You miss your partner. No matter what you try, the same conflicts keep repeating. The emotional distance grows, leaving you feeling stuck, frustrated, and disconnected.
Marriage counseling in San Diego offers expert guidance and practical TOOLS to stop negative cycles, strengthen communication, and reconnect.
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 couple’s success isn’t the therapy method or length of treatment… it’s the strength of the therapeutic relationship.
After 15 years of marriage and two decades of counseling couples, I know what works. The key is becoming a TEAM against the defenses that keep you apart. If you’re ready to stop feeling disconnected, book your free 15-minute introductory call today.
“Debbie & her coaching saved our marriage! We were struggling for months, and I’m not sure we’d still be together without her support. She helped us communicate, listen, and respond with more compassion.”
Imagine reconnecting on sunset walks along Mission Beach or weekend outings in Balboa Park without the undercurrent of tension. Schedule your free consultation and see how San Diego marriage counseling can help you feel like a team again.
The fighting cycles ended.
We now feel safe to share anything with each other.
When San Diego life moves fast, marriage can start to feel like one more task on your to-do list. You used to feel that spark when going to Padres games at Petco Park or exploring La Jolla Cove, but now you feel more like roommates.
Online marriage counseling in San Diego can help you reconnect, even if your week is packed with Navy or biotech work schedules, kids’ activities, or traffic-filled commutes. You don’t have to settle for distance. With expert support and practical tools, you can break through tension, restore intimacy, and bring back ease in your marriage.
Married. Engaged. Long-term committed. Straight. LGBTQ+. 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, sometimes called marriage therapy or relationship therapy, is a form of talk therapy where a licensed couples counselor or family therapist helps spouses work through conflict, improve communication, and rebuild intimacy. Unlike general mental health services, marriage counseling focuses directly on your bond as partners, while still honoring how stress, family, or children may influence the relationship.
Through a collaborative process, couples discuss challenges, assess relational patterns, and discover tools to create healthy relationships. For many adults in the greater San Diego area, marriage counseling is an important part of their healing path, helping them move from suffering and disconnection to a greater sense of hope and benefit. It can support self awareness, self discovery, and positive change while helping both partners process emotions, challenge unconscious beliefs, and build emotional resilience.
Finding the right marriage counselor 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 marriage therapy and couples counseling for partners across San Diego and Southern California. Many spouses prefer online therapy options because they are more accessible than in-person individual sessions, especially for busy professionals or parents. Research shows that online relationship counseling is as effective as in-person, and it often feels more comfortable. Being in your own space lowers defenses, helps you cope with anxious thoughts, and allows you to open up sooner.
Couples often seek mental health services in a private practice setting for relationship challenges such as:
Counseling provides a safe space to assess problems, process emotions, and discover a helpful path toward rebuilding connection and creating more secure, healthy relationships.
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.
Many couples have worked with many therapists and felt like it was just “talking.” My approach integrates expertise, specialized training in marriage counseling, and evidence-based frameworks such as attachment theory, the Gottman Method, and trauma therapy when appropriate. It isn’t just about conversations, it’s about assessment, a holistic approach, and action steps that make a big difference. The focus is on creating a safe space for self discovery and self worth, addressing negative beliefs, and building coping skills for lasting positive change.
Marriage counseling brings awareness to relational patterns that keep you stuck and gives you tools to break them. It helps you:
This process is not only helpful in the present but an important part of building emotional resilience, fostering healthy relationships, and preventing future breaking points.
Every marriage is unique. Some couples resolve specific relationship issues in just a few sessions, while others commit to 3–6 months. Many begin to feel relief and a sense of positive change after their first assessment session. For some, it’s short-term repair, for others, it’s an ongoing journey of self discovery, growth, and healing that leads to a big difference in long-term relationship satisfaction.
Yes. I provide flexible scheduling including weekends because making space for your marriage is an important part of your well-being. These therapy options help couples integrate counseling into busy lives filled with work, parenting, and community commitments throughout the greater San Diego area.
In the first session, we complete an assessment together. You’ll each share your perspective, and we’ll discuss your marriage history, areas of pain, relationship challenges, and hopes for the future. This first step helps us discover the most helpful path forward.
Yes. Every session provides structured tools you can use at home right away. These include communication scripts, repair rituals, connection practices, coping skills, and journaling prompts for self discovery. The goal is to help you not only talk, but also process emotions, assess progress, and create lasting positive change that strengthens your sense of connection and self worth.
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 sessions of psychotherapy focus on personal growth, marriage counseling treats the relationship as the client. A licensed couples counselor or family therapist balances both perspectives, helping partners process emotions, discuss needs, assess relational patterns, and rebuild connection through improved communication styles and healthier understanding.
No. A skilled couples counselor remains neutral. My role is to offer helpful mental health services, trauma therapy if needed, and practical tools. The focus is to create a safe space for understanding, not to take sides or push toward separation.
No. Many adults in San Diego begin marriage counseling proactively, not just when they’ve reached a breaking point. Being interested in self awareness and growth is itself an important part of creating stronger, more secure relationships.
Sometimes. Insurance may cover sessions linked to a diagnosis like anxiety or depression, but relationship-focused talk therapy often isn’t covered. That’s why many couples prefer private practice counseling, keeping the focus on growth, healthy relationships, and positive change rather than diagnosis.
Sessions range from $175–$350. Couples often see this as an investment in their future. For many, it’s an important part of preventing disconnection or divorce and far less costly than ongoing conflict. The benefit is a stronger marriage and improved self worth, which makes a big difference in daily life.
Coverage depends on your plan. Some reimburse for counseling tied to mental health struggles, others do not. It’s always best to assess with your provider before starting.
I accept credit cards, debit cards, and HSA/FSA cards.
Yes. Confidentiality is central to psychotherapy and mental health services. Many couples choose private pay to ensure their sessions remain private, providing a safe space without a diagnostic record.
Finding the right therapist is crucial. There are many therapists in the greater San Diego area, but not all specialize in marriage counseling or premarital counseling. Look for specialized training, expertise, and an approach that feels like a good fit for both of you. My private practice has supported adults and couples for over 20 years, helping them heal old wounds, overcome negative beliefs, and walk a path toward more secure, healthy relationships.
San Diego is one of the most diverse regions in the country, and couples counseling is most helpful when it respects those differences. As a licensed family therapist with a master’s degree and years of professional help guiding couples and families, I tailor therapy to honor your culture, values, and lived experiences. This process fosters deeper conversations, greater understanding, and practical tools that support fulfilling relationships. My approach integrates emotionally focused therapy, behavioral insight, and knowledge of partner dynamics so couples can create lasting change.
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 work with couples where one or both partners are neurodivergent, and I provide affirming therapy options for LGBTQ+ or same sex couples, as well as nontraditional families. This includes adults, parents with children, and those exploring consensual non-monogamy. My approach to couples counseling blends psychotherapy, trauma therapy when needed, and a holistic approach with practical tools so you can gain insight, develop coping skills, and create better relationships.
That’s common. Some partners feel suffering, resistance, or fear around therapy. My role as a couples counselor and family therapist is to make the process feel safe, helpful, and like a good fit for both of you. Through structured conversations, we can assess patterns, discuss challenges, and discover new paths forward. With patience and passion for helping couples, I create a space where even the most reluctant partner can feel comfortable. Even if only one partner is interested at first, marriage counseling can begin the healing process, reduce shame, and spark lasting change.
Yes. As part of my mental health services, I provide inclusive, trauma-informed couples counseling for LGBTQ+ and same sex couples. Having a supportive, affirming family therapist can be an important part of healing, fostering understanding, and building emotional resilience. Using emotionally focused therapy, we work on behaviors, communication styles, and self improvements so that couples experience more fulfilling relationships and lasting change.
That’s okay. Marriage counseling helps you assess your relationship, have guided conversations, and discover whether moving forward together or apart is the healthiest path. This process provides clarity, insight, and compassion so you can make decisions with understanding and self worth. Many couples say that even when facing difficult life challenges, counseling gives them the knowledge and tools for self improvements, healthier behaviors, and emotionally focused therapy practices that create lasting change—whether together or apart.
Marriage counseling may not be a good fit if there is ongoing violence, untreated severe mental illness, or immediate safety concerns. In these cases, different therapy options such as trauma therapy, crisis-level psychotherapy, or individual sessions are a more helpful path before couples counseling can begin. If you’re ready to engage in conversations, take self improvements seriously, and seek fulfilling relationships with the help of a warm and supportive family therapist, marriage counseling in San Diego can make a lasting difference.
