Couples Counseling Therapists in Santa Monica, CA
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Natalie Alderson
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT, APCC
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
I am professionally trained in somatic psychotherapy, and have 5 years of experience working with families and
couples
.
As human beings, we all face difficult seasons of life, as do our relationships. My practice is currently focused on providing a unique, somatic & attachment-based approach to
couples
&
relationship
therapy via telehealth video sessions. The way that we are in a
relationship
is a reflection of how we are in
relationship
to ourselves, and my approach takes this into account to provide a safe, gentle, and direct space for you and your
partner
to explore how you show up in the
relationship
.

Sarah Kamdar
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
I work with individuals, adolescents and
couples
with some evening hours available.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist practicing on the westside of Los Angeles. I believe that the therapeutic process can be a healing experience that focuses on your specific needs, with the shared goal of improving quality of life, increasing happiness, creating connections, and enhancing awareness.

Karen Stewart
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
I work with clients on a variety of life's struggles including depression, anxiety, drug/alcohol dependency, life transitions, sexual dysfunction and desire issues,
relationship
problems, infidelity, and communication difficulties.
We have all had times where we are struggling, feel low or "off", may not even have a real "reason" why these feelings are coming up for us. Or those times where an event, situation, loss, change in our daily functioning has lead us to not feel that we have the right skills to live our best lives and we just don't know what to do. Therapy is an answer for someone who wants to explore these feelings, to work through the difficult times and to learn about oneself in an unbiased, non-judgmental environment.

Ava Rose
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LCSW
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
Therapy can also help individuals,
couples
& families strengthen their connections, improve communication, and develop more secure and fulfilling relationships.
I offer individual, couple, family and group psychotherapy for adults, children and teens who would like to be able to cope more effectively with their emotions and life stresses, heal from difficult or traumatic experiences, improve their relationships, and achieve more success and fulfillment in their lives.

Johanna Jenkins
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MA, LCSW
Verified
Verified
The psychotherapy work I offer creates a sacred
relationship
, built on the deep recognition of our essential humanness. The issues that bring you to therapy will guide our work, and with clarity, compassion, and tools gathered from 30 years in practice, I will become your companion on the healing journey. Each of us has within us the wisdom to resolve our issues. My purpose is to assist you in finding that wisdom, bringing your own loving to any places of pain within you, and in seeing clearly and stepping into your life's opportunities.

Lisa Hanes
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT, RN, CNM
Verified
Verified
Adjustments to infertility, pregnancy, birth, parenting and changes in identity, role,
relationship
can be overwhelming and exhausting.
My experience as a licensed therapist, nurse and midwife, has provided me the unique perspective and understanding of the needs of the Whole Individual and how thoughts and beliefs impact us physically, emotionally and psychologically. My intention is to support and guide clients as they explore and resolve their challenges. Together, we can work through feelings of confusion, insecurity and fear associated with significant individual and
relationship
transitions, crisis events and medical and emotional challenges. Online therapy is available with office sessions in the future.

My LA Therapy
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, CNTS
Verified
Verified
Our primary specializations are anxiety,
couples
, codependency, narcissism, depression, young adults, and family therapy.
To experience our deepest recesses of joy and peace, we must first have the courage to face our fears. That’s why our therapists use a wide range of research-proven therapy techniques to help transform anxiety, depression, and loneliness into joy, freedom, and connectedness. Whatever your situation, our goal is to help you find clarity, purpose, and strength. Through the therapy process, we will help you cultivate an unshakeable resiliency that you carry into every challenge you face. The purpose of our therapy practice is to help you become free from the grip of anxiety, depression, addiction, and hurtful relationships.

Bahar Moheban
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
“I hate my body.” If you’re struggling with an eating disorder, body dysmorphia, or disordered eating habits, chances are you are familiar with this statement. A challenging
relationship
with food and body image can be debilitating and all-consuming. What you may be surprised to discover is that your obsession with weight, constant battle with eating, and urges to use self-destructive food behaviors are actually not about food or weight! They are, however, symptoms of deeper internal conflicts and emotional dysregulation - trauma, depression, anxiety, oppression, family turmoil, and low self-esteem. This is where I can help.

Renee Schwartz
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, PhD, LCSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
My practice includes work with individuals,
couples
and families.
In my 30+ years of experience, I have tried to create a non-judgmental environment of openness and collaboration with my clients. I have found that most people are looking for understanding, clarification and a path to hope and healing.

Paulette Rochelle-Levy
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
I am here to help you make better choices. Healing is now! You have probably done your best to pull yourself out of sadness and fear but still feel stuck. Perhaps you find yourself going round and round in hurtful patterns in your relationships and still feel unseen. Maybe your creative path has reached an impasse. I am here to see you and hear you. I am committed to helping you find joy, passion, love and deep respect with your loved ones. The therapy
relationship
is sacred.

Katelyn Starr
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I love the opportunity to help my clients discover and live more fulfilling lives based on their unique goals and values. Before starting therapy, my clients tend to feel overwhelmed by anxiety, stress, panic, anger, and hopelessness. My encouraging and positive style has helped many to move through these feelings in order to build the types of relationships, balance, and achievements they have always wanted. I enjoy working with young adults, adults,
couples
, and parents of young children.

Payton Somers
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, MA, LPCC
Verified
Verified
I start with the integral foundation of the therapeutic
relationship
, ensuring safety and trust in the therapeutic space.
The clients that feel best served by my care are clients who are either motivated for, or contemplating, change in their life. These clients are curious about their personal patterns of behavior, exploring their past and present experiences, and are striving for a deeply fulfilling life. I serve clients who are experiencing the impact of trauma, depression and/or anxiety, identity changes (marriage, divorce, sobriety, parenthood, graduation, etc.), grief and loss, and perinatal mood disorders (perinatal anxiety and/or depression).

Hannah Schaler
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, MA
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
I love
couples
work, and am certified in Emotionally Focused Therapy for
Couples
(EFT-C) and Collaborative Divorce.
Being a human these days is hard, and even more so when you get into complicated dynamics with your relationships, job, or family. Perhaps it's all feeling like too much? Or maybe you have a hunch that you can live a fuller life? Reaching out to a therapist does not mean that you are broken; it means that you are ready to evolve. With my background in art and extensive therapeutic training, I offer a dynamic healing experience that addresses old patterns in both mind and body. I can provide a supportive and creative space for you to explore yourself, practice relational skills, and grow into a life that you truly want to be living.

Deirdre J. Newell
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I believe that healing and wellness are rooted in the safety of an authentic and transparent therapeutic
relationship
.
Therapy can provide a safe space for individuals to explore vulnerable dimensions of oneself and explore meaning in life’s experiences. Therapy with me is rooted in
relationship
. I understand that value of a trusting, authentic
relationship
between therapist and client, and I offer insight, support, compassion, and curiosity in a nurturing way that allows clients to examine patterns that both aid or hinder individuals’ potential for wholeness. I work from a depth-oriented, psychodynamic framework, understanding that one’s self is a manifestation of one’s whole life experiences. I provide both short and long term therapy.

Kathryn Sparks
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
With a background in the entertainment business, I have always been fascinated with other people and their stories. I see therapy as a creative, collaborative process in which I work closely with individuals,
couples
and families to find new ways of understanding their unique narrative. I believe I can help clients find acceptance, empowerment and purpose.
Not accepting new clients

Colin Takahashi
Marriage & Family Therapist, MMFT, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
While my practice is comprised of individuals and
couples
from diverse backgrounds, what many of my clients share is a desire for acknowledgment – a longing for others to witness their unheard truth.
Throughout our lives, we encounter a number of spaces where we feel our voices silenced. Continual experiences of being quieted can lead us to internalize messages that we don’t have the permission to speak – questioning whether or not to start therapy is no exception to this. As a queer, Korean-Japanese American, there have been countless times when I’ve been told that I’m not man enough, that I’m unfit for love, and that I don’t have a story to be heard. Much of my work is informed by the idea that, in order for us to heal, we must first feel like our perspective matters and that our struggles are deserving of support.

Chris Marquart
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
4 Endorsed
Verified
4 Endorsed
Whether you are struggling in school or with peers, facing career or
relationship
challenges, working through trauma, or entering into a new phase of life, I will work to understand you, your experiences, and how we can create a framework allowing you to live a happier and more fulfilling life.
Our experiences shape us and how we look at the world. Often times they give us a sense of strength and direction in our lives, but other times we are confronted with obstacles that keep us from reaching our goals. Together we can explore these obstacles and create a better understanding of how you can work through them, leading to more satisfying experiences and more confidence in your direction in life.

Lisa Lichtenstein
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT, CHT, NLP
Verified
Verified
I am a licensed psychotherapist (MFT) specializing in hypnosis and NLP (Neuro- Linguistic Programming). I help people live the life they dream of, which includes removing unhealthy patterns and assisting in goal achievement. I work with individuals,
couples
and families. In a safe and warm environment I combine psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and/or neuro-linguistic programming with emotional support and tools to transform you into your highest potential self. I am proficient in eliminating or decreasing depression, anxiety, panic attacks and fears/phobias. In addition, I work with increasing healthy self-confidence.

Eri Nagai Ashlock
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I have had positive experiences working with adults, adolescents,
couples
, and children on issues related to identity, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, trauma, and relational struggles.
I have joy, passion, and success working with minority, biracial, and 1st generation/immigrants who experience challenges adjusting to blended families and new/blended cultures. I help my clients identify reasonable solutions to current challenges and we collaborate to create coping skills that build resilience and allow you to thrive. My clients appreciate the gentle, warm, and supportive work we do together. They enjoy being seen, heard, and challenged to deepen self-awareness and overcome sadness, low self-esteem, shame, guilt, and anxiety.
Waitlist for new clients

Gerardo Horischnik
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I like to engage with the individuals and
couples
that I see.
I believe people want to express who they are and pursue satisfying work and relationships, but have emotional and cognitive patterns that keep them stuck. These patterns often consolidate into a persona that leaves people feeling not quite themselves, with needs unrealized, feelings ignored, and potential unused. Symptoms of anxiety and depression, addictions, or low self-esteem, are often the only messengers trying to let us know that we are needing change. In a supportive and safe environment, therapy can help to bring these patterns into awareness and liberate needs to connect, create, and expand with fuller emotional support.
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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.