whether through breathwork, somatic tracking, or body awareness practices, we reconnect to the body as a source of wisdom and resilience. This work is especially powerful in relationships, where unspoken tension, shutdown patterns, and longing often live beneath the surface.
 

My training and experience include:
 

  • Acupuncture and holistic health practices
     

  • Somatic therapy and bioenergetic release
     

  • Postpartum and women’s health support
     

  • Trauma recovery and nervous system regulation
     

  • Personal experience as an athlete and performer
     

This embodied lens helps me support individuals and couples whose nervous systems are exhausted, overworked, or longing for safety.
 

🎨 And Just for Fun
 

I’m endlessly curious and deeply creative.
 

I love women’s soccer, making music, and diving into hands-on projects. I believe that beauty, humor, and play are not extras—they’re essential to a meaningful life and lasting connection.
 

📚 Education & Clinical Training
 

  • M.A. in Counseling Psychology (Marriage and Family Therapy) – National University
     

  • M.S. in Oriental Medicine – Pacific College of Oriental Medicine
     

  • Certified Bioenergetics Therapist (in progress) – Southern California Institute of Bioenergetics
     

  • Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #145908
     

  • Supervised by Dr. Harry Motro, LMFT #53452
     

Trained in:
 

  • Somatic Therapy & Nervous System Regulation
     

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)
     

  • Trauma-Informed Couples Work
     

  • Fertility, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Mental Health
     

  • Women’s Health & Holistic Medicine
     

  • Acupuncture and Embodiment Practices
     

🎙 Podcast Host
 
🤝 You’re Not Alone
 

If you’re facing relationship challenges, parenting stress, or emotional overwhelm, you’re not broken.

You’re human—and healing is possible.

Let’s create a space where both partners feel seen, supported, and ready to grow together.

Maring Higa
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