Image of a therapist and client in a counseling session.

9,721 people sought marriage counseling help in California in the last year

Discover how starting therapy with a marriage counseling can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

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Starting Marriage counseling

What is marriage counseling?

Marriage counseling, also known as couples therapy and relationship counseling, helps couples work through their specific relationship issues. Thriveworks marriage counseling in San Diego, CA is led by licensed professionals — often licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) — who are experts in their field and best-equipped to help couples. Some examples of common focuses within Marriage counseling include:

  • Jealousy
  • Trust issues
  • Infidelity
  • Opposing values
  • Different visions for the future
  • Disagreements in parenting
  • Lack of trust
  • Financial distress
  • Sex issues

How does marriage counseling work?

Marriage counseling works by helping couples identify and better navigate their unique challenges. Following an initial assessment of the couple in terms of strengths and needs, the therapist would then discuss their therapeutic goals and any possible approaches or ways of working together as therapist and couple.
Couples attend sessions together, whether they meet in person or by video. In addition to regular marriage counseling sessions, each partner may also be asked to attend a few individual sessions to supplement their progress. This will allow their counselor to get to know each individual better, assess each of their personal needs, and develop the very best treatment plan moving forward.

Is marriage counseling conducted in person or online?

Marriage counseling at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you and your partner.

How long does marriage counseling last?

On average, couples attend marriage counseling for 12 weeks. However, marriage counseling may last longer or shorter, dependent on the couples’ needs, the challenges they’d like to work through, and the pace of their progress. Marriage counselors and therapists at Thriveworks in San Diego, CA work with their clients to create goals, decide on ideal timelines, and establish treatment plans.

Need more help deciding?

There are no guarantees in any relationship, but there is help and support. When spouses go through challenges, they are often going to marriage counseling.

The marriage therapists at Thriveworks San Diego regularly work with couples who have lost their spark. Whatever specific challenge they are facing, our relational experts can often help spouses find the heart of the problem and find a path forward—whatever a healthy way forward looks like to them. Thriveworks San Diego offers both in-person and online therapy options, so that you can have the most convenient access to your mental health care as possible. If you think you could benefit from professional relationship help, reach out to Thriveworks San Diego today to get started.

What Is Couples Therapy? What Is Marriage Counseling?

Marriage therapy is not a quick fix. There are no magic potions that can magically transform a relationship, but there are tangible ways that skilled counselors may be able to provide guidance and support. For example, many times marriage therapist can help spouses establish:

  • A calm tone for discussion. Escalation happens. It is normal, but it is not healthy. A marriage therapist can often teach couples healthy conflict resolution skills.
  • Practical expectations for change. Change almost never happens on a dime. It can be difficult to know if spouses are experiencing slow growth or avoiding growth. Skilled marriage counselors can often help spouses know the difference and set up reasonable expectations for changes in the relationship.
  • Advocacy for each spouse. When couples are struggling, often one or both spouse’s perspective has been minimized or ignored. Experienced marriage therapists often help each individual find their voice within the relationship.
  • An awareness of toxic relational patterns. When spouses become aware of toxic behaviors, they can change them. A marriage counselor can often help spouses become aware of these patterns and how to alter their behavior.

Do I Need Marriage Counseling?

There is no right time to start marriage counseling, but there is also no wrong time either. Each marriage is unique. Each marriage has particular strengths and weaknesses. While spouses have to decide for themselves if they are willing to work on their relationship, here are a few reasons some couples have started marriage therapy:

  • Someone has cheated. Affairs are a moment of crisis for many marriages. Some marriages recover and rebuild trust and intimacy. Some spouses decide that the best decision for them is to part ways. There is no right answer, but there is guidance for these difficult decisions. Many couples go to marriage therapy after the revelation that one or both spouses have had an affair.
  • There is constant tension within the relationship. It is normal and even healthy for spouses to disagree. Relational experts say that for every negative interaction, the marriage needs five positive interactions to recover. If this ratio is off balance, many spouses seek out help to restore harmony.
  • There is no tension within the relationship. Sometimes, spouses give up and they feel apathetic toward the relationship. They do not care enough to fight or feel negative emotions. They may feel nothing at all. Often, there is an underlying issue that is fueling the apathy. Many spouses work with a marriage counselor to identify and resolve any root issue.

Is There Marriage Counseling Near Me? Appointments at Thriveworks San Diego, CA

If you and your spouse are ready to work with a marriage therapist, the professionals at Thriveworks San Diego are ready to work with you. To book an appointment, you can use our online booking tool, or you can call our offices. When you contact our office, you can talk to one of our friendly scheduling specialists. 

We know that our clients are busy, so we offer evening and weekend sessions. We also accept many different insurance plans. Let’s work together for your marriage. Book a session with Thriveworks San Diego today.

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurances. We accept 585+ insurance plans, and offer self-pay options, too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling services at Thriveworks.

Our San Diego therapists and counselors accept 30 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Blue Shield of California | BCBS

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Community Health Options

  • Compsych

  • First Health Network

  • Humana Exchange

  • Humana HMO/POS

  • Humana Medicare Advantage

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Self-pay costs at San Diego
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

5.0 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
I started with Dr. Maddy about 3 months ago and I think that I had my last appointment last Friday,1/12. I really enjoyed talking to her. She is very down to earth and, most of all, she listens. I told her some things a few months ago and she remembered when I was talking with her on Friday. Amazing. We talked about a lot of issues, among them, what would I be working on, my certain issues. I would very heartedly recommend her. I can’t say enough kind words about her.
Read more I started with Dr. Maddy about 3 months ago and I think that I had my last appointment last Friday,1/12. I really enjoyed talking to her. She is very down to earth and, most of all, she listens. I told her some things a few months ago and she remembered when I was talking with her on Friday. Amazing. We talked about a lot of issues, among them, what would I be working on, my certain issues. I would very heartedly recommend her. I can’t say enough kind words about her.
Ann Jan 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks in San Diego, CA is located on Camino del Rio S., off of Interstate 8. We share a building with several other businesses including Sucar and Spice Skincare, America’s Retirement Advisory Group, and Massage by Robert.

Phone number

(619) 480-2140

Languages spoken by CA providers

  • English
Saturday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm

Shown in PT

Saturday 7:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Monday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Tuesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Thursday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in PT

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