Today we’d like to introduce you to Penina Flug.
Hi Penina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m truly blessed to be able to do work that I love. When I was in high school, I decided that I wanted to be a social worker specializing in couples therapy. Through hard work and amazing family support, I was able to reach that goal. I feel particularly grateful that my profession allows me to create my own schedule, which is vital for a mother, and I’m able to constantly adjust it as my kids grow and their needs change.
More recently, I decided to limit my practice to relationship therapy because it is what I am most skilled at and deeply passionate about. My specialization is in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), developed by Dr. Sue Johnson. I chose this model because it’s humanistic, collaborative, empathic, and proven to be highly effective through extensive research. I’m passionate about helping couples and families navigate their emotional waters.
After years of working with couples, I decided to focus on prevention as well. I trained in the Build a Lasting Connection premarital program, which is an amazing, research-based curriculum designed to prepare couples for—or enhance—their marriage. I genuinely enjoy preparing people for marriage.
One of my goals is to bring marriage education to a wider audience through articles, like this column, and podcasts. In all my work, I always recommend Dr. Sue Johnson’s book, Hold Me Tight, to every couple I see.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
While I’m grateful to say the road has been largely smooth, it certainly hasn’t been without its bumps along the way.
The most significant challenges have often revolved around juggling the demands of a private practice with the needs of a growing family. Early in my career, especially during grad school and those initial post-licensure years, the hours were long and often late. It was a struggle to find the balance between being a dedicated student and therapist and being present at home. Having to go back to work relatively quickly after my babies were born was difficult, as many mothers can relate to.
Another hurdle came when my family and I moved to Florida. The job market and network for therapists weren’t as robust as they were in New York, which meant I had to start over and reinvent myself.
Finally, starting and growing a private practice from scratch required a tremendous amount of sustained work, especially on the business side of things, which isn’t taught in therapy school. However, overcoming those challenges to create a flexible, fulfilling career has been an incredible journey full of personal and professional growth.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At the core of what I do, I am a relationship therapist. I specialize exclusively in helping people connect and communicate better, whether that’s through couples therapy, premarital education, or family therapy focusing on the complex dynamics between adult children and their parents.
What I love most about my job is instilling hope in couples—showing them that change is possible and that they can build a more secure, loving marriage. I believe deeply in giving couples the tools to create a better future together
I think my most significant differentiator is my extensive premarital work. While many therapists focus solely on crisis intervention, I’ve committed a significant part of my practice to prevention through premarital education. My training in the research-based “Build a Lasting Connection” program allows me to work with couples before they walk down the aisle. This preventative focus gives couples a solid foundation, helping them identify and navigate potential conflict patterns early on. This combination of being highly skilled in both repair (couples therapy) and prevention (premarital education) allows me to help couples at every stage of their relationship journey. With the goal of providing a continuum of care, I plan to add therapy for daters to my practice services in 2026.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love where I live, and it’s a big part of what makes my work-life balance possible.
My absolute favorite thing about living in South Florida is the slower pace and the beautiful, relaxed lifestyle. After growing up near the hustle of New York, the change has been incredibly refreshing.
I am someone who absolutely loves being outside, and living here makes that possible almost every single day. I love taking long walks, which I do almost daily with my husband or with my best friends. And of course, the beaches are a huge draw. Being able to go to the beach on my days off with my family or friends is a luxury I truly appreciate.
Contact Info:
- Website: Penina Flug LCSW – peninafluglcsw.com
- Email: penina@peninafluglcsw.com
