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 Francisco 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.”
– Bay Area Couple Together for 10 years
Imagine reconnecting on sunset walks at Crissy Field or weekend hikes at Mount Tam without the undercurrent of tension. Schedule your free consultation and see how San Francisco 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 Francisco life moves fast, marriage can start to feel like one more task on your to-do list. You used to feel that spark when exploring Golden Gate Park or cheering at a Giants game, but now you feel more like roommates.
Online marriage counseling in San Francisco can help you reconnect, even if your week is packed with tech meetings in Silicon Valley, kids’ activities, or deadlines. 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 is a form of talk therapy where a licensed couples counselor 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 underlying patterns, and discover tools to create better relationships. For many adults in the San Francisco Bay Area, marriage counseling is an important part of their healing path… helping them move from suffering and disconnection to a more secure, hopeful future.
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 therapy for couples across San Francisco and the San Francisco Bay Area. Many spouses prefer online therapy options because they are more accessible than in-person sessions, especially for busy professionals or parents. Research shows that online marriage counseling is as effective as in-person, and it often feels more comfortable. Being at home lowers defenses, helping couples cope and open up 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.
Couples often seek mental health services in a private practice setting for issues such as:
Counseling gives space to assess problems, discuss needs, and discover a helpful path toward rebuilding intimacy and trust.
Many couples have worked with many therapists and felt like it was just “talking.” My approach integrates expertise in attachment theory, the Gottman Method, and neuroscience-based tools. It isn’t just about talking… it’s about assessment, action, and creating helpful change. The focus is on becoming a team again, rather than staying stuck in cycles of blame.
Marriage counseling brings awareness to 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 long-term growth as partners.
Every marriage is unique. Some couples resolve issues in just a few sessions, while others commit to 3–6 months. Many begin to feel relief after their first assessment session. For some, it’s short-term repair; for others, it’s a longer journey of healing and discovery.
Yes. I provide flexible scheduling—including weekends—because making space for your relationship 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.
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, 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, and journaling prompts. The goal is to help you not only talk, but also cope with stress, assess progress, and create lasting change.
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 talk therapy supports personal growth, marriage counseling treats the relationship as the client. A licensed couples counselor balances both perspectives, helping partners discuss needs, assess triggers, and rebuild connection.
No. A skilled couples counselor remains neutral. My role is to offer helpful mental health services and practical tools, not to take sides or push toward divorce.
No. Many adults in the San Francisco Bay Area begin counseling proactively, not just in crisis. Being interested in growth is itself an important part of creating stronger, more secure marriages.
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 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.
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 a core of mental health services. Many couples choose private pay to ensure their sessions stay fully private without a diagnostic record.
Finding the right therapist is crucial. There are many therapists in the Bay Area, but not all specialize in couples. Look for training, expertise, and an approach that feels helpful for both of you. My private practice has supported adults and couples for over 20 years, helping them rebuild connection and walk a path toward more secure marriages.
The San Francisco Bay Area is richly diverse, and couples counseling is most helpful when it respects those differences. As a licensed family therapist, I tailor therapy to honor your culture, values, and lived experiences. This process fosters deeper conversations, greater understanding, and practical tools that make inclusivity an important part of counseling.
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 nontraditional families. This includes adults, parents with children, and those exploring consensual non-monogamy. My approach to couples counseling blends psychotherapy with practical tools so you can gain insight, cope more effectively, 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. Even if only one partner is interested at first, marriage counseling can begin the healing process.
Yes. As part of my mental health services, I provide inclusive, trauma-informed couples counseling for LGBTQ+ marriages. Having a supportive, affirming family therapist can be an important part of healing, fostering understanding, and building better relationships.
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.
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 or crisis-level psychotherapy and mental health services are a more helpful path before couples counseling can begin.
