You miss your partner. No matter what you do, the same fights keep happening. The distance between you grows, leaving you feeling frustrated and disconnected.
Marriage counseling online gives you expert guidance and practical TOOLS to break the cycle, communicate better, and reconnect.
One of the most eye-opening lessons I learned in graduate school at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles 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. The key is becoming a TEAM against the defenses that keep you apart. If you’re ready to stop feeling disconnected in your relationship, book your free 15-minute introductory call now.
“Debbie & her coaching saved our marriage! We have had so much going on these past few months, I’m not sure if we would have made it out still together if it weren’t for her help. The support has helped us communicate, listen, and react so much better to each other!”
– NEWLYWEDS IN CALIFORNIA
Get back to enjoying weekend hikes in Griffith Park or sunset beach walks in Santa Cruz without that undercurrent of tension. Schedule your free consultation and see how online marriage counseling in California can help you feel like a team again.
The fighting cycles ended.
We now feel safe to share anything with each other.
When life in California moves fast, your marriage can start to feel like just another task on your to-do list. You used to feel that rush of excitement when you saw each other… maybe when you first explored Malibu together or cheered on your team at a Giants game, but now you feel more like roommates.
Online marriage counseling in CA can help you become stronger partners… even if your week is packed with after-school activities, LA auditions, or board meetings in Palo Alto. Reconnect from wherever you are in California.
You don’t have to settle for distance. With expert support and practical tools, marriage counseling in California helps you break through tension, restore closeness, and bring back the ease and intimacy that once felt effortless. Stop recurring arguments and repair resentments so you can enjoy each other again.
Married. Engaged. Long-term committed. Straight. Bi. Gay. Neurodivergent. Polyamorous.
“WE HAVE HAD MORE AWARENESS & CHANGE FROM THIS PROCESS & TOOLS
THAN ANY OTHER THERAPY WE’VE EVER DONE.”
– COUPLE MARRIED FOR 20 YEARS
DEBBIE CHERRY, LMFT
Marriage counseling is a process where a licensed marriage and family therapist helps spouses work through relationship challenges, improve communication, and resolve conflict in a safe, supportive space. Unlike general family therapy, marriage counseling focuses directly on your bond as partners, while still honoring the influence of family systems and life stressors.
Through a collaborative approach, a therapist helps you discover tools to feel more connected in the present, understand the past, and take the first step toward a more secure future. For many California couples, marriage counseling provides not just relief but also hope… a chance to heal from pain, find peace, and build a fulfilling relationship where both partners feel seen and valued.
Finding the right therapist is a big predictor of positive therapy outcomes. I offer a free 15-minute consultation if you want to talk more about working together.
Yes. I provide secure online couples counseling and video sessions for California couples, from San Diego to San Francisco. Many spouses prefer online sessions because they allow for more comfort, privacy, and accessibility. Research shows that online marriage counseling is as effective as in-person.
I also offer online couples therapy and, when needed, can integrate individual therapy for self-exploration and growth. For partners experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, or low self-esteem, online therapy often feels less intimidating and provides more space to open up. Being in your own environment can reduce trauma triggers, lower defenses, and help you feel supported sooner.
Being in your own space lowers defenses, builds rapport faster, and helps you open up more easily, so you get results sooner. You can see client success stories, reviews and results here.
Spouses often seek therapy services for a wide range of struggles:
Not all therapy services are the same. Many couples have tried counseling in the past that felt like “just talking.” My approach is different: it’s a collaborative approach with specialized training in research-backed methods like the Gottman Method and attachment theory.
Marriage counseling is about compassion and understanding. Each spouse has their own journey and sometimes one partner struggles more with low self-esteem, anxiety, grief, or trauma. By combining practical tools with emotional support, I help you both feel safe, discover a greater purpose in your marriage, and create a plan for the future.
Marriage counseling brings awareness to patterns that keep you stuck. It offers tools to reduce pain, heal trauma, and create space for self-exploration and growth as a couple. You’ll learn to:
This process gives both partners hope, helps you manage everyday struggles, and creates a foundation for a healthier future together.
Every marriage is different. Some spouses come for just a few sessions to address one issue, while others commit to 3–6 months of regular sessions. Many couples begin to feel relief, support, and a sense of peace after the very first step.
For some, marriage counseling is short-term crisis repair; for others, it’s an ongoing journey of growth, healing, and discovery that leads to a more fulfilling relationship.
Yes. I provide flexible scheduling, including Saturdays & Sundays, to make room for your marriage in the middle of busy lives. Prioritizing your marriage can reduce stress, prevent divorce, and give you space to heal from the pain of disconnection. This flexibility makes therapy more accessible, compassionate, and aligned with the realities of California couples.
In the first session, both partners share their perspectives, struggles, and hopes for the marriage. Together, we’ll discuss your relationship history, areas of pain, and goals for the future.
My role as a marriage and family therapist is to guide you through difficult conversations with compassion and balance. You’ll walk away with practical tools… so you can begin to create more connection and peace immediately.
Yes. Every session includes structured tools you can use right away. These steps give couples not only insight into the present but also a path toward a more fulfilling relationship in the future. Examples include:
These tools are designed to help California couples go from stuck and disconnected to more secure and supported, together. Want a sneak peek? Download the Connected Communication Toolkit here.
While individual therapy focuses on your personal growth, marriage counseling treats the relationship as the client. Both partners explore how their histories, past trauma, and current struggles affect the marriage.
A marriage and family therapist balances both perspectives, helping you discover how to create a healthier, more fulfilling relationship together.
No. A licensed family therapist remains neutral. The goal is not to push toward divorce or take sides, but to help you understand each other, reduce pain, and build the foundation for a healthier future with compassion for both partners.
No. Many couples begin counseling proactively, not just when dealing with trauma, depression, or divorce threats. Proactive counseling is about strengthening connection, preventing future crises, and making your marriage more fulfilling so both spouses feel supported and deserve to thrive.
Sometimes. Insurance may cover sessions when linked to a mental health diagnosis for one partner, such as depression, anxiety, or grief. But most therapy services focused on relationship challenges are not covered.
That’s why many couples choose private pay… to keep the focus on self-exploration, compassion, and growth, free from labels.
Sessions range from $175–$350 per 50-minute session depending on your benefits. Many couples see this as an investment in their future, far less costly than the pain of ongoing disconnection or the process of divorce.
Coverage depends on your provider. Some will reimburse if counseling addresses mental health struggles such as anxiety or depression. Others will not cover therapy focused primarily on the relationship. Always check before beginning.
I accept credit cards, debit cards, and HSA/FSA cards. Payments are handled automatically for convenience.
Yes. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, I am legally bound to confidentiality, with rare exceptions for safety. Many couples prefer private pay to avoid having a mental health diagnosis attached to their records, ensuring their therapy services stay private.
Look for someone with specialized training in marriage and family work, a collaborative approach, and a style that makes you both feel safe. You deserve a therapist who offers both compassion and actionable tools.
With over 20 years of experience helping California couples, my goal is to help you reduce pain, heal trauma, and move forward into a more fulfilling relationship with hope and purpose.
California is richly diverse, and I honor your traditions, family values, and lived experiences. Whether you’re navigating cultural expectations, extended family therapy concerns, or major life changes, I approach your marriage with compassion, humility, and a collaborative approach.
Yes. I support marriages where one or both partners are neurodivergent, and also offer affirming counseling for couples exploring consensual non monogamy or other nontraditional structures.
Marriage counseling provides tools to reduce misunderstandings, heal trauma, and help both partners feel fulfilled in a safe, balanced space.
That’s very common. Sometimes one partner fears pain, judgment, or rehashing the past. I create a supportive space where both can feel safe and respected. Even if you start alone, marriage counseling can help you take the first step toward building trust, connection, and hope for the future.
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.
Yes. I offer inclusive counseling for all couples, including LGBTQ+ marriages. My therapy services are affirming, trauma-informed, and rooted in compassion. Whether you’re healing from grief, building resilience, or seeking a greater purpose, I help you strengthen your bond with tools that fit your unique marriage.
That’s okay. Couples counseling can provide clarity, even if separation or divorce is on the table. Counseling offers support and compassion while helping you both discover whether your future is best shared together or apart.
Marriage counseling may not be suitable if there is active violence, untreated severe mental health crises, or immediate safety risks. In those cases, specialized therapy services or crisis support are needed before marriage counseling can begin.
