Couples Therapist in San Diego
Find the Right Support for Your Relationship
Finding the right couples therapist can make it easier for you and your partner to feel comfortable opening up, understanding what is happening in your relationship, and working toward meaningful change.
At Novara Counseling, our couples therapists in San Diego work with partners experiencing communication problems, recurring arguments, emotional disconnection, trust concerns, infidelity, intimacy challenges, and uncertainty about the future of their relationship.
Our approach is collaborative and nonjudgmental. We do not focus on deciding who is right or wrong. Instead, we help both partners better understand the patterns affecting the relationship, communicate more effectively, and build a stronger sense of connection.
We offer in-person couples therapy in San Diego from our Sorrento Valley office and online couples therapy throughout California.
Meet Our Couples Therapists in San Diego
Every couple comes to therapy with different experiences, concerns, and goals. Finding a therapist whose approach feels like a good fit can be an important part of the process.
Farnaz Safaei, LMFT
Farnaz Safaei is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the Clinical Director of Novara Counseling.
She works with couples experiencing recurring conflict, communication difficulties, emotional disconnection, trust concerns, infidelity, intimacy challenges, and major relationship transitions.
Farnaz incorporates Gottman Method principles into her work and has completed Gottman Method Level 1 and Level 2 training, along with specialized training in affair recovery.
Her approach helps couples understand the deeper patterns behind their conflicts while developing practical skills for communication, emotional connection, trust, and repair.
Farnaz also provides Intensive Couples Therapy for couples who want more concentrated time to work on their relationship.
Sydney Walla, APCC
Sydney Walla is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor who works with couples as well as individual clients.
Her approach is warm, collaborative, and focused on helping partners better understand themselves and one another.
Sydney incorporates Gottman Method principles to help couples recognize unhealthy communication patterns, manage conflict more effectively, and strengthen their emotional connection.
She works with couples navigating communication difficulties, recurring conflict, emotional distance, relationship transitions, trust concerns, and changes related to marriage, family, parenting, or other major life experiences.
Not sure which therapist may be the best fit? During your free consultation, we can learn more about what brings you to therapy and help determine where to start.
How to Choose the Right Couples Therapist
Choosing a couples therapist is different from choosing an individual therapist because both partners need to feel supported within the therapeutic relationship.
A couples therapist should create space for both people to share their experiences while also helping you understand the relationship as a whole.
When looking for a couples therapist, it can be helpful to consider:
Experience With Your Concerns
Couples seek therapy for many different reasons.
You may be struggling with communication, having the same argument repeatedly, feeling emotionally disconnected, rebuilding trust after an affair, experiencing changes in intimacy, or questioning the future of your relationship.
Working with a therapist who understands the concerns affecting your relationship can help keep therapy focused on what matters most to you.
A Balanced, Nonjudgmental Approach
Couples therapy should not become a place where one partner is treated as the problem.
Your therapist may challenge both of you at different points, but the goal is to understand the patterns occurring between you rather than assign blame.
An Approach That Fits Your Goals
Not every couple wants the same outcome from therapy.
Some couples want to communicate better. Others want to rebuild trust, feel close again, prepare for marriage, work through a major transition, or determine what they want for the future.
Your therapist can help you identify those goals and create a treatment plan based on your relationship.
What Can Couples Therapy Help With?
You do not need to wait until your relationship reaches a crisis to seek support.
Our couples therapists work with concerns including:
Frequent or unresolved arguments
Communication problems
Emotional disconnection
Trust issues
Physical or emotional intimacy concerns
Financial stress
Family boundaries
Major life transitions
Difficulty repairing after conflict
Uncertainty about staying together
Depending on your concerns, you can also learn more about our specialized services for Couples Therapy, Marriage Counseling, Relationship Counseling, and Affair Recovery.
Gottman-Informed Couples Therapy
Our couples therapists incorporate principles from the Gottman Method, an evidence-based approach to couples therapy focused on friendship, communication, conflict management, trust, and emotional connection.
Couples can sometimes become caught in repetitive patterns. One partner may become critical or push for a conversation while the other becomes defensive or withdraws. Over time, even small disagreements can begin to feel exhausting.
Gottman-informed couples therapy may help partners:
Recognize unhealthy communication patterns
Express concerns without blame
Listen with greater understanding
Identify the emotions beneath recurring arguments
Manage conflict more effectively
Repair after disagreements
Strengthen friendship and affection
Rebuild trust and emotional connection
The goal is not to eliminate every disagreement. Healthy relationships still experience conflict. Therapy can help you learn healthier ways to move through those moments together.
In-Person and Online Couples Therapy
Novara Counseling offers in-person couples therapy in Sorrento Valley, San Diego, as well as online couples therapy throughout California.
Some couples prefer meeting in person because having a dedicated space away from home helps them focus on the relationship. Others prefer the convenience of virtual sessions because of work schedules, childcare, transportation, or other responsibilities.
Both options provide a structured space to work on communication, trust, intimacy, conflict, and emotional connection.
Couples Therapy Fees
Couples therapy at Novara Counseling ranges from $195–$240 per session, depending on your therapist and service.
Novara Counseling is a private-pay practice. We do not bill insurance directly, although some clients may be eligible for reimbursement through out-of-network benefits.
For additional information, visit our Fees and Insurance Information pages.
Find a Couples Therapist in San Diego
Whether you are struggling with communication, recurring arguments, trust, emotional distance, intimacy, or uncertainty about your relationship, you do not have to figure everything out on your own.
Our couples therapists can help you better understand the patterns affecting your relationship and develop healthier ways to communicate, connect, and move forward together.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. Couples therapy can support dating, engaged, married, and long-term partners. You may also seek therapy while preparing for marriage, navigating a major transition, or deciding what you want for the future of your relationship.
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The goal of couples therapy is not to determine which partner is right. Your therapist works to understand both perspectives while helping you identify the patterns contributing to conflict, distance, or disconnection.
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Yes. Couples therapy can help partners work through the emotional impact of infidelity or betrayal, understand what is needed to rebuild trust, establish healthier boundaries, and determine how they want to move forward.
Learn more about our Affair Recovery Therapy.
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Yes. We provide in-person couples counseling in San Diego and online couples therapy for clients located throughout California.