Unlocking Love: How to Choose the Right Marriage Counselor in Sacramento
Are you and your partner facing relationship challenges that seem difficult to overcome? Do you find yourselves caught in the same arguments, feeling disconnected, or struggling to communicate effectively? Many couples experience these challenges, and seeking professional guidance from a licensed marriage and family therapist can make a significant difference in restoring harmony and connection in your relationship.
The Value of Marriage Counseling in Today's World
Relationships require nurturing, understanding, and effective communication skills to thrive. When couples face obstacles that disrupt these elements, the relationship's foundation can become unstable. Marriage counseling provides a safe space where couples can address underlying issues with the guidance of a compassionate expert.
I am Audrey Schoen and as a solo therapist based in Roseville, CA who also serves the greater Sacramento area, I understand the unique dynamics that each couple brings to therapy. My approach is personalized to address your specific relationship issues, helping you and your partner develop stronger relationships and healthier communication patterns.
Key Benefits of Marriage Counseling:
Improved Communication: Learn to express needs and feelings clearly while developing active listening skills
Enhanced Emotional Understanding: Gain insights into your partner's emotional world and develop greater empathy
Strengthened Partnership Bonds: Rebuild trust and rediscover the connection that initially brought you together
Conflict Resolution Skills: Develop strategies to address disagreements constructively
Support through Major Life Transitions: Navigate changes such as career shifts, parenthood, or relocation with greater harmony
Overall Well-Being: Improve your mental health and emotional well-being through a healthier relationship
Many couples find that family therapy and couples counseling not only improve their relationship satisfaction but also contribute to personal growth and enhanced self-esteem for both partners.
Understanding the Role of a Family Therapist in Couples Counseling
A marriage counselor serves as a supportive guide for couples navigating the complexities of their relationship. As your family therapist, I create a non-judgmental space where both partners can express themselves openly and honestly. My role is to assist you in developing essential relationship skills, enhancing communication, and resolving conflicts.
Relationship Skills Development
Building relationship skills is fundamental to fostering healthy relationships. These skills include empathy, patience, and self-awareness—all vital for a thriving partnership. Through our therapeutic relationship, I help couples identify and nurture these skills, enabling them to better manage their relationship dynamics.
Many couples find that developing these core skills transforms not only their romantic relationship but also improves their interactions in other areas of life, including professional relationships and friendships.
Communication Improvement Strategies
Many relationship issues stem from poor communication or ineffective patterns. As your family therapist, I work with you to enhance your communication skills through techniques such as:
Reflective listening: Learning to repeat back what you've heard to ensure understanding
Fair fighting rules: Establishing guidelines that keep conflicts productive rather than destructive
Emotional expression: Developing healthy ways to share feelings without blame or criticism
These tools help partners feel heard and understood, reducing the chance of misunderstanding and creating space for genuine connection. Effective communication skills make all the difference in transforming relationship challenges into opportunities for growth.
Resolving Conflicts and Addressing Recurring Conflicts
Conflict is natural in any committed relationship, but how couples handle it can significantly impact relationship satisfaction. I provide strategies for constructive conflict resolution, including:
Teaching couples how to express emotions in healthy ways
Setting boundaries to prevent conflicts from escalating
Creating an environment where both partners can discuss issues openly
By addressing conflicts in a structured, compassionate environment, couples can resolve disagreements while strengthening their bond rather than weakening it. Even the strongest relationships benefit from developing strategies to handle disagreements effectively.
Key Qualities to Look for in a Marriage and Family Therapist
Choosing the right marriage counselor is crucial for your therapy journey. Here are essential qualities to consider when seeking couples therapy in Sacramento, CA or the surrounding areas:
Licensed Marriage and Family Professional
Ensure your counselor is a licensed professional with appropriate credentials. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), I have completed extensive education and supervised clinical experience specifically focused on relationship dynamics and therapeutic interventions for couples and families.
My certification as a Master ART Practitioner adds an additional dimension to the therapeutic process, allowing me to incorporate innovative approaches that can accelerate healing and transformation in your relationship.
Empathy and Understanding
Empathy is the cornerstone of effective counseling. A good therapist creates a safe space and supportive environment where both partners feel understood and validated. This quality helps build trust, making it easier for couples to open up about their challenges.
In our sessions, you'll experience a non-judgmental approach that honors both partners' perspectives and creates space for authentic expression and growth.
Experience with Diverse Relationship Challenges
Experience matters when addressing complex relationship issues. Having worked with numerous couples facing various challenges, I bring a wealth of knowledge and proven strategies to help you navigate your specific situation.
Many therapists offer couples counseling, but experienced therapists who specialize in relationship work can quickly identify patterns that might not be immediately obvious and provide insights that can facilitate meaningful change in your relationship.
Specialized Approaches to Marriage Counseling
Every couple is unique, which is why I offer several evidence-based approaches to address your specific needs:
Relational Life Therapy (RLT)
As a specialist in Relational Life Therapy, I utilize this transformative approach developed by Terry Real that focuses on creating full-respect living in relationships. RLT is particularly effective for:
Breaking through traditional couple dynamics that aren't working
Addressing power imbalances and unhealthy relationship patterns
Moving from reactivity to responsiveness
Creating authentic connection through honest dialogue
Relational Life Therapy helps couples move beyond the "normal" dysfunction of everyday relationships into a place of genuine intimacy and mutual respect. This approach is especially powerful for couples ready to create substantial, lasting change.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
As a Certified Master ART Practitioner, I offer this innovative approach that can help couples process and heal from past experiences that may be affecting their current relationship. ART is particularly effective for addressing:
Traumatic experiences that impact trust and intimacy
Recurring negative patterns in the relationship
Emotional triggers that lead to conflict
Religious trauma or past experiences that affect your current relationship
This gentle yet powerful technique can create rapid shifts in how you experience and respond to each other, often leading to breakthroughs in areas where couples have felt stuck for years.
Brainspotting
Brainspotting is another specialized technique I offer that helps access deeper emotional processes that may be operating below conscious awareness. This approach can be particularly helpful for:
Resolving deep-seated emotional blocks
Processing relationship traumas
Enhancing emotional connection between partners
Addressing issues related to self-esteem and body image
Through Brainspotting, couples often discover insights about themselves and their relationship that traditional talk therapy alone might not reveal.
Solution-Focused Therapy
Solution-focused therapy concentrates on building solutions rather than dwelling on problems. This approach is particularly effective for couples who are feeling overwhelmed by their challenges and need practical tools to move forward. In solution-focused therapy, we:
Identify what works in your relationship and build on those strengths
Set clear, achievable goals for relationship improvement
Develop concrete strategies to implement positive changes
Focus on creating a more fulfilling relationship through actionable steps
This practical approach helps couples make measurable progress in a relatively short time frame.
The Marriage Counseling Process: What to Expect
Understanding what to expect from couples therapy can help ease any apprehension you might feel about starting the process. Here's what a typical therapy journey looks like when working with me:
Initial Assessment
Our first session focuses on understanding your relationship history, current challenges, and goals for therapy. This comprehensive assessment helps me develop a tailored approach to address your specific needs. During this phase, both partners have the opportunity to share their perspectives and concerns.
Developing a Treatment Plan
Based on our initial assessment, we'll collaborate on creating a treatment plan that outlines our therapeutic goals and the approaches we'll use to achieve them. This plan serves as a roadmap for our work together and can be adjusted as needed throughout the process.
Active Therapy Phase
The core of our work together involves regular sessions where we address the issues identified in your treatment plan. This phase typically includes:
Learning and practicing effective communication skills
Exploring underlying issues contributing to current challenges
Developing strategies for managing conflicts
Building emotional intimacy and connection
Enhancing coping skills for managing relationship stress
The length of this phase varies depending on each couple's unique situation and goals, but significant improvements often begin to emerge within the first few sessions.
Consolidation and Maintenance
As you and your partner develop new skills and patterns, sessions may become less frequent. During this phase, we focus on:
Reinforcing positive changes
Addressing any new challenges that arise
Developing plans for maintaining progress
Celebrating growth and transformation in your relationship
Many couples find that occasional "maintenance" sessions can be helpful even after their primary goals have been achieved, providing support during new life transitions or challenges.
Common Issues Addressed in Couples Counseling
Marriage counseling can help couples address a wide range of challenges. Here are some of the most common relationship issues I help couples navigate:
Communication Breakdowns
Many couples struggle with effective communication, leading to misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and unresolved conflicts. Through targeted interventions and practice, partners can learn to express themselves clearly and listen empathetically, transforming their communication patterns.
Trust and Intimacy Concerns
Whether due to past betrayals or gradual emotional distancing, issues with trust and intimacy can significantly impact relationship satisfaction. In our sessions, we'll work to rebuild trust and foster a deeper connection between partners.
Navigating Major Life Transitions
Significant life transitions—such as career shifts, becoming parents, relocating, or facing health challenges—can strain even the strongest relationships. Family therapy provides a supportive environment for couples to adapt to these changes while maintaining their connection.
Differing Expectations and Values
Couples sometimes discover they're not on the same page regarding their expectations, priorities, or values, creating ongoing tension. Through guided exploration and negotiation, partners can develop greater understanding and find workable compromises that honor both individuals' needs.
Managing Reactivity and Emotional Triggers
Many relationship conflicts escalate due to emotional reactivity and triggering of past wounds. I help couples identify their emotional triggers and develop strategies for responding rather than reacting, creating space for more productive interactions.
The Benefits of Online Therapy Options
In addition to in-person sessions in Roseville, CA, I offer online therapy for couples throughout California and Texas. Online couples counseling provides several advantages:
Convenience and Accessibility
Online couples therapy eliminates travel time and makes it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules. This convenience often allows couples to maintain greater consistency in their therapeutic journey.
Comfort of Your Own Space
Some couples find that discussing sensitive relationship issues feels more comfortable from the familiarity of their own home. This increased comfort can facilitate greater openness and vulnerability in sessions.
Flexibility for Partners with Different Schedules
For couples with conflicting work schedules or other commitments, online couples counseling offers flexibility that might not be possible with traditional in-person sessions. This accessibility ensures that both partners can fully participate in the therapeutic process.
Online couples counseling maintains the same level of quality and effectiveness as in-person therapy, providing a solid foundation for relationship improvement regardless of your location.
Intensives and Retreats for Accelerated Growth
For couples seeking a more immersive therapeutic experience, I offer relationship intensives and couples retreats. These concentrated formats provide opportunities for significant breakthroughs in a condensed timeframe.
Relationship Intensives
Relationship intensives typically involve extended sessions (3-5 hours) spread over one or more days. This format allows for deeper exploration of issues and more comprehensive skill-building than is possible in traditional 50-minute sessions. Intensives can be particularly beneficial for:
Couples in crisis who need immediate intervention
Partners with busy schedules who prefer concentrated work
Those who have reached an impasse in traditional therapy
Couples preparing for a significant life transition
Couples Retreats
Couples retreats offer a unique opportunity to step away from daily responsibilities and focus exclusively on your relationship. These structured experiences combine therapeutic interventions with opportunities for connection and practice of new skills. Benefits include:
Immersive learning environment
Dedicated time for relationship renewal
Peer support from other couples (in group retreats)
Integration of therapeutic insights into real-time interactions
Both intensives and retreats are customized to address your specific relationship needs and goals, providing powerful catalysts for transformation and growth.
Financial Therapy for Couples
Money issues are among the most common sources of conflict in relationships. As a family therapist with specialized training in financial therapy, I help couples address money-related challenges from both practical and emotional perspectives.
Understanding Money Patterns
Financial therapy explores how each partner's history, values, and emotions influence their relationship with money. By understanding these patterns, couples can develop greater empathy and collaborative approaches to financial management.
Addressing Financial Conflicts
From differing spending habits to disagreements about financial goals, money conflicts can create significant strain on relationships. I provide structured interventions to help couples navigate these conflicts and develop shared financial values and practices.
Managing Money Anxiety
Money anxiety can significantly impact relationship dynamics, leading to avoidance, secrecy, or controlling behaviors. Through our work together, you'll develop healthier emotional responses to financial matters and build greater financial intimacy.
Who Benefits from Marriage Counseling
Marriage counseling can be valuable at various stages of a relationship. While many couples seek therapy during times of distress, others proactively use counseling to strengthen an already good relationship or prepare for new life stages.
Couples Experiencing Challenges
If you're struggling with communication issues, recurring conflicts, emotional distance, or trouble communicating, marriage and family therapy provides tools and support to address these challenges. Even longstanding problems can improve with the right therapeutic approach.
Couples in Transition
Major life transitions—such as becoming parents, changing careers, relocating, or approaching retirement—can strain relationships. Family therapy helps couples navigate these changes while maintaining and even strengthening their connection.
Couples Seeking Growth
Even without specific problems, many couples benefit from the opportunity to deepen their understanding of each other and enhance their relationship skills. Proactive couples counseling can help prevent future issues and build a more fulfilling relationship.
Entrepreneurs and Their Partners
The unique stresses of entrepreneurship can create specific relationship challenges. As someone who works with many entrepreneur couples, I understand these dynamics and provide targeted support for maintaining a healthy work-life balance and strong partnership.
Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Spouses
The partners of law enforcement officers face unique challenges, including concerns about safety, managing shift work, and supporting a partner exposed to high-stress situations. I offer specialized support for LEO spouses, helping them navigate these challenges while maintaining a strong relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions About Marriage Counseling
How long does marriage counseling typically take?
The duration of couples therapy varies based on each couple's specific situation, goals, and commitment to the process. Some couples achieve their objectives in 8-12 sessions, while others benefit from longer-term support. During our initial consultation, we'll discuss your specific needs and develop a timeline that feels appropriate for your situation.
What if my partner is reluctant to attend counseling?
It's common for one partner to be more hesitant about seeking therapy. If your partner is reluctant, consider:
Sharing specific concerns about your relationship and how you believe counseling might help
Suggesting starting with a single session to see if it feels helpful
Emphasizing that seeking help is a sign of commitment to the relationship, not weakness
Exploring their specific concerns about therapy and addressing them directly
Remember that even if your partner ultimately decides not to participate, individual therapy can still provide valuable insights and skills for improving your relationship dynamics.
Is marriage counseling only for couples in crisis?
Absolutely not. While marriage counseling can be extremely beneficial during times of crisis, many couples use therapy proactively to strengthen their relationship, enhance communication skills, or prepare for significant life transitions. Think of it as relationship maintenance—similar to regular physical check-ups, relationship check-ins can prevent small issues from becoming larger problems.
How do I prepare for our first session?
To make the most of your first session:
Reflect on your goals for therapy
Consider what patterns or issues you'd like to address
Be prepared to share your relationship history and current concerns
Come with an open mind and willingness to consider new perspectives
Remember that the first session is about gathering information—there's no pressure to resolve issues immediately
What makes your approach to marriage counseling unique?
My approach integrates traditional evidence-based couples therapy techniques with specialized modalities such as Accelerated Resolution Therapy and Brainspotting. This combination allows us to address both the immediate presenting issues in your relationship and the deeper emotional patterns that may be contributing to these challenges.
As a solo practitioner, I offer highly personalized care that adapts to your specific needs and circumstances. My extensive experience in working with entrepreneurs, LEO spouses, and financial therapy issues also provides additional dimensions of support for couples with these specific concerns.
Taking the Next Step: Reaching Out for Support
Deciding to seek couples counseling is a courageous step toward creating the relationship you desire. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Master ART Practitioner based in Roseville, CA, I'm committed to providing personalized, compassionate support for couples at all stages of their relationship journey.
Whether you're facing specific challenges or simply wanting to strengthen an already good relationship, I invite new clients to reach out to learn more about how we might work together. My practice offers both in-person sessions in Roseville and online therapy throughout California and Texas, providing flexible options to meet your needs.
The journey to a more connected, fulfilling relationship begins with a single step. Contact me today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how couples therapy might benefit your relationship. Together, we can unlock the love, understanding, and connection that brought you together and create a relationship that thrives for years to come.