Services
Couples Therapy & Counseling in Tampa & St. Petersburg
Even strong relationships can face difficult seasons, but you don’t have to navigate them alone. Our specialized and experienced couples therapists in Tampa and St. Petersburg provide expert guidance to help you reignite intimacy, resolve conflict, and create a more fulfilling relationship.
Couples Therapy for Tampa & St. Petersburg
Relationships are the foundation of a fulfilling life, but even the strongest couples can struggle with communication breakdowns, trust issues, or life transitions. At It Begins Within, we help couples strengthen their emotional connection, work through challenges, and create healthier patterns of communication. Whether you’re preparing for a major life change or navigating a painful crisis, our expert couples therapists in Tampa and St. Petersburg provide a supportive, judgment-free space to address core issues, break unhealthy cycles, and rebuild trust and intimacy. No matter where you are in your journey, healing and growth are possible.
What to Expect During Couples Therapy in Tampa, FL & St. Petersburg
If this is the first time you and your partner are considering couples therapy, and eager (or nervous) to learn more about what it may be like, it may be helpful to read this article from Dr. Mary Perleoni explaining what to expect in your first couples therapy session.
What is Couples Therapy?
Couples therapy (also referred to as relationship therapy), is a specialized form of psychotherapy where a licensed and trained therapist works with a couple to enhance their relationship. The primary purpose of couples therapy is to help partners gain a deeper understanding of each other’s needs, feelings, and behaviors. By addressing and working through challenges and conflicts in a healthy and constructive manner, couples can build a stronger, more resilient relationship. A relationship therapist provides a safe and supportive environment for partners to express themselves openly, offering guidance and tools to foster a loving relationship. This therapeutic process aims to improve communication, resolve conflicts, and strengthen the emotional bond between partners.
Strengthen Your Relationship with Couples Therapy in Tampa, FL
At It Begins Within, our couples therapy services in Tampa are designed to help partners reconnect, rebuild trust, and communicate more effectively. Whether you’re facing daily misunderstandings or deeper relationship wounds, therapy provides a pathway toward a healthier, more fulfilling partnership.
Key ways couples therapy can strengthen your relationship
Improve Communication. Learn how to express your needs openly and listen without defensiveness, reducing misunderstandings and resentments.
Deepen Intimacy & Connection. Address unresolved issues and rebuild emotional closeness, reigniting the bond that first brought you together.
Learn to Healthy Conflict Resolution. Develop strategies to manage disagreements respectfully, preventing recurring arguments from damaging your connection.
Develop Strategies for Teamwork. Build a united front when facing life's challenges, from parenting struggles to financial pressures.
Focus on Empathy. Gain new insights into your partner’s emotions and motivations, strengthening trust, compassion, and partnership.
If you’re searching for a compassionate, results-driven approach to couples counseling in Tampa or St. Petersburg, we’re here to help you take the first step.
How COUPLES THERAPY Can Transform your relationship
Many couples struggle to express themselves in ways that lead to understanding rather than conflict. At It Begins Within, our relationship counseling services in Tampa and St. Petersburg help partners break out of unhealthy communication patterns and reestablish emotional intimacy.
Here’s how therapy can improve your relationship dynamics:
Learn Powerful Communication Techniques: Through structured exercises and coaching, you’ll discover ways to share your thoughts and emotions clearly—and hear each other without judgment.
Create a Safe Space for Vulnerability: In therapy, you’ll practice being open with each other in a supportive, non-blaming environment, allowing emotional walls to come down.
Rebuild Emotional Trust: By addressing old hurts and misunderstandings, couples can heal emotional wounds and reconnect on a deeper level.
Strengthen Emotional Resilience: Therapy equips couples with tools to handle life’s ups and downs together, building a relationship that’s more secure and satisfying.
If you’re ready to experience deeper connection, better communication, and renewed intimacy, our Tampa-based relationship counselors are here to guide you forward.
Types of Couples Therapy We Offer in Tampa, FL & St. Petersburg
Couples Therapy
Marriage Counseling
Divorce Counseling
Therapy for IVF and Infertility
Related Therapy Approaches
While your relationship or marriage challenges be front and center, many of our Tampa and St. Petersburg clients come to a realization that their relationship challenges are actually just a symptom of an underlying issue that remains unresolved. If you feel like that may resonate with your situation, we invite you to explore our additional therapeutic approaches.
Trauma-based Couples Therapy in Tampa & St. Petersburg
Our practice specializes in trauma therapy for couples.
Common partnership traumas include:
One member of the partnership having a traumatic past that currently influences the relationship.
A traumatic event in the partnership such as infidelity or loss.
If you are or have experienced trauma in your marriage, we invite you to schedule a free consultation with our team.
Expert Relationship & Marital Counseling in Tampa & St. Petersburg
The role of the couples therapist is not to define you and your relationship, but rather to guide the conversation, asking specific questions that encourage understanding and recognition of each others perspective. Because of this, it is very important for couples to begin treatment together to effectively address and work through their relationship challenges. This certainly does not exclude one of the partners from pursuing individual therapy (which can only benefit them and very likely the relationship as well), but if the couples want to work on their relationship, it should be together.
As couples counselors and marriage therapists we do not take sides or tell couples what they should do. At It Begins Within, couples learn new ways of communicating honestly with each other that do not cause defensiveness. They learn how to resolve conflicts and understand each other on a deeper level, which ultimately leads to healthy relationships.
When You Should Consider Couples Counseling OR marriage counseling tampa fl
Deciding whether you need couples marital therapy is a personal choice, but some certain signs and circumstances may indicate it could be beneficial. Whether you are taking a proactive approach, or are in crisis, our therapists in Tampa and St. Petersburg are here to help you achieve the goals you have for yourself and your relationship. It is beneficial for couples to begin treatment early to address issues before they escalate. If you’re interested in learning more about the most common reasons couples in Tampa are evaluating therapy, view Dr. Perleoni’s blog post on the top 9 reasons couples enter into therapy.
couples Marriage Counseling – Strengthening Marital Bonds
Whether you’re navigating years of built-up resentment or looking to reconnect after a life transition, our marriage counseling services in Tampa can help couples restore trust, improve communication, and reignite intimacy. We tailor sessions to meet the unique dynamics of your relationship, using evidence-based approaches that support long-term growth and healing.
Relationship Counseling – Helping Couples Navigate Challenges
Our experienced therapists provide a compassionate, structured environment to work through recurring conflict, trust issues, and emotional disconnection. Together, we help you build tools to manage stress, deepen emotional connection, and move forward as a stronger team.
In-Person Couples Therapy for Deeper Connection
While virtual therapy can be effective for many challenges, in-person couples therapy in Tampa often allows for deeper emotional processing and non-verbal connection that can be so important to a challenged relationship. At our Tampa and St. Petersburg offices, clients experience a calm, confidential setting designed to foster trust, presence, and meaningful breakthroughs in the relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions About Couples Therapy in Tampa & St. Petersburg
Does marriage counseling work?
According to the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, the success rate of marriage counseling is around 70%. These figures are even further improved when working with highly experienced and skilled licensed mental health counselors or couples counselors like the therapists we have here at It Begins Within.
If your goal is to make your marriage work, our goal is to help you get there. At IBW our couples counselors are specialized in the leading couples counseling models (including the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Systematic Affair Recovery). Our therapists use these highly beneficial frameworks and tailor them to meet your unique couples needs.
whats unique about couples counseling in tampa?
A typical couple’s therapy or family therapy session involves the two people in the couple talking through the challenges in their relationship with a neutral third party (the therapist and licensed mental health counselor) who is trained in getting to the heart of the issue. The role of the counselor is to serve as a neutral third party and will help guide the conversation, asking specific questions that encourage each person to understand the other’s perspective.
What are the keys to success in couples counseling in Tampa, FL?
There are several key factors that determine the success of relationship counseling. Each couple, relationship or partnership will have different goals and objectives, which may even vary greatly between the couple. For instance one partner may want to save the relationship, while the other primarily wants to feel appreciated and important. Our goal is to help find alignment between these goals, and help each couple find their path to achievement, along with providing specialized training to help the individuals overcome challenges.
How long will couples counseling take?
Relationship counseling may vary depending on the needs of the couple, the unique challenges they are facing, and the pace of their progress. Therapy for couples takes an average of 10-12 weeks; however, we encourage a couple to commit to one month of therapy weekly then reassess. A commitment to four sessions does not seem daunting and will show commitment in improving the relationship with attending therapy weekly.
How much does couples counseling cost in Tampa, FL?
Couples counseling at It Begins Within is $215 for a full 60-minute session. While we are an “Out of Network Provider”, clients are able to use both their HSA and FSA accounts, and often receive reimbursement through their insurance provider after submitting a superbill.
What type of therapy is used in couples counseling?
Our marriage therapists use multiple effective methods, models and approaches to therapy for couples. Here at It Begins Within, we have a strong belief in the value of in-person therapy in our Tampa and St Pete locations. While we utilize three primary models, our therapists are client-focused and may utilize a combination of leading approaches to arrive at the best outcome for our clients. These include:
Gottman Method
Emotional Focused Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
What is the Gottman Method of Couples Therapy?
The Gottman Method of relationship counseling is a research-based approach designed to improve relationships by teaching conflict resolution, focusing on strengths in the relationship, and amplifying shared values. Learn more about finding a Gottman Method therapist in Tampa.
What is the difference between couples therapy and marriage counseling?
Marriage counseling typically focuses on resolving issues within a marriage, like communication, parenting, or infidelity. Couples therapy is a broader term that applies to all relationships—married or not—and often explores deeper emotional patterns. At IBWHC, we tailor the approach based on your relationship goals.
What is Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)?
Emotionally Focused Therapy is a proven couples therapy approach that helps partners improve emotional connection and break negative communication patterns. It focuses on creating secure attachment, fostering empathy, and rebuilding trust—especially when couples feel disconnected or stuck.
How does virtual couples therapy in florida work?
Virtual couples therapy works much like in-person sessions, but takes place over a secure video platform. You and your partner will meet with your therapist online from the comfort of your home or office, allowing you to discuss challenges, improve communication, and strengthen your relationship with the same level of support and guidance.
Couples Therapy Tampa
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Kaitlyn Shelp, MA, LMHC
CLINICAL SUPERVISOR
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Melissa Zentner, MS, LMHC
THERAPIST
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Mary Perleoni, Ph.D., LMHC
FOUNDER
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Kelly Morrissey, MA, LMFT, LMHC, CAP, QS
THERAPIST
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Paris McDonald, LMHC
THERAPIST
Couples Therapy St. Petersburg
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Amanda Farris, MS, LCSW, QS
THERAPIST
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![Tyler couples counseling st petersburg]()
Tyler MacDonald, MA, LMHC
THERAPIST
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![Kaitlyn couples counseling st petersburg fl]()
Kaitlyn Shelp, MA, LMHC
CLINICAL SUPERVISOR
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![Melissa marriage counseling st pete]()
Melissa Zentner, MS, LMHC
THERAPIST
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![Mary relationship counseling st petersburg fl]()
Mary Perleoni, Ph.D., LMHC
FOUNDER
Facts About Couples Therapy in Tampa and Beyond
At It Begins Within Healing Center, we provide expert couples therapy and marriage therapy across Tampa, St. Petersburg, and the greater Tampa Bay area. We currently find the demand for trusted relationship support is on the rise. This is especially true for couples facing communication breakdowns, trust issues, and emotional disconnection.
Understanding Couples Therapy Stats
The American Psychological Association (APA) reports that 40–50% of U.S. marriages end in divorce, with many citing unresolved conflicts as the breaking point. Source: APA
In Florida, the divorce rate sits at 3.4 per 500 couples, which is higher than the national average - unfortunately making cities like Tampa a hotspot for relationship challenges. Source: CDC National Vital Statistics
A 2020 study in Family Process found that couples receiving Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) reported significant improvements in relationship satisfaction, with 68% showing reduced distress after 26 sessions, based on a randomized clinical trial of 67 couples. Source: Family Process
Relationship struggles can erode emotional health, intimacy, and family stability. With compassionate and evidence-based couples therapy, healing is achievable. Whether you’re a Tampa couple navigating frequent arguments, rebuilding after infidelity, or simply seeking to strengthen your bond in St. Pete or Pinellas County, our expert relationship therapists are here to guide you every step of the way.
Schedule Free Consultation
It Begins Within is a leader in relationship counseling in Tampa, FL. If you are struggling in your relationship and looking for couples therapy near me in Tampa or St. Petersburg, we invite you to schedule a free consultation call with our expert marriage and couples therapists.