For partners
Couples therapy that moves the needle.
Evidence-based, Gottman-informed couples work for partners who are stuck in the same argument, rebuilding trust after rupture, or relearning how to be close. Telehealth across California, plus in-person in Walnut Creek with Tina.
Good fit if
- You're looping through the same fight with different content each time
- Intimacy or sex has flattened and neither of you knows how to reopen it
- Trust is shaken — after infidelity, a big lie, a long avoidance
- You're transitioning — marriage, baby, job, move — and you're not landing together
- You're LGBTQ+, non-monogamous, polyamorous, kink-involved — and tired of educating your therapist
- One of you is thinking about leaving and isn't sure
Not a fit if
- Either partner is in active untreated substance use or ongoing affairs (we can refer to a better-fit specialist)
- There's ongoing domestic violence (we refer to DV-specialized trauma and safety resources)
- You're looking for a therapist to adjudicate who's right — couples therapy works when both partners want to understand, not just win
Not sure which column you're in? Book a free consult. If we're not the right fit, we'll help you find someone who is.
What the work looks like
How we actually work together.
We start with a full intake — the story of the relationship, what's happening now, what each of you most wants from the work. Some couples do this together; others start with a brief individual session each so we can hear both sides without interruption.
From there, we use the Gottman Method as a backbone — structured tools for conflict, friendship, and intimacy based on 40+ years of research on what actually predicts relationship outcomes. We integrate Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to work on the emotional patterns underneath the content of your fights (more on that in our piece on conflict resolution and communication), and sex therapy when desire, pleasure, or intimacy is part of what needs attention. If one partner is on the fence about staying, discernment counseling is usually the right starting point.
Most couples see meaningful shifts within 8–12 sessions. Deeper work — affair recovery, long-standing avoidance, rebuilding from years of disconnection — often takes longer. We'll check in periodically about whether we're making the progress you came for.
Modalities we draw from
Wondering if this is the work you need?
Free 15-minute call. We'll figure out together if we're the right starting point.
Book a Free ConsultWho on our team does this work
4 therapists who specialize here.
Christina Mathieson
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) #115093
Human sexuality, couples work, ADHD and neurodiversity-affirming therapy, and affirming care for individuals navigating relationships, identity, and life transitions.
Michelle Cortez
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) #146795
Supervised by Christina Mathieson, LMFT #115093
Couples work grounded in attachment theory and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT); anxiety and OCD using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP); cultural identity, relationship challenges, and the weight of carrying trauma quietly. Relational and culturally responsive at heart.
Jalyse Stewart
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) #153712
Supervised by Christina Mathieson, LMFT #115093
Trauma-informed therapy for women healing from childhood sexual abuse, complex trauma, and what a lifetime of carrying other people's weight does to the nervous system. I also work with neurodivergent clients and trauma that intersects with grief, anxiety, or chronic overcompensation.
Tina Masoudi
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) #155851
Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) #19568
Supervised by Christina Mathieson, LMFT #115093
Trauma-informed therapy for young adults navigating anxiety, grief, identity, and life-stage transitions, with previous clinical experience at a college counseling center. Also works with couples, families, first responders, and clients impacted by the justice system. Optional Christian counseling for clients who want faith to be part of the room.
FAQ
Common questions about couples therapy.
Do you work with same-sex and queer couples?
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Yes, affirmingly. The work follows the same evidence-based frameworks as any couples therapy; you won't need to explain your relationship structure, educate us about your identity, or translate your life for the therapist.
What if my partner won't come?
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You can still do meaningful relationship work in individual therapy. Many clients start there — shifting their own patterns, communicating more clearly — and often the partner joins later. Sometimes the work is about deciding whether to stay.
Do you work with non-monogamous and polyamorous partners?
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Yes. Our approach is non-monogamy-affirming and kink-affirming. We work with structure, communication, and attachment across any configuration you're practicing — including ethical non-monogamy (ENM), which Michelle Cortez particularly specializes in.
How many sessions before we see results?
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Most couples notice meaningful shifts within 8–12 sessions. Some patterns — especially affair recovery and deep avoidance — take longer. You should feel something moving within the first few sessions; if not, we'll revisit approach.
Who on the team does couples therapy?
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Christina Mathieson (LMFT, Gottman Method Level 2) leads couples work. Michelle Cortez (AMFT, ENM-experienced) also works with couples using Gottman, narrative, and functional family therapy approaches.
References & further reading
- Gottman Method — overview of four decades of research — The Gottman Institute
- International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy — ICEEFT
- APA — Marriage and relationships research — American Psychological Association
- Brené Brown on Empathy (RSA Short) — Brené Brown / RSA
- Brené Brown on Blame (RSA Short) — Brené Brown / RSA
- ACT With Love — Russ Harris (ACT for couples) — Russ Harris, MD
- Come Together — Emily Nagoski, PhD — Emily Nagoski, PhD
- The New Monogamy — Tammy Nelson, PhD (infidelity recovery) — Tammy Nelson, PhD
- The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work — John Gottman, PhD — John Gottman, PhD
- Hold Me Tight — Sue Johnson, EdD (EFT founder) — Sue Johnson, EdD
- The Whole-Brain Child — Daniel J. Siegel, MD & Tina Payne Bryson, PhD (for parents) — Daniel J. Siegel, MD & Tina Payne Bryson, PhD
- Fair Play — Eve Rodsky (domestic labor & partnership) — Eve Rodsky
- Mating in Captivity — Esther Perel (desire in long-term relationships) — Esther Perel
Last clinically reviewed: April 24, 2026 by Christina Mathieson, LMFT #115093.
Free monthly workshop
It's Not Just the Fight: How Trauma Shows Up in Your Relationship
Thursday, April 30, 2026 · 6:00 PM PT · Zoom · Free
From the blog
Discernment Counseling: What to Do When One of You Wants Out and the Other Wants to Stay
When one partner is leaning out and the other wants to stay, regular couples therapy often fails. Discernment counseling — a short, structured approach designed exactly for this bind — helps both of you get clarity before committing to a direction.
Conflict Isn't the Problem — Communication Is: Tips for Conflict Resolution from a Therapist
Conflict isn't a sign of failure — it's a natural part of any relationship. A therapist's three-step framework for moving from 'Me vs. You' to 'Us vs. the Problem.'
Exploring the Idea of Separate Bedrooms in Relationships
Sleeping in separate bedrooms can be a healthy choice for some couples — and a warning sign for others. A therapist's look at when it works, when it masks deeper issues, and how to tell the difference.
Related
Sex Therapy
Comprehensive sex therapy for desire, pleasure, pain, disconnect, and everything we don't have good words for.
Learn moreEMDR Therapy
Structured bilateral stimulation therapy for processing trauma so it stops replaying in the background.
Learn moreIndividual Therapy
One-on-one therapy for anxiety, depression, identity, trauma, and the patterns you can see but can't yet shift.
Learn moreLGBTQ+ Affirmative Therapy
Affirming, identity-aware therapy for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples — including non-monogamy and kink-aware work.
Learn moreReady to talk it through?
Free 15-minute call. We'll figure out if couples therapy is the right work for where you are, and match you with the right person on our team.
Book a Free Consult