Hello and welcome. I’m Dr. Irena Milentijevic, a licensed psychologist with over 25 years of experience. I specialize in helping women, couples, and families navigate life’s most challenging transitions. My mission is to guide you toward strength, connection, and healing—whether you’re grieving a loss, facing family conflict, or struggling with a relationship.
Licensed in TX, NY & 35+ PSYPACT States
I offer online therapy in 35+ PSYPACT states and in-person sessions in Houston and The Woodlands, TX. Wherever you are, you don’t have to face life’s challenges alone.
A Psychologist Who Understands Women’s Unique Struggles
Being a woman today often means balancing impossible roles. As a mother, therapist, and partner, I know the weight of feeling pulled in every direction—while still believing you’re not doing enough.
I’ve walked the same tightrope my clients walk. I understand the silent pressure to hold everything together.
Helping Couples Rebuild Trust, Intimacy, and Emotional Safety
Couples therapy is central to my work. When a relationship suffers, everything else feels harder. Whether you’re moving through grief, stuck in disconnection, or feeling like strangers in your own home, healing is possible. Using Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), I help couples repair emotional injuries, rebuild intimacy, and restore safety. In our sessions, you’ll learn to recognize unhelpful patterns, slow down, and reach for each other in ways that deepen connection.
Families with Adult Children: Healing Strain and Conflict
Family dynamics evolve as children grow older, yet pain and misunderstandings often linger. Parents and adult children may feel distant, misunderstood, or caught in unresolved conflicts. I help families create new ways of relating, repair old wounds, and rediscover closeness. Even long-standing struggles can shift when communication and compassion replace silence and hurt.
Why EFT Became My Chosen Method
Years ago, my own marriage hit a difficult patch. That’s when I found EFT. It transformed not only my relationship—but also my clinical work. EFT helped me understand that anger often masks a deeper plea: “Do I still matter to you?” It gave me the language of attachment—one I now teach to every couple I work with.
Trained in Attachment Relationships Across the Lifespan
I’m a doctoral-level psychologist with advanced training in:
- Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT)
- Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
- Parent-infant attachment therapy
- Trauma and grief counseling
As a certified EFT therapist and prospective EFT supervisor, I remain committed to ongoing training and excellence.
Therapy That Feels Safe, Compassionate, and Real
I know how hard it is to reach out to a therapist. You want someone who gets it. Someone you can talk to without judgment.
Here’s what you can expect in sessions with me:
- A warm, down-to-earth therapist
- A deep respect for your cultural and personal identity
- Space for both your strengths and your pain
- Research-informed tools that actually work
Multicultural Sensitivity Is Personal to Me
As someone who immigrated from the former Yugoslavia over 35 years ago, I carry a deep appreciation for cultural and religious differences. I honor each client’s background, values, and story—because healing always happens within the context of who you are.
Clinical Credentials & Professional Affiliations
- Certified Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist
- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology – Yeshiva University, NYC
- BA in Psychology – Belgrade University, Serbia
- Internship & – Postgraduate Center for Mental Health, NYC
- Fellowship: Group Psychotherapy, St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, NYC
- Fellowship: Parent-Infant Psychotherapy, Colombia Psychoanalytic Center, NYC
Memberships:
- American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)
- Houston Community for EFT (HCEFT)
- International Centre for Excellence in EFT (ICEEFT)
- New York City Center for EFT (NYCEFT)
- Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Alliance (PLIDA)
Leadership & Teaching Experience
- Houston Community for EFT board member
- PLIDA presenter 2024, 2022, 2019
- Former President – Montgomery County Psychological Association
- Keynote Speaker – H.A.N.D. (Helping Aid Neonatal Death), 2013–2014
- Clinical Supervisor & Dissertation Advisor
- Instructor – Graduate psychology and nursing programs
Let’s Connect
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected, I invite you to reach out. You don’t have to face this alone. Whether you’re in Houston, The Woodlands, NYC, or one of the many PSYPACT states, support is just one step away.
Email me at irena@permalink.com to schedule your FREE 10-minute phone consultation:
