Couples Counseling and Marriage Therapy in San Luis Obispo
Strengthen Trust, Closeness, and Connection
You want to feel like a team again. But lately, it’s been harder to talk without tension or connect without effort. Under the surface, something’s missing: trust that your relationship is solid, the comfort of being understood and appreciated, or the closeness that makes you feel like you’re truly in it together.
Couples counseling helps you shift out of reactive cycles and into meaningful connection. You’ll learn to communicate with care, listen with empathy, and build a foundation that is steady and supportive so your relationship feels like home again.
I see couples in person in San Luis Obispo and online across California, Washington, Florida, and South Carolina.
What Couples Therapy Helps With
Couples come to therapy for many reasons. Some are in crisis, while others want to feel closer and communicate better before small problems become big ones. I help couples with:
• Recurring arguments and communication breakdowns
• Emotional disconnection or drifting apart
• Infidelity and affair recovery
• Substance abuse
• Intimacy and desire differences
• Premarital counseling
• Major life transitions
• Co-parenting and blended family stressors
• ADHD and neurodiversity in relationships
• Financial betrayal and money conflicts
When couples therapy isn't the right fit: If there's ongoing abuse, an active affair one partner won't end, or untreated addiction, individual therapy or specialized support may be needed first.
What to Expect: Your First Three Sessions
Starting therapy can feel like a big step. Here's what the process looks like:
Before Session 1: Relationship Checkup
All new couples therapy clients begin with the Relationship Checkup ($99) - a secure online assessment that identifies your strengths and challenges, giving us a clear roadmap.
Session 1: Your Story
We'll talk about how your relationship began, what's been hard lately, and what you're hoping to work on.
Session 2: Individual Conversations
I'll meet with each of you separately (25 minutes) to understand your personal history and how that shapes how you show up in your relationship.
Session 3: Feedback + Goals
We'll review your Checkup results together and decide what to focus on first, and then dive into practical, research-based tools to strengthen your relationship.
Investment
Sessions are $175 per 50-minute session. I don't bill insurance directly, but I provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement. Many clients use HSA/FSA funds.
Need Faster Progress? Try a 3-Hour Intensive
If you're in crisis, traveling to San Luis Obispo, or want to complete the intake process in one focused session, intensive therapy gives your relationship immediate traction.
What you get:
• 3 hours of structured, research-based work
• Complete all three intake sessions at once (or use as a crisis intervention)
• Space to go deeper than standard sessions allow
Cost: $600 (plus $99 Relationship Checkup, completed beforehand)
Research shows that grouping sessions upfront leads to faster relief and higher relationship satisfaction.