- If you’re struggling in your relationship, you know how overwhelming and isolating it can be, and you might be left wondering if things will ever get better.
- Couples counseling can help, but finding the right therapist for your unique situation is essential.
- As a local couples therapist myself, I deeply understand the importance of finding a therapist who you can trust.
- Here, I share a bit more about my practice and offer some referrals in case we’re not a match.
Meet the therapists
- Best for trauma-informed couples therapy: Lisa Franks
- Best for couples navigating sex addiction: Ariele Oshiro-Wilkie
- Best for LGBTQIA+ couples counseling: Chase Uribe
- Best for faith-informed couples counseling: Dr. Romulus Chelbegean
Why trust my recommendations?
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 10 years of experience and advanced training in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). Throughout my career, I’ve worked across different settings and have an extensive background working with individuals, families, and couples. This has given me valuable insight into what makes effective couples therapy, and it’s allowed me to pinpoint when I could be a therapeutic match for a couple—and when a different clinician could better support you.
How I selected
In addition to telling you more about my approach to couples therapy, I’ve highlighted other local therapists who specialize in couples therapy. I’ve included therapists with various identities and backgrounds, diverse treatment approaches, and additional speciality areas so you can find the right fit for your specific needs.
Therapists profiles
Lisa Franks
Best for trauma-informed couples therapy
Key logistics:
- Offers couples therapy ✓
- Clientele: Adults, couples
- Location: Temecula, CA
- Virtual therapy: Yes
I specialize in trauma-informed couples therapy using Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) combined with traditional talk therapy, including the Gottman Method. My approach helps couples understand how past experiences impact their relationship, process unresolved wounds, and develop healthier communication patterns to support lasting connection.
| Good fit for: | Not a fit for: |
|---|---|
| Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) | Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) |
| High-stress professionals | Court-mandated therapy |
| In-person sessions | Discernment counseling |
Ariele Oshiro-Wilkie
Best for couples navigating sex addiction
Key logistics:
- Offers couples therapy ✓
- Clientele: Adults, couples
- Location: Riverside, CA
- Virtual therapy: Yes
Ariele is a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) who specializes in helping couples affected by compulsive sexual behaviors and betrayal trauma. She also offers groups for both betrayed partners and those who personally struggle with compulsive sexual behaviors. If you and your partner are navigating sex addiction, her practice could be a good fit.
| Good fit for: | Not a fit for: |
|---|---|
| Betrayal/infidelity | Gottman Method |
| Group counseling | Couples intensives |
| In-person sessions | In-network therapy |
Chase Uribe
Best for LGBTQIA+ couples counseling
Key logistics:
- Offers couples therapy ✓
- Clientele: Children, teens, adults, couples
- Location: Riverside, CA
- Virtual therapy: Yes
Chase works with diverse communities, including those who identify as LGBTQIA+. He also supports people with disabilities, immigrants, people with cancer, and other folks. Chase blends different therapeutic modalities to help couples at different stages of their relationship, including (but not limited to) engaged and married couples, strengthen their bond.
| Good fit for: | Not a fit for: |
|---|---|
| LGBTQIA+ community | Couples intensives |
| Premarital counseling | Formal discernment therapy |
| In-person sessions | Sex addiction |
Dr. Romulus Chelbegean
Best for faith-informed couples counseling
Key logistics:
- Offers couples therapy ✓
- Clientele: Teens, adults, couples, families
- Location: Riverside, CA
- Virtual therapy: Yes
Dr. Romulus has a diverse background, with professional experience as a registered nurse, a professor, and a chaplain. He is passionate about helping people experiencing faith crises and supporting cross-cultural couples. His practice could be a good fit if you’re looking for a therapist who deeply understands the immigrant experience and who can integrate faith and religion into sessions.
| Good fit for: | Not a fit for: |
|---|---|
| Cross-cultural couples | Gottman Method |
| Faith crises | Those who prefer a female therapist |
| Online sessions | In-person sessions |
FAQs about couples counseling
No, you don’t need to be married to benefit from couples therapy. Whether you’re dating, engaged, married, or in a long-term partnership, couples counseling can help strengthen your relationship. Many therapists work with couples at all stages of their relationship, from those just starting out to those who’ve been together for decades.
Couples therapy offers support for a wide range of relationship challenges, including communication problems, trust issues, infidelity, intimacy concerns, conflict resolution, parenting disagreements, financial stress, and trauma that affects the relationship. Many couples also seek therapy for preventive care or to strengthen their connection during major life transitions, like becoming parents or empty-nesters.
Couples therapy provides tools for better communication, helps you understand each other’s perspectives, teaches conflict resolution skills, and creates a safe space to address difficult topics. It can help rebuild trust, increase intimacy, break negative patterns, and strengthen your emotional connection. Many couples report feeling more understood and supported by their partner after therapy.
I use a trauma-informed approach that combines Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) with traditional talk therapy tools like the Gottman Method. My goal is to help couples understand how survival mechanisms like avoidance, hypervigilance, or emotional shutdown affect their connection. We’ll process unresolved trauma and reduce emotional triggers, creating space for healthier interactions and improved emotional regulation.
