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You love your partner, but lately it feels like you’re stuck in the same arguments on repeat. It’s easy for emotional connection to get lost in the noise of everyday stress.
Couples therapy helps you break the cycle. Communicate without triggering each other, repair tension before it becomes resentment, and rebuild the emotional safety that makes love feel easy again.
One of the most eye-opening lessons I learned in graduate school at The University of Southern California was this: The biggest factor in a client’s success isn’t the type of therapy, the technique, or even the duration. It’s the strength of the therapeutic relationship.
After 15 years of marriage and two decades of counseling couples, I’ve seen what works. Successful couples learn how to be a TEAM against the defenses that keeping them apart. As an experienced licensed therapist who specializes in attachment, I can guide you through evidence-based tools for better communication.
Book a 15-minute introductory call to see how couples therapy online can help you become better partners, no matter how upset either of you get.
The 1st session was more helpful than a year of other therapy.
We have shed all the old baggage and can be vulnerable now to own our part.
You might remember the spark you felt walking hand in hand through Balboa Park or spending lazy afternoons together at La Jolla Shores, but now it feels like you’re just passing each other by. Your relationship can start to feel like another task on your never ending to do list.
You don’t have to settle for distance. With expert support and practical tools, you can move through tension, rebuild trust, and bring back the ease and connection that once felt effortless.
Reawaken the sense of closeness you’ve been missing. Laugh more. Feel like a team again. Don’t let the stress of Southern California life take a toll on the most important part of your world… your relationship.
Now is the time to reset and reconnect.
Reconnect with your partner.
Married. Engaged. Dating. Committed. Straight. Bi. Gay. Neurodivergent. Polyamorous.
Improve your relationship no matter what it looks like.
DEBBIE CHERRY, LMFT
Working with an experienced marriage therapist increases the chances of long-term change. 99% of the couples that I work with report that they have seen significant improvement in their relationship communication and connection. Couples counseling in general has a success rate of around 70%, according to data from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
In my private practice, success often depends on a few key factors:
Research indicates that professional help, when led by a skilled therapist, can help improve communication, resolve conflicts, heal from infidelity, and deepen emotional connections. The effectiveness often depends on consistent participation, the use of evidence-based techniques, and the quality of the therapeutic relationship.
Every couple is different, but many start to feel relief and make real progress within the first few sessions. I focus on practical tools you express yourselves quickly so you don’t stay in therapy forever, just long enough to change your patterns for good.
On average, SoCal couples attend therapy twice a month for 6 months, depending on how deep the patterns run and how consistently you’re able to practice the tools we cover. Some come in for a focused tune-up, while others choose to stay longer for ongoing support as they grow. My is designed to be efficient and actionable. You’ll leave every session with real insights and tools you can apply immediately.
You can see client success stories, reviews and results here.
Relationship therapy creates change by increasing awareness, offering new experiences, and providing practical tools beyond just talk therapy. First, it shines a light on unconscious patterns and default reactions that keep you stuck. Once you have a deeper understanding of your patterns, you can start making more intentional choices instead of repeating old habits.
Second, working with a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in San Diego with an emphasis on attachment styles offers new emotional experiences. For example, if you’re used to feeling misunderstood in hard conversations, practicing reflective listening with your partner in session can shift that dynamic and help you feel truly heard. Finally, relationship and individual therapy equips you with actionable tools to handle real-life challenges. Whether it’s managing conflict, deepening emotional intimacy, or communicating needs more clearly, you’ll leave each session with something you can try right away. Over time, these small shifts add up to a more empowered relationship journey and lasting change.
I combine research-backed tools from the Gottman Method with an emotionally focused, attachment-based approach for adults to help couples strengthen their connection and stop destructive behaviors. To see what’s possible with expert guidance, check out the couples’ success stories here.
Yes, online couples counseling can be just as effective as in-person therapy. Research shows that virtual sessions, when led by a trained couples therapist using evidence-based approaches, can improve communication, reduce conflict, and prevent emotional disconnection leading to divorce. For many busy couples, the convenience of meeting from home actually makes it easier to show up consistently during foggy days when tension runs high. Many couples feel more comfortable doing therapy from home than in a clinical office.
Meeting with a licensed therapist from your own home can actually build trust faster and understand each other’s core identities more deeply. A licensed CA therapist provides guidance that fits your state’s requirements for telehealth. Being in your own space lowers defenses, builds rapport faster, and helps you open up more easily, so you get results sooner.
I offer a free 15-minute consultation if you want to talk more about working together.
You don’t need months of therapy to start seeing change… even if you’re managing the stress of life in San Diego, CA. When both partners are motivated and the approach is strategic, meaningful progress can happen quickly.
First, we’ll clarify your top priorities, whether it’s stopping the constant arguments, feeling more emotionally connected, navigating life transitions, or rebuilding trust. I’ll guide you through tools that target those areas directly. To accelerate growth, I recommend staying consistent, and practicing what you learn between sessions. Many couples leave their first few appointments already feeling more aligned and hopeful, even if they walked in weighed down by stress from their startup launch or busy kids’ schedules.
Need momentum now? Let’s start with a free 15-minute call to see if we’re a good fit.
In your first couples therapy session, we will talk through what brought you here and begin to uncover the patterns that are keeping you stuck. Whether you are feeling distant, caught in ongoing tension, or struggling to communicate after long days and full schedules, this is a space to slow down and reconnect.
You will both have time to share your perspective while I help identify what is not working and offer practical tools to shift those dynamics. We will clarify your goals and begin using simple, research based strategies to reduce conflict and improve communication.
As a therapist with advanced training in adult attachment, I will guide you through difficult conversations with care and structure. Every session is personalized to your relationship, with a mix of conversation, coaching, and tools you can apply between sessions.
A marriage and family therapist helps couples and families improve communication, navigate conflict, and build stronger emotional bonds. My role is to identify the patterns keeping you stuck and teach you new tools to feel more connected and supported in your relationship. Instead of just focusing on past problems, I guide you toward practical, research-backed strategies that help you resolve tension, express your needs more clearly, and feel like a team again. Whether you’re navigating big transitions or simply want to reconnect, therapy can help you build the foundation for a stronger, more secure partnership.
You can see client success stories, reviews and results here.
Yes. It is easy to fall into a routine of rushing through the week, checking off tasks, and realizing you have not had a real moment of connection in days. Therapy gives you a chance to pause and refocus on your relationship and personal growth.
Together, we will explore the underlying issues that are creating distance, whether it is stress, mismatched energy, burnout, or unspoken fears. Through this process, you will gain knowledge about how each of you responds to pressure and learn healthier ways to reconnect and support one another.
Yes. For many high-achieving couples in San Diego, that’s one of the most important benefits of therapy. When your days are packed with meetings, metrics, and mental to-do lists, it’s easy to treat your relationship like just another task to manage or optimize.
Emotional connection doesn’t thrive in productivity mode. It grows in moments of presence, curiosity, and emotional availability. Therapy helps you relearn how to just be with each other… without performing, fixing, or checking off boxes.
Together, we’ll identify where the pace of life is overriding the pace of connection. We’ll explore how pressure, urgency, and overstimulation affect your nervous system and communication style. When you feel grounded in your partnership, you’re more resilient, creative, and emotionally available everywhere else in your life.
I combine the most effective and research-backed methods from Attachment Theory, The Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Imago Therapy, Psychobiological approaches, Narrative Therapy for Couples and relationship coaching for a lasting relationship. This blended framework allows me to tailor strategies to each couple’s unique dynamics. My goal is to provide actionable tools that you can communicate and connect better in and out of the therapy sessions.
I combine over 20 years of experience counseling couples with practical tools. My approach is rooted in attachment science and is action-oriented, efficient, and tailored for high-achieving, emotionally intelligent couples who don’t have time to waste. I don’t just listen. I help you talk differently, fight better, and reconnect faster. You’ll walk away from each session with clear takeaways, real-time communication tools, and new patterns that help you feel like a team again. You can learn more about me, my background and approach here.
Yes! Couples I work with receive custom homework between sessions because lasting change happens between the sessions, not just during them. You’ll get easy-to-use tools, reflection prompts, cheat sheets, and exercises designed to improve communication, deepen connection, and apply what we cover in real life.
Assignments might include practicing listening skills, answering questions together, or planning intentional quality time. These tools are based on 20+ years of working with real couples and are tailored to your specific goals. They help you build momentum, stay engaged, and make meaningful progress every week. If you would like to see some sample couples therapy exercises, grab the Connected Communication Toolkit here.
The investment for each couples counseling session ranges from $175 to $350 per 50-minute session, depending on the level of support you choose and your benefits… often far less than the cost of a single night out in San Diego, and potentially life-changing for your relationship.
Most couples experience real momentum and clarity within just a few sessions. Many clients also use their HSA/FSA benefits or receive up to 50% reimbursement through their insurance provider.
If you want other therapy options that may be more affordable or self-paced, platforms like BetterHelp, Talkspace, or Regain offer flexible options with messaging and video, but may not specialize in high-achieving couples or attachment-based approaches. Consider factors such as therapist expertise, client reviews, tools and years of experience.
If couples therapy in California is tied to a diagnosable mental health condition (like anxiety depression), some plans may cover it. However, therapy focused on relationship dynamics, communication, and emotional growth is often not considered a “medical necessity” and may not be covered. Coverage depends on your specific plan and the policies of your insurer.
Some plans reimburse a portion or all of the cost if the therapy is delivered by a licensed counselor in California. It is advisable to check directly with your insurance provider and CA couples therapist about coverage details and eligibility before starting therapy. Seeing a virtual couples therapist can save you time while still giving you research-backed tools.
If you’re stuck having the same argument on repeat, feeling emotionally distant, planning to become parents, or just want to reconnect, couples therapy can help. You don’t have to be in crisis to benefit. Whether you’re navigating big life transitions or simply want to strengthen your bond, expert guidance offers practical tools to improve communication, deepen connection, and shift unhelpful patterns quickly. Many couples just try one session and take it from there. You might be surprised how much clarity and hope you can gain right away.
Book your free consultation here and let’s take the first step together.
Therapy sessions are confidential, and what you share won’t be disclosed without your written consent. There are a few legal exceptions to confidentiality, such as if there’s a risk of serious harm to you or others which will be addressed fully in the informed consent. If you’re using insurance, it’s important to know that most insurance companies require a mental health diagnosis for reimbursement. That diagnosis becomes part of your medical record, which some couples prefer to avoid. Because of this, many couples in the greater Los Angeles area choose to pay privately to maintain more privacy, keep their relationship issues out of their medical records, and avoid labeling their relationship or one partner with a clinical diagnosis.
Relationship counseling services may not be suitable for couples experiencing acute mental health emergencies, or domestic violence, where immediate and intensive in-person intervention is needed. Assess your situation carefully with a professional’s guidance before choosing the best support for your relationship.
Competent therapists can help you decide what is the best fit at this time. If you’re unsure, I’m happy to help you figure out the best next step in a consultation.
Yes. Feeling uncertain is often the exact reason couples benefit from therapy. Many people start the process unsure of where things stand… feeling disconnected, confused, or questioning whether the relationship is still working.
Therapy offers a supportive space to sort through those questions without pressure. Even if you are not aligned at first, the process can bring clarity. Whether you choose to move forward together or take a different path, therapy helps you communicate more openly, understand each other more deeply, and make decisions with care and intention. You do not need to have all the answers to begin.
Yes. I provide affirming support for LGBTQ+ couples navigating a wide range of experiences, including communication struggles, identity development, emotional safety, family planning, open relationship dynamics, and the impact of discrimination or trauma. Whether you’re dating, cohabiting, married, or exploring what your relationship means to you, therapy offers a safe, judgment-free space to be seen, understood, and supported.
Every couple deserves support that reflects their values, identities, and lived experiences, not a one-size-fits-all model. My approach is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and grounded relationship research. Finding the right therapist is a big predictor of positive therapy outcomes.
Yes. Many San Diego couples come to therapy feeling unsure about whether, when, or how to grow their family. These are big, often emotional decisions, and virtual therapy gives you the space to explore them openly and without pressure.
Whether you’re navigating different timelines, fertility concerns, ambivalence about parenting, or outside pressure from family or culture, therapy helps you understand what each of you truly wants and what’s driving your hopes or hesitations. Therapy helps you build clarity, mutual respect, and shared vision around the future you want to create together.
Yes, I offer family therapy sessions, especially with young adults and their parents. These conversations often help bridge generational gaps, improve communication, and strengthen trust. Whether you’re navigating parenting challenges, launching into adulthood, or trying to repair strained dynamics, we’ll create a space where everyone feels heard and understood. I also can provide support to the whole family particularly with young children as I have a specialty in early childhood mental health and development.
It’s incredibly common for one partner to feel ready before the other, especially if they feel shamed, have significant trauma or have previously had a negative experience in therapy. While couples therapy works best when both people are involved, change can still begin with just one of you with individual therapy sessions. If you start learning how to communicate more clearly, respond instead of react, and break old patterns, your partner will likely start responding differently too. We can start with one person for the first session, and still get positive momentum and tools for th team.
I’m an experienced couples therapist who can help you start the process even if your partner is hesitant. You’re welcome to start with a free 15-minute consultation, and I’ll help you figure out a path forward that feels supportive and doable for both of you.
Couples Therapy across California, Texas & Florida, including:
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Relationship Coaching available worldwide.
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