Marriage Counseling Therapists in San Francisco, CA
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Graham Gallivan
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I hold
Marriage
and Family Therapist Licenses in California (LMFT 137223) and South Carolina (LMFT 7955).
I bring a comprehensive, holistic approach to healing, integrating all domains of life - from relationship, to spirituality, to work, and beyond - and draw on my own experience of healing in these areas to support your well-being. I have a strong belief in the positive power of change and am passionate about helping you find your strengths and achieve true healing.

Rachel M Cleveland
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, ATR-P
Verified
Verified
**Accepting New Clients** Feel cared for and heard, experience a safe and authentic connection, find clarity, heal from a past or more recent traumatic event. As a Licensed
Marriage
and Family Therapist, Provisional Art Therapist and Mindfulness-based Practitioner, I offer a person-centered, strength-based holistic approach to healing. In addition to traditional talk therapy, I work with the creative mind, this work includes art and expressive mediums to understand how our earliest experiences in life create the implicit, behavioral patterns that we can potentially carry with us for a lifetime.

Carrie Johnson
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Is your family navigating significant changes, transitions, or a recent diagnosis or identified learning difference? Is your child struggling with self-esteem, behavior challenges, or anxiety and depression? Do you want to break a cycle of blame and resentment in your intimate relationship, or need a couples tune-up? Are you searching for more fulfillment and less stress in your busy life? These are just a few of the issues I am experienced in treating as a Licensed
Marriage
and Family Therapist (LMFT79984). I offer psychotherapy for children, adolescents, families, couples, and individuals.

Nazanin Fathi
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
Dr. Fathi completed her undergraduate degree at the University of California Los Angeles, subsequently pursued graduate training in
Marriage
and Family Therapy at the University of Southern California, and later completed her Doctorate at the California State University of Northridge. She has worked at some of the most well-known drug and alcohol treatment centers in Southern California, as well as private and state-funded clinics helping individuals, families, and couples.
Not accepting new clients

Kim Do
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MS, AMFT
Verified
Verified
I’m an Associate
Marriage
& Family Therapist committed to helping individuals learn how to build healthier relationships with themselves and others. My work focuses on targeting ineffective behaviors, habits, and beliefs around self-esteem, boundaries, and coping skills. I believe in building trust and taking a collaborative approach to helping clients reach their goals, while addressing any patterns or blind spots.

Ali Howard
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
I work with individuals and couples exploring issues such as: depression & anxiety; loneliness, isolation, & grief; adult & childhood trauma; relationship & communication issues; job & life dissatisfaction; parental & sibling relationships;
marriage
, divorce & separation; parenting issues with young or grown children .
Beginning therapy is not easy. Finding the right therapist in San Francisco can feel daunting. Examining one’s difficulties requires courage and resolve. Feelings of reluctance and apprehension are common and understandable. But, therapy is a long-term investment in yourself and in your desire to live a fuller, more satisfying life. With a lot of effort and patience, the therapeutic process can pays off. If you’re interested in starting therapy I recommend we have two or three initial meetings to see how it feels to talk and think together.

Natalie Spautz
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
19 Endorsed
Verified
19 Endorsed
Recently, there's been a lot of stress and relationship issues that are overwhelming in your life and you're looking for help as a couple in
marital
and premarital therapy or individual work. As you struggle to connect, you know something needs to change. You're tired of fighting, avoiding each other or feeling misunderstood. You notice miscommunication affecting other parts of your life and want to find new ways to relate and support each other. Your relationship is one of the most important aspects of your life and you're ready to make the necessary changes to work on it together. If this is you, I welcome you to reach out.

Andrea Shelley
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
Dr. Andrea Shelley is a licensed clinical psychologist and
marriage
and family therapist with over 20 years of experience working in a wide range of settings. She specializes in treating anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, as well as dual diagnosis of mental health diagnoses with substance use disorder. Dr. Shelley utilizes an evidence-based, collaborative, interactive, culturally aware, and empathetic approach and focuses on the impact of the individual diagnosis and treatment on loved ones, family, relationships, and work.

Karen Marie Forsthoff
Marriage & Family Therapist, MAMFT, LMFT
Verified
Verified
Many people face a variety of clinical issues over their lifetime including
marital
and relational issues; parenting and divorce issues; family relational problems; chronic or acute traumas; life transitional issues; substance use; depression, anxiety, and mood disorders.
Are you feeling stuck and unhappy? Are you struggling in your work or family life? Do you want more from your relationships? If so, it might be time to reach out to a professional for help. Taking care of your mental health is a sign of self-compassion. It's the beginning of the healing process. Whether you choose to engage in Individual, Couple, or Family Therapy together we can find a way to restore a sense of hope and well-being. Please contact me for more information on how therapy can help you reach your goals.

Estelle Rubenstein
Marriage & Family Therapist
Verified
Verified
I am a licensed
Marriage
and Family Therapist (MFT) with over 25 years of experience.
I work with children, adolescents and adults whose challenges include gender identity and sexuality, life transitions, alcohol and drug addiction, foster care and adoption issues, parenting, aging, depression, relationships, grief and loss, and sexual abuse.
San Francisco, CA 94102
& Online

Nancy Scotton
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT
Verified
Verified
Member of the California Association of
Marriage
and Family Therapists.
I am available for telehealth appointments with current clients and those who have worked with me in the past.

Lesley Van Voorhees, LCSW
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
My approach is relational, warm, and collaborative. I feel passionate about helping you make the changes in your life you'd like help with, including better relationships/
marriage
, improving mood, more effective parenting, increasing self-esteem, navigating divorce, feeling less stuck, help with addictions, navigating adolescent issues, and more. I began providing therapy to clients on the east coast in 1994 as a licensed LGSW. Years later I became licensed in California and continue to successfully help clients experience positive change. I have an office in San Francisco and in Marin County.

Brittany Olsen
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT, MA
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I also counsel couples in all phases of the relationship -- pre-
marital
counseling, commitment concerns,
marital
challenges (communication, infidelity, negative relational patterns), the uncoupling process.
I work with clients to collaboratively develop a plan that addresses your needs, incorporates your strengths, and alleviates your symptoms in the most timely way possible. My approach is compassionate, solution-focused, and pragmatic. I believe that my clients ultimately know what is best for them, and it is my job to facilitate improvement through a empathic yet challenging therapeutic environment.

Vanessa Vertin
Marriage & Family Therapist, PhD, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Dr. Vertin specializes in modern-day relationships with self and others. Her work helps people thrive by revolutionizing how people think about health and relationship and thus, how they function. Vanessa's specializations are integral health, coupling relationships, and life transitions/stress. Other areas in which she has extensive training and therapeutic experience include: freedom and intimacy dynamics,
marriage
and other relationship forms, survivors of abuse, anxiety and depression, issues of elders and their families, aging & death, developmental issues, PTSD, and women’s issues.

Jacqueline De Lon
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT
Verified
Verified
To put it simply, I help people with relationship troubles, be they with significant others, children, siblings, parents, employees, employers or with one's self. I was trained first as a
Marriage
& Family Therapist and later as a Psychoanalyst. Both inform my approach to the work, focusing on the complex landscape of relationships within oneself and with others. Both recognize and inform the special role of the therapeutic relationship in the work of healing. My extensive studies have been personalized and humanized by over 30 years of clinical experience with the people I work with.

Yu Hang 'ronald' Deng
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I received my B.A. degree in University of California, Davis, with a major in Psychology, and my M.A. degree from John F. Kennedy University in the Counseling Psychology program. My expertise includes mental health counseling, such as depressive/anxiety disorders, communication, family, intimacy and/or relationship issues for individuals, groups, couples, and families, drug addiction treatment, and gambling addiction. As a licensed
Marriage
and Family Therapist, I strongly believe in human potential, and my goal is to help my clients to discover and utilize the tools they have already possessed!

Sarah E. Phillips
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
In addition to my solo practice, I am honored to oversee a group of wonderful Psychologists, Licensed
Marriage
& Family Therapists, Yoga Therapists, and Licensed Clinical Social Workers at Wellplace Psychotherapy.
My style is active, empowering, solution-focused, down-to-earth, non-judgmental, and humorous. My approach is collaborative — we'll work together to help identify and reach your goals. I welcome an open dialogue to create the best therapy for you as an individual. I see the immense strength, value, and potential for self-growth in each of my clients.

Sharon Stroup
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I became a
marriage
and family therapist because I wanted a career that made use of my naturally compassionate and empathetic personality, while fulfilling my calling to help others. I recognize that the strength of the relationship between therapist and client is an important predictor of treatment success, and I enjoy building a unique and authentic relationship with each client, founded on trust and mutual respect. I am trained and qualified to work with a variety of presenting concerns, and most enjoy adults, couples, and adolescents.

Isabel Rothschild
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
As a Licensed
Marriage
and Family Therapist, I provide a safe therapeutic environment with a focus on developing lifelong skills. Working together, we will formulate attainable goals and strive towards greater self-acceptance. My theoretical orientation is primarily through a humanistic lens using strength-based and solution-focused interventions. I believe every individual has specific needs that can be tailored in a collaborative process through treatment. I incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy into my treatment plan, as well as aspects of Psychodynamic Therapy, Positive Psychology, and Mindfulness.

Alexa Gutierrez
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I specialize in the following for couples: mixed couples (interracial, intercultural, and interreligious), trauma, intimacy, infidelity/transgressions, pre-
marital
counseling, family planning, and the separation and ending of a relationship.
My clinical approach is multi-disciplinary and rooted in psychodynamic theory, existential psychology, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). I also have a background in integrative health and wellness, which can contribute to a more in-depth perspective on treatment. My style is collaborative, intuitive, direct, and non-judgemental, and I encourage clients to be true to themselves and transparent. Although treatment is based on an individual's needs and goals, principle themes in all treatment are to help one regain one’s confidence and strength and to reinforce one’s resiliency.
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Marriage Counseling Therapists
How does marriage counseling work?
Marriage counseling works by teaching couples concrete skills to communicate with one another and solve disagreements in healthy ways. A trained mental health professional works with both members of a couple to explore difficulties the couple may be having and helps them develop skills to address these matters. Couples who don’t have any difficulties but want to prepare for marriage may develop skills for the future.
How long does marriage counseling typically last?
Marriage counseling is a short-term form of therapy; the process may last between four and eight sessions. Other forms of relationship guidance from mental health professionals, such as couples therapy, are longer lasting, may focus on the past rather than just the present, and are tailored to the individual couple and their emotions, history, and patterns in the relationship. Couples therapy often lasts for 12 weeks or longer.
Is marriage counseling effective?
Marriage counseling helps many couples develop relationship skills that may not have been acquired or tested in a relationship; partners may be better able to communicate and address conflict following counseling. However, there are many different forms of marriage counseling, and this form of counseling does not have as strong an evidence base as other modalities such as couples therapy.
Is marriage counseling effective if only one partner wants to go?
Yes, marriage counseling can still be effective if one partner convinces the other to engage in the process. Of course, whether counseling is effective depends on the couple’s commitment to work on their relationship; however, the short-term, skills-based nature of marriage counseling makes it a relatively easy “ask” of a partner, and the hesitant individual may see its value once counseling begins.