Couples Therapy
Couples Therapy & Marriage Counseling in Newport Beach
"We love each other, but we keep hurting each other." If that sounds familiar, you're in the right place. Couples therapy gives you a structured space to understand what keeps happening between you, and why, so you can change it.
In person at our Newport Beach office, or by telehealth anywhere in California.
Prefer to talk? Call (714) 497-3008
Who it's for
What Is Couples Therapy?
Couples therapy, also called marriage counseling or couples counseling, helps two partners understand the patterns that keep pulling them apart and build better ways of relating. Most couples who come to us still love each other. They feel stuck. The same arguments repeat, small moments escalate fast, and distance grows where closeness used to be.
We work with married, engaged and unmarried couples at every stage, including partners who are unsure whether to stay together. Couples often come to us for:
- Communication that keeps breaking down
- The same fight, over and over
- Emotional distance or lost intimacy
- Infidelity, affairs and broken trust
- Conflict over parenting, money or family
- Feeling more like roommates than partners
- One partner shutting down or pulling away
- A new baby, a move or a career change
You don't need to be in crisis to start. Many couples come in when they first notice a pattern, before it has time to harden.
Our approach
How Our Couples Therapists Work
Communication tips rarely hold when the real problem sits underneath them. Our couples therapists use a relational, psychodynamic and attachment-informed approach that works at that deeper level.
We help you name the cycle you're stuck in, like one partner pursuing while the other withdraws. We look at where each of your reactions comes from, often in early experiences of love and conflict. Then we slow those moments down in session, so you can respond to each other instead of react. Your therapist doesn't take sides. The focus stays on what is happening between you.
What to expect
It starts with a free consultation call, and either partner can make it. We match you with a couples therapist experienced in what you're facing. Sessions are 50 minutes, usually weekly, in person at our Newport Beach office or by secure telehealth anywhere in California. Along the way we revisit your goals together, and may suggest an occasional individual session when it would help.
Newport Beach Specialists In Couples Therapy & Marriage Counseling
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Shannon Forbes, LMFT
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Wes Tameifuna, AMFT
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Susan Park, AMFT
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Monica Garcia, LMFT
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Bryan Forbes, LMFT
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Rianna Williams, LMFT
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Kelly Lundquist, AMFT
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Kevin Cram, LMFT
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Aspen Kling, LMFT
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Kaileigh Reed, AMFT
Commonly Asked Questions
Couples Therapy FAQ
Is couples therapy the same as marriage counseling?
Yes. Couples therapy, couples counseling and marriage counseling describe the same work. We see married, engaged and unmarried couples at any stage of a relationship.
What if my partner doesn't want to come?
That's very common. Many couples start with one partner more willing than the other. The first sessions often help the hesitant partner feel heard and decide whether the work makes sense for them.
Can couples therapy help after infidelity?
Often, yes. Recovery takes time and honesty from both partners. Therapy gives you a structured place to understand what happened, work through the hurt and decide together what comes next.
How long does couples therapy take?
It depends on what you're working on and how long the patterns have been in place. Sessions are 50 minutes, most couples meet weekly, and many notice meaningful shifts within the first few months.
Does insurance cover couples therapy?
We are an out-of-network practice. Insurance often doesn't cover couples therapy because it usually doesn't involve a diagnosis. If your plan has out-of-network benefits, we can provide a superbill for possible reimbursement. We'll go over current rates on your free consultation call.
Do you offer online couples therapy?
Yes. We offer secure telehealth sessions for couples anywhere in California, and some couples mix in-person and online sessions.
Ready to Start Couples Therapy?
Book a free consultation to talk through what's going on and get matched with the right couples therapist. We see couples from Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Irvine, Costa Mesa and across Orange County.