Inside Dr. Sheena K. Glover’s Mission to Help Couples Build Deeper Intimacy

It began with a couple in crisis.

Dr. Sheena K. Glover had been trained in the science of thoughts and behavior, and had developed a deep love for trauma work through her psychology practice. But when she sat across from this particular couple, she quickly realized she was being pulled toward something more specialized. Standard communication tools were not going to be enough. Their reactions to each other were visceral, immediate, and overwhelming. What looked like conflict on the surface was clearly rooted in something deeper—and Sheena was fascinated.

Eager to understand what happens inside the emotional storm of a relationship, she found herself asking new questions and riding the couple’s highs and lows each week. That experience ultimately shaped the direction of Sheena’s work and inspired the creation of Intimacy In Progress, a private practice dedicated to helping clients build deeper connection, navigate challenges, and create relationships where both partners can feel fully seen, known, and themselves.

The name reflects a belief at the heart of Sheena’s work: connection is never stagnant. Relationships are always evolving, always moving, always changing. And so are the people inside them.

What are some of the most meaningful impacts your work has had so far?

The biggest gift I can give as a psychologist is clarity. A lot of couples come into therapy believing the goal is to “fix” the relationship. They think that if they invest enough time, money, and effort, the relationship will automatically feel good again. That can happen sometimes—but one thing every couple that works with me walks away with is clarity.

Sometimes that clarity is realizing the relationship has long expired and it’s time to let go. Sometimes it’s clarity around the fears, hurt, or patterns that have kept the relationship from growing. And sometimes clarity looks like finally falling in love with the actual person in front of you instead of the version you imagined them to be.

Couples therapy does not guarantee a relationship will work—and, honestly, I think that truth matters. What it can do is help people understand themselves, understand each other, and move in a direction that creates growth instead of staying stuck. Growth may happen together or apart, but clarity changes people either way.

In what ways have your upbringing or past experiences contributed to how you operate as a leader?

Between my family dynamics growing up and my experience in the military, I often felt restricted by systems that made it difficult to fully be myself. When I transitioned from the military into graduate school, I felt a shift internally. I was finally moving toward something that fit me better.

What fascinated me about psychology was that it existed everywhere: education, hospitals, law, relationships, prisons. The field felt endless to me, and I think that possibility really connected to something deeper that had wanted more freedom for a long time. I also realized that I struggled with limitations, even within systems where psychology was practiced. Looking back now, private practice felt inevitable because I knew I wanted to build something that reflected how I saw people and relationships.

Ironically, that experience shapes how I work with couples now. So many people feel emotionally trapped inside their own perspectives, fears, or protective patterns. Part of my work is helping them push beyond those limitations so they can connect differently with themselves and with each other.

What were the most difficult and most impactful lessons you’ve learned since starting your career?

My evolving relationship with time has been the biggest lesson. I would compare it to the weather. There are moments when life feels perfect and you don’t want it to end, like the ideal spring day when everything feels easy and aligned. There are other seasons when you just want time to move faster so you can get through the difficult parts. But time changes whether we want it to or not.

I’ve had to learn not to grip too tightly to the good moments or rush past the hard ones. Every season—even the uncomfortable ones—has something to teach. Running a company has forced me to become more present instead of constantly chasing the next milestone or measuring my life in productivity. (I still occasionally look at my calendar like it personally betrayed me, so this is easier said than done.)

What’s next for you and your career?

First, I hope to create a group practice with other couples psychologists, while also building an online couples “school.” I want couples to have access to resources and support that help them grow emotionally, communicate better, and move through hurt in healthier ways.

I also want to build an online community for mental health professionals and students. Becoming a psychologist can be incredibly isolating, and many clinicians spend so much time supporting others while lacking support themselves. This would be a space where clinicians can access training, resources, mentorship, and community, all in one place—and a place where they can grow professionally while also feeling connected to other people who understand the work.