Couples Counseling Therapists in Santa Cruz, CA
See all therapists in Santa CruzNot accepting new clients

Jennifer Chowaniec
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, LPCC
Verified
Verified
Looking for a therapist and asking for help can be one of the most challenging aspects of starting the therapy process. I believe the core of therapeutic work is the
relationship
between the client and the therapist. Through my friendly demeanor and approachable disposition, I strive to create a collaborative and supportive environment in which clients look forward to their therapy sessions.

Melinda Marie Martindale
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
Hi and welcome! A key component to successful therapy and personal change starts with a strong connection between therapist and client. I work with adults in ALL areas of relationships, including your
relationship
with yourself. I walk with people on the journey to their natural, authentic self with a professional and individual tx plan. I use an integrative model; including humanistic, holistic, CBT, ACT, somatic work and supportive psychotherapy-meeting a person where they are on any specific day. I am a mother, was a single mother, now a step mother, a grandmother, a lover of nature and a survivor of this 'human condition.'
Not accepting new clients

Veronica K. Tonay
Psychologist, PhD, MA
Verified
Verified
Taking only returning clients. For 30 years, I've successfully treated those suffering with the pain and frustration of depression, anxiety, grief,
relationship
issues, creative blocks, and life transitions (several of these overlap!). I earned my doctorate at UC Berkeley, and, in addition to my psychotherapy practice, taught clinical psychology at UCSC until 2018. Psychologists are ethically required to use demonstrated treatments for clients' backgrounds and difficulties. I'm fortunate to have trained in many effective therapeutic methods, tailored to each client's needs & personality. I'm available only via video/phone sessions.

Kaila Hattis
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
Kaila brings a warm and welcoming energy to her practice at Pacific Coast Therapy. She understands that entering into therapy can often feel overwhelming and acknowledges the courage it takes to come to therapy and begin a journey towards growth and healing. Kaila works with adults, adolescents (13+), families, and
couples
. She offers a safe and trusting place to process trauma and grief.

Sebastian Beca
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MSc, LMFT
Verified
6 Endorsed
Verified
6 Endorsed
For some people that may come through healing past wounds, a life-transition, overcoming grief, coming out of depression or perhaps breaking an old habit or
relationship
pattern.
I am inspired by transformation, by the possibilities, freedom, and implications of deep personal change. I’ve seen it in myself and my clients. Moving from stagnation to aliveness, from isolation to love. I’m honored to work with you on your path of healing, self-discovery, growth, and transformation.

Chelsey Suttaby
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
Asking for help can be a monumental decision that requires a lot of courage. Finding the right therapist can be an equally difficult task. A therapeutic
relationship
needs to feel safe and collaborative, as it can serve as a foundation for healing. My goal is to assist you in accessing your internal strengths, exploring obstacles and working to overcome your challenges. Understanding what style or type of therapy you need can feel confusing. I will work with you to create a plan for treatment that is aligned with your needs and personality.

Bethany Sala
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I offer evidence-based emotion-focused
couples
therapy (EFT).
I am a licensed psychotherapist specializing in
couples
therapy and working with individuals desiring to better understand themselves in
relationship
. I approach the therapeutic
relationship
with compassion and expertise. I am trained in the lasted neuroscience of adult attachment and somatic (soma relating to the body) based interventions. I help clients understand how to regulate their emotions, communicate their needs, integrate nervous system dysregulation, improve their ability to tolerate difficult emotions, and build happy, connected lives.

Katie Giannini
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, MA
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
IFS allows me to work well with a wide variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, life transitions,
relationship
issues, and body image struggles.
Life can be overcome by stress easily, and for some of us that stress becomes unbearable. Thoughts and feelings become overwhelming, leaving life feeling out of control and chaotic. In my work, I bring a wealth of curiosity and compassion to exploring a person's inner world of thoughts and feelings. Through this exploration, clients find deep internal healing and develop meaningful satisfaction in their work, relationships, and most of all within themselves. I am trained in Internal Family Systems therapy, which has given me a means to help people reach their goals and create the life they long for.

Holistic Psychotherapy with Rasa
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, MA
Verified
Verified
Would you like to feel empowered and at ease with life and yourself? Whether you're going through life transition, having
relationship
problems, dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma or looking for a deeper purpose in life, I would be honored to support you in your process of growth and healing. When the deepest parts of you get to be seen, held and accepted, it transforms into your light and strength. In this process you'll learn how to listen and trust your innate wisdom and guidance, you'll become resourceful, empowered and free to consciously create the life you want.

Sean Neesley
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT, APCC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I look forward to working together with you in an honest and open
relationship
to find relief, insight, and growth.
How do we regain balance after losing our footing? Whether through anxiety, anger, depression, fear, guilt or shame, it is normal for our lives to present challenges that throw us seemingly off course. At the same time, life’s greatest challenges can also present opportunities for growth, deep healing and the reintegration of lost parts of ourselves. In my work with clients, I provide a safe and supportive environment to express and explore challenging emotions, thoughts and beliefs and help them discover new vistas and vantage points from which to enjoy and appreciate themselves, their lives, and their relationships again.
Not accepting new clients

Maya Lev
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT
Verified
Verified
I believe the most important element for positive change is the
relationship
between the therapist and client. If the client can truly trust their therapist, he or she can allow themselves to explore, heal, and integrate all aspects of themselves. This leads to a feeling of wholeness and relief from anxiety, depression, low self esteem, and other issues. I use intuition and compassion, in addition to my training and education. I care about my clients, and feel honored to witness their efforts to grow and change. Buddhist philosophy informs my overall orientation towards the enduring resilience of the human spirit.
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Terry Edwards
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
Do you have life
relationship
challenges and and can’t seem to figure out a solution? Or do you feel overwhelmed in your life? I will help you to discover the solutions in your internal world and in so doing the everyday world you live in changes also. I use cognitive behavioral skills, communication skills, active and reflective listening Skills. I believe you can work to find solutions to your issues.

Molly Pearl
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
We are social beings that thrive on connection and a sense of belonging. I believe therapy is the most effective when we feel truly seen; that we matter. Seeking support can feel daunting and it takes courage to reach out and ask for help. Thank you for stopping here to learn more about me. I support individuals and
couples
in accessing their own innate wisdom and healing potential. My style is humanistic and transpersonal. I find that the deepest, most impactful changes take place when we address issues holistically, by engaging the mind, body, and spirit in the therapeutic process. A bit of well-timed humor can also go a long way.

Ann Marie Speno
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT
Verified
Verified
Are you feeling consumed by self-consciousness, body hatred, and thoughts of food and weight? Do you find yourself trapped in a cycle of undereating and/or overeating, trying to live by rigid dietary rules? I want you to know that you are not alone.
I specialize in treating eating and body image issues. I can help you to explore the emotions that underly your
relationship
to food and your body, enhance your awareness of the many ways our culture creates eating problems, and help you to locate healthier ways to cope with the stress of life.

Chris D L'Esperance
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Some of my focuses are working with trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression and anxiety, helping individuals,
couples
, and families improve the relationships in their lives.
There are many reasons why a person, a couple, or a family might find themselves feeling stuck, down, disconnected, overwhelmed, or anxious. A significant portion of my education and training is based around helping clients reduce or resolve symptoms associated with their challenges. However, I find that helping clients identify the root of their obstacles—in addition to cultivating skills and strategies to work towards a strong mental and emotional sense of well-being and developing strong connected relationships—is as important as attending to mental, emotional, and relational symptoms.

Dayna Lea
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
There's nothing hurt that can't be healed and there's nothing broken that can't be fixed. With insight, compassion and humor, I will support you on your journey towards right
relationship
with yourself and others. I am comfortable sitting with people who are having a challenging time and will create a safe space for us to move together towards deep healing and change. I invite a co-creative experience where together we hold the vision of your highest good and best possible life.

Catherine Cervantes
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
I honor the diversity that exists among human experiences, and a caring and respectful therapeutic
relationship
is the foundation for positive change in therapy.
I trust your capacity for moving toward healing, change and growth. My holistic training in applying mindfulness to trauma and anxiety can allow you to experience a new
relationship
with all the parts of yourself and with others, which helps you feel more at ease. As a somatic psychotherapist, I use a mind-body approach to help you compassionately discover unconscious patterns in your nervous system, body, and mind that keep you from living your life as you wish. Somatic-based therapy has you deeply listen to all parts of yourself, which allows access and support to places in you that talk therapy does not reach.

Bianca Filion
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, MA, BC-DMT, LPCC
Verified
Verified
My therapeutic work is centered on the client-therapist
relationship
and the body-mind connection.
Hello! I’m so glad you found me. My approach to therapy is to engage the whole person in order to integrate the mind and body. Movement in therapy can range from focusing on breath to self-lead movement expression, and can be used with any age and ability. Artistic expression is used to deepen the therapeutic work through the creative process. I view my clients holistically and utilize the knowledge I gain regarding their life history and their social atmosphere to guide them in therapy. I work collaboratively with my clients to make meaningful change, respecting my clients’ individuality and autonomy.

Zoe Raine-Mustain
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
I work with individuals,
couples
, and families and believe that collaborative approach is effective.
I believe in the capacity for people to make incredible change and growth in their lives. But it isn't easy! Regardless of the particular challenge you may be facing, with the right support, you can experience happiness and fulfillment in your life on a daily basis. I have worked in the helping profession for fourteen years, and have helped hundreds of people make changes they didn't even know were possible. I love to help my clients, and hope to have the opportunity to help you!

Michelle L Bakalarski
Pre-Licensed Professional, MA, AMFT, APCC, CTP
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
Adults,
couples
, and families benefit from my strength-based, respectful, non-blaming, relational approach.
Hi there. Life is full of challenges that can leave you feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and isolated. Sometimes it feels like no one understands. Perhaps you were not sure where to turn, but here you are, and I am so glad you are here. You have taken a brave first step to seek help. I would be honored to join you on your journey to well-being. I believe you are the expert in your life, and together we will reveal the answers already within you. My goal is to create a safe, non-judgmental space to help you clear the fog, revealing clarity, healing, and purpose. EMDR is available to my therapy clients only.
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.