Couples Counseling in Columbus, Ohio
Practical, structured couples therapy to rebuild connection, improve communication, and stop the same fight from happening on repeat.
Not in Columbus?
When Columbus Couples Are Burned Out It Shows Up in the Relationship
Work stress, raising kids, managing the house, and trying to keep up with life in Central Ohio can slowly turn a relationship into a never-ending to-do list. Couples start talking less, misunderstanding more, and revisiting the same issues without resolution until it feels like you’re roommates, not partners.
If you’re looking for what couples counseling Columbus Ohio offers, it’s important to choose someone with specific training and experience in couples work because not every therapist is competent in couple dynamics, and that can make or breakthe success of therapy.
If you’re unsure whether online sessions are right for you, I offer a FREE 15-minute consultation so you can ask questions and get a feel for how this works before committing. You can read about how online sessions help couples by tapping here.
I OFFER A FREE 15 MINUTE CONSULTATION!
15 min • Free
Couples Therapy Treats the Relationship, Not One Partner
Couples counseling is different from individual counseling because the relationship itself is what we’re assessing and treating. That’s why I do a thorough evaluation before diagnosing or treating the relationship.
I ask couples for a minimum of four sessions to start: session one is relationship history and what brings you in; session two is split; half the time with one partner and half with the other so each person can speak freely.
Between sessions two and three you’ll complete the Gottman Relationship Checkup to measure satisfaction and stress points. Session three is feedback; what I’m seeing, what the data shows, and we will complete a treatment plan. I'll choose a tool that will address the issue being treated for you to use at home.
Session four is a debrief of how it went using the tool outside session and how we should proceed.
This structure supports real progress in couples therapy Columbus Ohio couples can measure, because we use ongoing assessments to track movement toward goals. Therapy with me isn’t meant to be long-term, so when your toolbox is full and goals are met, we discharge.
Structured Sessions - No Blame Games, No Ganging Up
Sessions with me are not bitch sessions and we don’t play the blame game. If you want me to side with you against your partner, I’m not the right fit.
Instead, I use evidence-based strategies tailored to your needs so sessions stay focused and productive. In other words, more repair and less rehashing. We'll focus on things like -
Communication like active listening, reflective speaking, and respectful self-expression to reduce defensiveness and increase understanding.
Conflict Resolution work to identifying triggers, practicing how to disagree, and using time-outs to de-escalate before things get damaging.
Gottman Method used is the Sound Relationship House to explain what strengthens (or weakens) your foundation and what to practice next.
Emotionally Focused Therapy is to identify and change negative attachment cycles, like pursuer/withdrawer, and to rebuild emotional safety.
Behavioral Interventions are explained in session and practiced outside session, like State of the Union conversations and intentional quality time, to create change in real life.
If you’re searching for marriage counseling Columbus Ohio couples can actually use, this is designed to give you tools and not just conversations.
Common Reasons
Couples Seek Treatment
Therapy Just For You
We offer individual therapy to adults in your city for Ohioans who need support for anxiety, depression, ADHD, or bipolar disorder.
I also offer referrals to psychiatric support if you're looking for medication to help you manage your focus and mood.
Resolve Past Hurts
The same fights repeat because the core issue never gets repaired, so resentment builds and small triggers hit like big ones.
Improve Communication
Patterns like defensiveness, shutdown, criticism, or misfires in tone and timing keep partners from feeling heard and understood.
Individual Partner Support
You don’t have to wait to start healing.
Sometimes change starts with just one person. (And spoiler: it still counts.)
Discernment Decision
Discernment counseling helps couples clarify whether they want to repair the relationship, pursue separation, or make an intentional decision—without pressure, blame, or endless looping.
Preparing for Marriage
You plan for a lifetime.
Arm yourself with valuable tools for overcoming life’s obstacles as a team.
Online Couples Counseling Removes the “We Can’t Both Make It” Barrier
When couples are struggling, it’s hard for two people to hit pause at the same time, especially with kids, jobs, a house, bills, and the emotional weight of everything going on in the world. Many people feel stretched emotionally, financially, and spiritually.
Virtual sessions remove a barrier so you can stay consistent, and consistency is what creates change. If you’ve been looking for couples counseling Columbus options but can’t make schedules line up, online therapy often makes it possible to actually start and keep going long enough to see progress.
Meet Our Expert
Hi, I'm Terri! A GenX cisgender severe ADHD neurospicy suburban mom from Toledo, Ohio. My journey from an HR executive into mental health has gifted me with unique insights into the human psyche.
I've helped a lot of individuals and couples figure themselves out and live their best lives.
I'm also a board-certified licensed professional clinical counselor based in Ohio.
Beyond therapy, I'm a storyteller, avid traveler, and animal enthusiast, bringing diverse experiences into my sessions. This is a no pressure no blame no stress no judgment zone, so we laugh a lot.
Yes, I talk about politics too because it's a safe space. I hope to meet you soon!
My reviews
I randomly collect reviews after my sessions. It's part of how I measure the effectiveness of treatment.
This is the feedback I collected over the last 2 months.
Where my expertise comes from:
I've spent nearly
10K hours
face to face with couples over the last 10 years.
That’s the equivalent of spending five years meeting with couples on a full-time schedule.
I've treated over
900 individuals
for challenges with focus, anxiety, depression, and communication.
It's about four full years at 40 hours a week sitting with individuals helping navigate life's shit.
I've been in practice for
10 years
and my clients are all over Ohio. During COVID I served NY, MO, CA, and GA
Up until recently I've not done a lot of marketing. Word of mouth has kept me busy - I hope to be busier!
I spent
25 years
in Human Resource Management
I worked for Hudson's/Marshall Fields, The Weather Channel, weather.com, Zurich and served on global HR teams.
Headway Insurance + A Simple Portal to Keep Therapy Easy
I take insurance through Headway. You enter your insurance information on my landing page (click the link!) and you’ll receive an estimate of how much therapy will cost.
I then provide a UserID and password for my private practice patient portal where you can manage your schedule, complete assessments, track progress, and message me directly.
Sessions are 60 minutes. The goal is to make care easy and affordable, especially for couples who attaching themselves to searches like Columbus marriage counseling when they’re trying to find a structured option that fits real life.
When We Need to Pause Couples Sessions for Safety and Progress
Couples counseling works best when both partners are stable enough to participate honestly and consistently. If one partner has a significant, untreated mental health issue and it’s clearly interfering with progress, I will pause couples sessions and recommend that partner begin individual therapy until symptoms are better managed, then we’ll return to couples work with a stronger foundation.
Similarly, if an affair is still active and has not been ended, I can’t help the couple enter couples counseling; repair can’t begin while betrayal is ongoing.
And because I’m not a secret keeper, please don’t tell me anything you wouldn’t want your partner to know. Secrets inside couples therapy undermine trust and block the work we’re here to do.
Couples therapy costs time, energy, and money, so I’ll ask you what you want this investment to create right now.
More connection?
Better communication?
A calmer home?
Rebuilding trust?
We’ll talk through the stages of change and aim for “action,” because insight without follow-through won’t change your relationship. A key part of progress is deciding whether you’re ready to take responsibility for your own patterns instead of waiting for your partner to change first.
That mindset shift is often the turning point couples experience in marriage counseling in Columbus Ohio when they finally start practicing the tools consistently.
Ready to Start? Schedule a Couples Intake
If you’re ready to stop repeating the same fight and start rebuilding your relationship with structure and support, schedule an intake session.
If you’ve been searching for a Columbus marriage counselor or exploring couples therapy Columbus OH, this is your next step!
Initial Intake Appointment
1 hr • $160
WHAT TO DO
Advice Blog
Initial Intake Appointment