• Online & In-Person Sessions Available in Newhall-Santa Clarita, Los Angeles & Studio City
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 Marriage Counseling in Santa Clarita, CA

Reconnect. Rebuild. Thrive Together.

Compassionate marriage counseling in Santa Clarita for all couples, including LGBTQ+ partnerships. Gottman-trained, Psychology Today verified, and ready to meet you where you are.
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Online and In-Person Sessions

Welcome, I'm Julia.

I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #104811) with over 20 years of experience helping couples find their way back to each other. As a Gottman Method Level 1 & 2 and PACT Level 1 trained therapist, I bring evidence-based tools to every session of marriage counseling in Santa Clarita, alongside genuine warmth and a deeply inclusive approach.

I specialize in marriage counseling for all couples: married, unmarried, newly committed, non-monogamous, long-term partnerships, and LGBTQIA+. Whatever is straining your relationship, I’m here to help you move through it with clarity and care. Sessions are available in person and online throughout California.

Office Locations

Newhall-Santa Clarita Office

24509 Walnut St Ste. 201,
Newhall, CA 91321
(818) 646-7921

Los Angeles Office

566 S. San Vicente Blvd STE 101
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 483-4225

Studio City Office

11712 Moorpark St suite 101
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 646-7921

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What Is Marriage Counseling

Marriage counseling is a structured form of couples therapy that helps partners rebuild communication, resolve conflict, and strengthen emotional connection in a safe, nonjudgmental space built just for the two of you. It’s not about assigning blame. It’s about understanding each other more deeply and creating a relationship that feels good to be in.

According to the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), approximately 98% of couples who work with a licensed marriage counselor report that their emotional health improved.

Marriage counseling is useful far beyond crisis moments. Many couples use it proactively: to strengthen what’s already working, prepare for major transitions like parenthood or career change, or simply develop better communication tools before small tensions grow. Whether you’re a newly engaged couple exploring premarital counseling, a long-term partnership working through a rough patch, or a couple genuinely uncertain about your future, this work can help.

For LGBTQ+ couples, I offer a space where your relationship is not just accommodated; it’s fully celebrated. Gay marriage counseling, lesbian marriage counseling, and counseling for non-binary or trans partnerships are all areas where I bring both genuine expertise and deep personal commitment. You won’t need to educate me about your relationship or your identity. 

“The parts of us that seem most unlovable are often the ones that need love the most.”— Richard Schwartz (IFS)

Signs It May Be Time to Work with a Marriage Counselor

You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from couples therapy. Many of the most impactful sessions happen before things reach a breaking point. That said, here are some common signs that now might be a good time to reach out:
  • You feel more like roommates than partners
  • Arguments keep cycling back to the same issues
  • One or both of you has experienced an affair or breach of trust
  • Emotional or physical intimacy has faded
  • You're navigating a major life transition together — new baby, job loss, relocation
  • Financial stress is creating recurring conflict
  • You're considering separation, but aren't sure it's the right path
  • One partner is struggling with depression, anxiety, or addiction
  • Parenting disagreements are causing distance between you
  • You feel unheard, misunderstood, or chronically dismissed
  • You're newly engaged and want to build a strong foundation before marriage
  • As an LGBTQ+ couple, you face external stressors that your families or communities don't fully understand

How Does Marriage Counseling Help Couples in Santa Clarita?

Effective marriage counseling does more than resolve surface conflicts. It helps you understand the underlying patterns driving them. Using the Gottman Method and PACT framework, our sessions focus on what the research calls the “Four Horsemen” of relationship breakdown: criticism, defensiveness, stonewalling, and contempt. Studies show these four behaviors are predictive of divorce in over 90% of cases when left unaddressed. The good news? Every single one of them is workable with the right tools.

What Couples Come to Marriage Counseling For

Marriage counseling sessions in Santa Clarita typically address a range of interconnected challenges — whether you’re a newly committed couple, a long-term partnership, or anywhere in between:

  • Communication breakdown: Learning to express needs clearly and listen without defensiveness, using evidence-based tools like Gottman’s “softened startup” and active listening techniques
  • Trust and infidelity: Rebuilding after an affair — understanding what broke down, what needs to change, and whether reconciliation is possible and desired by both partners
  • Emotional intimacy: Reigniting the warmth and closeness that makes a relationship feel secure, not just functional
  • Sexual connection: Navigating mismatched desires, intimacy avoidance, or the impact of physical or emotional changes on your sex life
  • Family dynamics: Managing conflict around parenting styles, blended families, or relationships with extended family members
  • Life transitions: Pre-marital counseling, new parenthood, career upheaval, grief, or preparing for the next chapter together

How Does LGBTQ Marriage Counseling Differ?

LGBTQ+ couples face a distinct set of relational stressors that most marriage counselors are simply not trained to address. These include minority stress — the chronic psychological burden of existing in a world that doesn’t always affirm your relationship — as well as internalized homophobia or transphobia, family rejection, chosen family dynamics, and the compounding effects of identity-based discrimination on mental health.

As an LGBTQ affirmative therapist with over 15 years of experience working with the queer community, I provide a space where you don’t have to explain your relationship structure, your pronouns, or your identity. Whether you’re a same-sex couple navigating family acceptance, a trans person and their partner processing the emotional weight of transition, or a queer partnership exploring ethical non-monogamy, our sessions are shaped around your actual life.

  • Navigating family of origin acceptance and chosen family boundaries
  • Processing societal or religious pressure on your relationship
  • Supporting a partner through gender transition or identity exploration
  • Addressing internalized shame or fear that shows up in your relationship patterns
  • Strengthening communication across different coming-out timelines or experiences

The Work We Do Together

Every couple is different, but here’s what our work together typically looks like:

  • Identifying and interrupting the communication patterns that create distance between you
  • Building emotional fluency — learning to name what you feel and ask for what you need
  • Strengthening your friendship foundation, which Gottman research identifies as the most critical predictor of long-term relationship satisfaction
  • Developing conflict management skills that protect your bond even when you disagree
  • Reconnecting with shared meaning, dreams, and goals as a couple
  • Exploring the role your individual histories and attachment styles play in your relationship patterns

"The quality of your relationships determines the quality of your life." — Esther Perel

Work with Me

Getting started with marriage counseling in Santa Clarita doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Here’s exactly what to expect when you reach out.

Free Consultation

We start with a free 20-minute phone call — no pressure, no commitment. It's your chance to ask questions, share what's going on, and get a feel for how I work.

Weekly Sessions

We meet weekly in a safe, consistent space, in person at any of my three offices, or online throughout California, at a pace that works for both of you.

Tailored Plan

Your first full session shapes a personalized roadmap. I listen deeply, ask the right questions, and build a plan around your specific relationship, not a generic template.

Ongoing Growth

Therapy is a living process. As you grow, we adjust. I'm not just here to help you through a crisis; I'm here to help you build something stronger and more sustainable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Research consistently shows strong outcomes for couples who commit to the process. According to the AAMFT, approximately 98% of couples who work with a licensed marriage counselor report improved emotional health. The Gottman Institute cites a 75% success rate for an initial uncontrolled trial of its Trust Revival Method for couples recovering from infidelity. Success doesn't always mean staying together; sometimes it means gaining the clarity to make the best decision for both of you.
Not at all, and waiting for a crisis is actually one of the most common mistakes couples make. Premarital counseling helps engaged partners build a strong foundation before old patterns have a chance to calcify. Long-term couples use marriage therapy to maintain connection and navigate transitions. Even healthy relationships benefit from dedicated time to communicate and grow. Think of it like regular maintenance — far easier than emergency repair.

Sessions are collaborative, structured, and genuinely different from conversations you'd have on your own. Here's what you can typically expect:

  • Shared space: Both partners have equal room to express their experiences and be heard
  • Skill-building: You'll leave each session with concrete tools, not just insights
  • Pattern work: We identify the cycles that keep you stuck and interrupt them together
  • Homework (optional): I may suggest small experiments or practices to try between sessions

Some couples also incorporate individual sessions alongside couples work to address personal history that shows up in the relationship.
LGBTQ marriage counseling is affirming by design, not as an afterthought. With over 20 years of working with the queer community, I understand the specific relational dynamics that LGBTQ+ couples navigate: minority stress, family of origin dynamics, chosen family conflicts, the impact of discrimination, and the intersection of identity and relationship. Whether you're a gay couple, a lesbian partnership, or a relationship involving trans or non-binary partners, you won't need to explain yourself here. We focus on your relationship, your goals, and what you want to build together.
Yes, especially when you're uncertain. Marriage counseling can be a valuable space to slow down and get clear on what you both actually want — without pressure in either direction. Even if you ultimately decide to part, the work you do in therapy can help you do so with more clarity, less regret, and, where children are involved, a better foundation for co-parenting.
I am currently out-of-network with insurance providers. However, many PPO plans include out-of-network mental health benefits. I can provide a monthly superbill — a detailed receipt you submit to your insurance company for possible partial reimbursement. I encourage you to call your insurance provider and ask about your out-of-network mental health coverage before our first session, so you know exactly what to expect.
Both, and the choice is entirely yours. I offer in-person therapy at three locations: Santa Clarita, Los Angeles, and Studio City. Online sessions are available for clients throughout California. Many couples mix formats — in-person when possible, virtual when life gets busy. Flexibility is part of how I make this work sustainable for real people with real schedules.

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Start Marriage Counseling in Santa Clarita Today

You don’t have to keep navigating this alone. Whether you’re hoping to repair what’s broken, protect what’s strong, or find clarity about your next step, I’m here. As a Gottman-trained LMFT serving couples in Santa Clarita, Los Angeles, and Studio City, I offer a free 20-minute consultation to get started. Online sessions are available for clients throughout California. Get in touch to see if we are a good fit!

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