Couples Counseling Therapists in Santa Barbara, CA
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Karen Tyrrell
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT, EMDR
Verified
18 Endorsed
Verified
18 Endorsed
I work with individuals,
couples
, families, and adolescents, ages 14 and up.
If you have ever felt anxious, angry, depressed, lonely, unmotivated or overwhelmed, you are not alone. Life can be stressful at times. We all need some guidance and support. And finding the right therapist can be a challenging and often overwhelming experience. My therapeutic style is dynamic, genuine, and —straight forward. My aim is to help you learn practical solutions for growth and change by setting realistic goals, identifying unhealthy patterns, and understanding the underlying causes of your thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Bonnie Dooms
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
Everyone can use a little help at times. Children and adults often experience difficult emotions, such as anxiety, depression and anger that are hard to handle and interfere with relationships and quality of life. I will help you alleviate these unwanted symptoms, improve functioning and improve your relationships. I work with adults and
couples
who are having struggles in their personal lives. I also specialize in working with those who have experienced sexual trauma.

Jennifer Cox
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
Life can be challenging and you deserve a place to explore and to move toward implementing change in a supportive environment. The therapeutic container offers an open and confidential place to sort through whatever is challenging you. You may know what that is – anxiety, depression, confusion, self-worth issues, loneliness,
relationship
challenges, trauma, life transitions - or you may need a place to figure out what’s holding you back from what you want. The unique connection offered in a therapeutic environment allows for these questions to be asked, for exploration to take place, and for answers to be found.

Debbie McHann
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
I most often work with clients 18-30 struggling with managing mood disorders such as anxiety/depression, coping with academic and work stress, trying to develop and deepen relationships, and often with those needing treatment for eating disorder behaviors.
I also work with
couples
, married or unmarried, desiring to resolve conflict and deepen emotional intimacy.

Elizabeth LaCaze
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
Is stress, anxiety, or depression coming to the forefront? Has your
relationship
become challenging? Would you like to re-discover yourself or re-invent your
relationship
? I am here to support you in living from the experience of your authentic, best self, individually and in your partnership. Together we will expand your capacity to feel balanced, resourceful, and resilient and to live fully with positive change that can last. Our journey will be personalized and unique to your needs and goals. I support your self-discovery process, integrating mind, body, emotions, and spirit in wholeness.

Dr. Mitch and Lisa Private Couples Workshops
PsyD, MSW
Relationships in Crisis: We Have Four 75 Minute Private
Couples
/Marriage Workshops & Individual Sessions, in order to Rapidly Accelerate Your Healing & Your Communication Process (Traditional 45 min. session Does Not Work). During these 4 to 6 weeks, we will see both of you Together & Individually, as well as Help each of you Learn the Art of Empathy, Sensitivity & Compassion. These Workshops are Informative & Powerful, in order to Accelerate the Healing Process & Stop any further Damage from Occurring. In Addition, Our Success RATE is 85% of Our
Couples
that have Successfully Completed Our
Couples
Workshops or Alcohol Treatment.

Miriam Commisso
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, 88035
Verified
Verified
My areas of expertise are in dual diagnosis (mental health/substance use), addiction and recovery,
relationship
issues,
couples
struggling with
relationship
/communication/intimacy issues and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and BiPolar.
Have you ever felt too overwhelmed to deal with your problems? Are you stuck in the past or thinking too much about the “what if’s” of the future? Do you want to improve your relationships?

Dr. Winifred L. Lender
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
In our high paced and stressful daily lives, it is easy to feel anxious and uncertain. These feelings can be magnified during transitional periods in our lives, limiting us, and impeding our growth. Psychotherapy can help empower us to move forward with concrete strategies to meet daily challenges, navigate transitions, and grow to feel happy and more confident. Dr. Lender's areas of specialty include anxiety, depression, sleep issues,
relationship
concerns, personal empowerment, technology use balance, and life transitions.

Michael E. Ogle, Ph.D.
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
I have had over 50 years of experience in learning how to integrate these processes in order to help individuals and
couples
.
EFFECTIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY .... ---involves more than someone giving you sage advice or counseling --- involves more than sitting and talking with a kind, patient and empathic professional --- involves more than simply identifying and changing negative thoughts and doubts --- involves more than feeling your hurt feelings and catharsis --- involves more than learning mindfulness or meditation --- does not occur in a few sessions. Effective psychotherapy integrates all these processes tailored to your life and provides you with TOOLS with which to make better decisions about your life, and manage and heal your emotional issues and traumas. .

Andria Colleen Cohen
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I offer individual and
couples
therapy.
Our quality of life is determined by the quality of our relationships. Whatever your goals may be, change is an inside job, and I'm here to be both a witness and a resource in that complex process. I'm a firm believer in establishing the basics of well-being and then slowly building on that core foundation. When we let go of shame and judgments around emotions, we allow space to cultivate more curiosity, compassion, acceptance, resiliency, and joy. When we utilize mistakes as informational gifts we can strengthen and clarify the authentic self.

Deirdre D Rainer
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
Over the past 30+ years, I have had the honor of treating people of all ages from all walks of life. I am a licensed psychologist with experience treating various types of depression, mood difficulties, anxiety, stress, OCD, as well as
relationship
or couple-related conflict. My approach draws from cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic therapies supported by research, and is tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual. I also offer Gottman Method
Couples
Therapy for those who want to improve their
relationship
. Recently retired from UCSB, I offer therapy to students who have the UC SHIP insurance at no cost to them.

Ivan Chan
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
I look for the best in my clients and
partner
this with my skills to develop satisfying solutions and tools.
If you are in the grips of anxiety, troubled relationships, grief, or other issues that threaten to overwhelm your ability to function or be happy in your life, I look forward to working with you in a safe and non-judgmental way. I use a collaborative approach and actively seek your feedback to provide you with therapy that matches your needs and respects your goals.

Caitlin Y Slutzky
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I work with
couples
, individuals, and families.
Taking steps to create a more fulfilling life may be one of the most profound actions one can undertake. I believe that walking this path requires developing a curious and accepting
relationship
with oneself as well as being witnessed and supported by another - be they a therapist,
partner
, friend or family member. Once on this path, one can heal limiting beliefs, hurtful behaviors, and unhealthy relationships, and move toward a life of fulfillment, purpose and ease.

Diana Lambeth
Marriage & Family Therapist, MS, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
If the
relationship
you are in is struggling, if you feel alone or as if you keep having the same fight, if you are struggling with some type of betrayal or anger I can help. In your first sessions we will discover the things that are holding your
relationship
back from being what you thought it could be when you first met. As we work together I will help you identify where new skills are needed and get you headed toward the
relationship
you have been longing for.
Waitlist for new clients

Sierra Rose Smargon
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, MA
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
If you’re reading this, that probably means that you are in a place where you have tried a lot of things to feel better, or help your loved one feel better and just don’t know what else to do. I would love to help support you on this journey. Therapy is a collaboration between two individuals (therapist and client) and when successful, truly amazing things can occur within this space. I use the
relationship
between my clients and I to help them build insight and awareness into the way they show up in the world.

Individual & Couple Therapy
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I published the self-help book, The Heart of
Relationship
and in 2023 will be publishing the self-help work Time Out, co-authored with my wife.
Are you extremely successful in the world and in your career, yet feel like something on the inside is missing? Do you experience bouts of discontent, frustration, even loneliness? Perhaps you have spent years building a business that you are genuinely proud of but your relationships have suffered - with a
spouse
, children, family and, most importantly, with yourself. I am passionate about working with uncommonly gifted people who are willing to take a leap, to explore their own rich, mysterious inner world and develop more intimate and meaningful relationships. Would you like greater access to your true inner gifts and strengths?

Ryan George
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, MA, SEP
Verified
6 Endorsed
Verified
6 Endorsed
Welcome! I help people with a variety of problems, from depression and anxiety to trauma and recovery. I can help you. I am a depth therapist (seeing causes, rather than only symptoms) and a somatic therapist (integrating a healthy mind and body), and I've found that more important than my background is a non-judgmental attitude, attention to your personal needs, and the quality of a collaborative therapy
relationship
. I'm on your side. My clients gain crucial insights, learn essential coping skills and dramatically improve their relationships, outlook, and prospects for the future. Their lives become much more vital and satisfying.

Suzanne E Rapley
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
I am a Licensed Psychologist, MFT, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, Diplomate, with 35 years of experience assisting individuals,
couples
, and families.
During these difficult times, how would your life be different if you had someone to speak with about the issues that you are struggling with NOW? What if you could have an intimate, stimulating and long-lasting love affair with your
partner
? Could you imagine yourself, your
partner
or a family member learning how to take responsibility for thinking, feeling and behaviors so that life was satisfying and successful rather than stressful and disorganized? Well...that is possible.

Michelle Trudeau LeBeau
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, MSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Finding the right therapist is important. I approach therapy in a warm and relational way, and believe confidentiality and non-judgmental responses are crucial to creating a safe and trusting space. I know it can be hard to open up and start the process, so I make sure my client's feel comfortable to talk about the hard things and share about themselves authentically. Many of the situations I help people with involve experiencing depression or anxiety, processing recent or past trauma, important life or identity transitions, adolescent struggles,
relationship
concerns, and wanting personal growth and healing.

Alix Robinson
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
I specialize in the treatment of anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, life stress/transition, grief, and
relationship
issues.
Feeling stuck? It's amazing the difference a therapeutic hour can make. I understand that it takes courage to make the decision to start therapy and I consider it an honor to help you take that first step. My approach to therapy is scientifically informed while still responsive to your unique needs. I believe that there is no problem greater than your capacity and I want to help you find solutions to become the best version of yourself.
See more therapy options for
Couples Counseling Therapists
Does couples counseling work?
Research shows that couples counseling is effective; it can reduce relationship distress and improve emotional awareness, communication, empathy, intimacy, and overall relationship satisfaction. For example, emotionally focused therapy was found to be effective for about 75 percent of couples, and those benefits lasted at least two years.
When should a couple seek counseling?
Couples can benefit from counseling if they consistently struggle in their relationship. They may have lost the ability to communicate effectively, become entrenched in harmful patterns, begun to fight more than usual, broken the other’s trust, suffered from a mental or physical illness, or faced any number of other challenges. Many therapists offer free consultations, so if a couple isn’t sure whether therapy is necessary, asking directly can provide clarity.
How can I get my partner to go to couples therapy?
The decision to seek couples therapy is often driven by one partner, who then convinces the other to participate. When discussing the idea, the initiator should be direct and assertive. They can state the problems they see and explain how the relationship would benefit from therapy. In more serious cases, they can also explain how their relationship may suffer without making any changes or seeking professional help.
How does a couple prepare for couples counseling?
The anticipation of beginning couples counseling can be difficult—sometimes more difficult than the first session itself. Taking a few moments to reflect can allay those concerns: What are the current challenges? When and how did they begin? What do they want the relationship to look like in the future? Reflecting on these questions can help individuals or couples articulate their goals. Of course, the therapist will also ask questions and guide couples through the process.