Couples Therapy
Even the strongest relationships face difficult seasons, but you don’t have to navigate them alone. Our specialized relationship counselors in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota provide the support needed to reignite intimacy, resolve conflict, repair trust, and create a more fulfilling relationship.
Why Couples Choose It Begins Within Therapy
At IBW we believe couples deserve more than generic advice - they deserve personalized guidance and perspective from experts that have helped thousands of couples heal.
“Conflict in relationships is almost never about the surface issue, it’s about unmet emotional needs and patterns of disconnection - and that’s where couples therapy does its best work.” – Dr. Mary Perleoni, PhD
Whether you’re navigating a crisis or simply feeling disconnected, our relationship therapists in Tampa, St. Petersburg, & Sarasota are here to help you heal—together.
Evidence-Based Methods for Lasting Change
We use proven techniques like the Gottman Method for improving communication and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to rebuild emotional bonds. As of 2025, EFT shows a 70-80% success rate in improving relationships, with 70-75% of couples no longer meeting distress criteria, while the Gottman Method also achieves 70-80% significant improvements in satisfaction and closeness. These methods are tailored for Tampa, St. Pete, & Sarasota partners dealing with trust issues or conflict.
Couples in Tampa often seek relationship counseling when communication has broken down, trust feels fragile, or conflict keeps repeating despite their best efforts. Many partners are successful in their careers and families but feel disconnected, unheard, or emotionally distant at home. Left unaddressed, these patterns can quietly erode intimacy and create resentment that’s hard to name.
Our Tampa couples therapists specialize in relationship counseling and infidelity counseling, helping partners navigate betrayal, emotional withdrawal, and long-standing relational wounds. Whether you’re recovering from an affair, struggling to rebuild trust, or feeling stuck in constant arguments, therapy creates space to slow things down and understand what’s happening beneath the surface. We help couples move beyond blame and defensiveness toward honest, grounded conversations that actually lead to change.
Using evidence-based approaches such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Gottman-informed couples therapy, we focus on strengthening communication, repairing emotional bonds, and helping both partners feel seen and understood. Couples therapy in Tampa isn’t about assigning fault—it’s about learning how to communicate differently, respond with intention, and rebuild a relationship that feels secure, connected, and resilient.
Kelly Morrissey, LMFT
Kelly specializes in helping couples and marriages understand how family patterns, attachment styles, and past experiences show up in their current relationship. Her work is collaborative and steady, creating space for both partners to feel heard without escalating conflict.
Emma Groskind, LCSW
Emma works with couples who feel emotionally reactive, misunderstood, or stuck in repeating arguments. She helps partners slow down intense interactions, identify emotional triggers, and develop healthier ways of responding to one another.
Alex Castaneda, LMHC
Alex works with couples navigating conflict, emotional distance, and the pressure of modern life. He has a particular strength in helping male partners articulate emotions they’ve never been taught how to express, while supporting both partners in rebuilding trust and connection.
Dr. Mary Perleoni, LMHC
Dr. Perleoni works with couples navigating high-stakes relational challenges, including infidelity, emotional disconnection, and long-standing resentment. She brings both depth and structure to couples work, and clients appreciate her ability to balance direct, honest feedback with compassion.
Couples Therapy in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg couples often seek relationship counseling when communication has broken down, intimacy feels distant, or they're caught in patterns of conflict that seem impossible to break. Many partners in the St. Pete area are thriving professionally and personally, yet feel emotionally disconnected at home. Left unaddressed, these dynamics can quietly erode trust and create distance that's difficult to name but impossible to ignore.
Our St. Petersburg relationship counselors specialize in helping couples navigate the full spectrum of relational challenges—from infidelity recovery and sexual disconnection to discernment counseling for couples considering separation. We also offer marriage intensive therapy for partners who need deeper, more focused support than traditional weekly sessions provide.
Serving the greater Pinellas County area—including Clearwater, Largo, Gulfport, Seminole, Feather Sound, Treasure Island, and surrounding communities—our St. Pete therapists use evidence-based approaches like Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, and EMDR for couples trauma. Whether you're recovering from betrayal, navigating a sexless marriage, or simply feeling stuck, couples therapy in St. Petersburg creates space to slow down, understand what's happening beneath the surface, and build a stronger foundation for your relationship.
Marriage counseling in St. Petersburg isn't about assigning blame—it's about learning how to communicate differently, respond with intention, and rebuild a partnership that feels secure, connected, and resilient. Our therapists provide confidential, judgment-free support for couples at every stage, whether you're engaged and seeking premarital counseling, married and working through crisis, or unsure whether to stay together or separate.
speak with a couples therapist in st. petersburg
Meet our St. Petersburg marriage counselors and relationship specialists.
Melissa Zentner, LMHC
Melissa specializes in sex therapy and infidelity counseling for couples in St. Petersburg and throughout Pinellas. She helps couples navigate the aftermath of affairs, rebuild trust, and restore physical intimacy when desire has faded or sexual connection feels broken.
Tyler MacDonald, LMHC
Tyler specializes in couples therapy and marriage intensive programs for St. Petersburg couples experiencing crisis or seeking accelerated healing. He works with partners who feel stuck in destructive patterns, struggle with emotional regulation during conflict, or need deeper support.
Jessica Klein, LMHC
Jessica supports St. Petersburg couples facing difficult decisions about their relationship's future. She specializes in discernment counseling, where one partner wants to save the relationship while the other is leaning toward divorce—helping both partners gain clarity before making permanent choices.
Amanda Farris, LCSW
Amanda specializes in EMDR couples therapy and marriage intensive programs for St. Petersburg area couples dealing with trauma, past wounds, or deeply entrenched relationship patterns. She helps partners heal from traumatic experiences including childhood trauma, sexual trauma, or relational betrayal, that continue to impact their current relationship.
Our Sarasota relationship therapists work with couples facing complex relational terrain, whether that's rebuilding after an affair, addressing intimacy challenges, or exploring whether the relationship can be repaired. For partners needing concentrated support beyond weekly appointments, we provide marriage intensive options designed to create meaningful shifts in compressed timeframes.
Throughout Sarasota County and neighboring areas, our therapists draw from research-backed approaches including the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and trauma-informed modalities to heal relational wounds. Whether you're processing betrayal, addressing years of sexual avoidance, or feeling trapped in patterns you can't seem to exit, couples therapy offers a structured environment to pause, excavate underlying dynamics, and reconstruct what's been fractured.
Chelsea Walker, LMFT
Chelsea specializes in couples therapy and marriage counseling with partners navigating infidelity recovery, communication breakdowns, and intimacy challenges using evidence-based approaches including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method. Chelsea creates a compassionate, non-judgmental space where couples can explore underlying patterns, rebuild trust, and reconnect with intention.
Julia Loewi, LCSW
Julia helps couples move through conflict, disconnection, and relational uncertainty with clarity and care. She specializes in affair recovery, marriage counseling, and discernment therapy for partners considering separation. Her approach blends attachment theory, trauma-informed care, and practical communication strategies to help couples understand what's driving their struggles and build sustainable change.
Ciana Nguyen, LCSW
Ciana offers couples therapy for partners experiencing sexual disconnection, repetitive conflict cycles, and emotional distance. Based in Sarasota and serving clients throughout the greater area, Ciana integrates relational trauma work with a systemic approach to address both present-day patterns and past wounds impacting the relationship. She works with diverse couples navigating sexless marriages, trust ruptures, and the challenge of rebuilding intimacy after crisis.
Does Couples Therapy Actually Work?
When couples are struggling and finally reach the point of realizing they need outside support, we often hear the question “Does this actually work?”. Based on the thousand’s of couples we’ve helped directly at It Begins Within, as well as countless studies, we can confidently say - yes, if…
The “if” includes the critical factors that will help determine success in counseling and include:
If both partners are invested and willing to make change
If therapy is attended consistently (weekly sessions will be most effective)
If the skills we work on for 60-90 minutes a week are practiced and implemented the other 6 days of the week
We’ve Helped Thousands of Couples Heal Through Therapy
What Problems Does Couples Therapy Solve?
Many couples wait until they’re at a breaking point—but therapy is most effective when done proactively. Common issues we help with include:
Rekindling emotional and physical intimacy when desire feels misaligned or stuck navigating mismatched libidos
Frequent arguments or communication breakdowns
Feeling more like roommates than partners
Emotional disconnection or sexual dissatisfaction
Healing from infertility and pregnancy loss
Infidelity or betrayal
What to Expect During Couples Counseling in Tampa, St. Petersburg & Sarasota
Your first session will include:
A warm, judgment-free space
Exploring goals (together and individually)
Practical tools for better communication
A roadmap for healing tailored to your relationship
We typically recommend a minimum of 4 consecutive sessions to begin - just one month to change the direction of your relationship.
If this is the first time you and your partner are exploring couples therapy, and you’re eager (or nervous) to learn more, this article from Dr. Mary Perleoni may e useful - What to expect in relationship counseling
How Long Does Couples Therapy Take?
This is one of the most common questions we hear from couples in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota - and understandably so. The couples we work with at It Begins Within are often high-performing professionals, parents, and involved in their community. Generally speaking, most of our clients don’t want to spend years or even months in therapy, and would like to resolve the “issue” as quickly as possible. Unfortunately in most cases, there isn’t a" “magic bullet” or quick fix for problems that may have been growing for years, or in some cases decades. The good news is though that couples therapy shouldn’t take years - and certainly not even months to start recognizing improvements.
While the exact answer will depend on your unique situation, here are a few general concepts that should help give you a much clearer idea of how long it should take for your relationship.
Average Length of Couples Therapy & marriage counseling
Counseling sessions at It Begins Within are typically 60 minutes (and may include a 90-minute or 2-hour initial intake appointment), and they're often scheduled on a weekly basis to start, eventually moving to twice a month and then just once a month
Most couples reach their treatment goals within 20 counseling sessions
On average, many couples find that around 12+ sessions make a significant difference, typically spanning 3-4 months
What Affects How Long Therapy Takes?
There are several factors that may extend the time required to reach your therapeutic goals, including:
The severity of issues - issues that involve deep trust breaches such as infidelity, or long-standing resentment require more time to heal and work through
How long you've waited - the average couple waits six years before seeking professional help for marital problems according to The Gottman Institute, meaning patterns are deeply entrenched
Childhood trauma and each partners ability to make change - past trauma can create "sticky" patterns that take longer to change
Mutual commitment level - If one partner is hesitant, progress can be delayed
Our Recommendation at It Begins Within
Just like working out once or twice a month doesn't help you lose weight or develop healthy habits, marriage counseling and couples therapy requires a regular commitment to working on the relationship. We recommend:
Initial phase - commit to at least 4 consecutive weekly sessions to build momentum
Active treatment - expect 12-20 sessions total for most couples
Maintenance - maintain monthly check-ins as needed
Being in a Relationship With Someone Who Shows Narcissistic Traits
Being in a relationship with someone who shows narcissistic traits can feel confusing, exhausting, and emotionally overwhelming. Partners often describe feeling unseen, blamed, or unsure how to express their needs without triggering conflict. These dynamics can create a cycle of walking on eggshells, trying to keep the peace, or questioning your own reactions.
Narcissistic patterns in a relationship often show up as:
Difficulty taking responsibility or repairing conflict
Sensitivity to feedback or boundaries
Intense reactions to perceived criticism
A focus on control, admiration, or being “right”
Emotional volatility or withdrawal during vulnerable moments
If these behaviors feel familiar, it may help to understand more about what drives them. You can learn more in our overview of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), which explains the underlying traits, emotional patterns, and challenges often seen in individuals with narcissistic tendencies.
Whether or not your partner meets criteria for NPD, couples therapy offers a structured, nonjudgmental space to understand these dynamics, improve communication, set healthy boundaries, and rebuild emotional safety. With the right support, many couples learn new ways to connect, reduce reactivity, and support one another more effectively.
Relationship Counseling in Tampa, St. Petersburg & Sarasota
We offer specialized care for a wide range of relationship challenges:
General Couples Therapy – for emotional connection, communication, and teamwork
Marriage Counseling – for married couples addressing long-term issues or rebuilding trust
Premarital Counseling – for engaged couples building a strong foundation
Infidelity Counseling – including Systematic Affair Recovery Therapy (SART)
Discernment Counseling – for couples unsure whether to stay together
Sex Therapy – for intimacy, mismatched libido, or sexual disconnection
IVF & Fertility Trauma Counseling – for couples navigating emotional strain during treatment
Trauma-Informed Couples Therapy – for healing individual or shared trauma impacting the relationship
What Makes Our Couples Therapists in tampa, st. petersburg & Sarasota unique
At It Begins Within our couples therapists and marriage counselors in Tampa, St. Pete, and Sarasota are among the top 1% of clinicians in Florida.
Each clinician:
Is specialized in couples therapy, marriage counseling, and is supervised by a PhD-level educator
Uses one or multiple evidence-based approaches including: Gottman, EFT, CBT, and SART
Offers personalized treatment plans, aligned with your relationship goals
Collaborative approach with individual therapists
Specialized Affair Recovery in Tampa, St. Petersburg & Sarasota
Infidelity is one of the most painful experiences a couple can face, but it doesn't have to mean the end of your relationship. Research shows that three quarters of couples who go through infidelity end up working it out and staying together, especially when they receive specialized support.
At It Begins Within, our Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota therapists are trained and utilize specialized treatment approaches including: Systematic Affair Recovery Therapy (SART), EMDR Couples Therapy for Infidelity, the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy.
Infidelity Therapy Addresses:
Processing the trauma of discovery
Rebuilding trust through transparency
Understanding what led to the affair
Creating new relationship agreements
Healing attachment wounds
Preventing future betrayals
Infidelity recovery is complex, and generic couples therapy often isn't enough. If your marriage has been affected by an affair, our specialized infidelity counseling provides the roadmap you need to heal.
Recovery is possible. We've helped hundreds of couples rebuild after betrayal.
Sex Therapy For Reigniting Intimacy in Your Relationship
Sexual intimacy problems are one of the most common, and yet most avoided reasons couples seek therapy. If sex has not happened for a long time or if sex becomes robotic and cold, couples counseling and even sex therapy should be considered.
At It Begins Within, we don't just talk about communication and emotional connection, we address the physical intimacy that many couples are struggling with in silence.
Common Sexual Issues We Help With
Mismatched libido (one partner wants sex more than the other)
Erectile dysfunction or performance anxiety
Pain during sex
Loss of desire after having children
Recovering intimacy after infidelity
Sexual trauma impacting current relationships
Body image and shame around sexuality
Our licensed sex therapists in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota provide a judgment-free space where you can discuss these deeply personal concerns and get real solutions.
Rebuild Trust, Restore Connection, and Heal Your Relationship with Expert Marriage Counseling
Marriage counseling provides a proven pathway for couples experiencing disconnection, conflict, or betrayal. Our licensed therapists in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota specialize in helping partners navigate common relationship challenges—from communication breakdowns and infidelity to emotional distance and parenting conflicts. Using evidence-based approaches like the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy, we guide couples through structured sessions designed to rebuild trust, improve communication, and reignite intimacy. Whether you're addressing recent struggles or long-standing patterns, marriage counseling offers the tools and support needed to strengthen your partnership and create lasting change.
When infidelity, betrayal, or other traumatic events leave couples feeling stuck, traditional talk therapy alone may not be enough to move forward. EMDR therapy offers a uniquely powerful approach for partners who find themselves trapped in painful memories and unable to rebuild their relationship despite their efforts and intentions.
EMDR is particularly transformative for couples navigating the aftermath of infidelity or other relationship specific traumas. These events often create wounds that replay in vivid detail (such as intrusive images, visceral reactions, and thought patterns). Through EMDR's structured protocol, individuals can reprocess these traumatic memories, reducing their emotional intensity and allowing new, healthier narratives to emerge. When integrated with couples therapy, EMDR enables partners to literally rewrite how they hold and respond to the trauma, creating space for genuine healing.
Beyond relationship specific events, EMDR is equally powerful in addressing how past wounds continue to sabotage present intimacy. Affairs from previous relationships, childhood trauma, abandonment experiences, or attachment injuries don't disappear when we enter new partnerships. They often resurface in unexpected ways, creating reactivity, distrust, or emotional distance that has nothing to do with your current partner. By helping individuals process these earlier traumas, EMDR removes the invisible barriers that prevent full presence and vulnerability in your relationship today.
When Traditional Couples Therapy Isn’t Enough, Couples Intensives May Be The Answer
While weekly couples therapy can create steady progress, some relationships need a deeper reset. IBW’s intensive couples therapy condenses months of counseling into a single day or weekend, giving you the focused time and expert guidance to work through communication breakdowns, infidelity recovery, or long-standing conflicts. If you and your partner are in need of a breakthrough more rapidly, learn more about our Couples Intensive Therapy programs.
Related Therapy Approaches
While your relationship or marriage challenges be front and center, many of our Tampa, St. Petersburg, & Sarasota 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Couples Therapy in Tampa, St. Petersburg & Sarasota
Does couples therapy really work?
Yes. According to the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 70% of couples see improvement with counseling. With expert guidance from our Tampa-based team, your odds improve even more.
Is couples therapy worth it?
If your relationship matters, it’s worth investing in. Many couples say they wish they had started sooner.
How do I convince my partner to go?
Invite them to one free consultation—low commitment, high impact. Share that therapy is neutral, goal-focused, and not about blame.
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?
Most couples see meaningful changes within 4–6 sessions, and begin meeting their therapeutic goals within 10-12 sessions (on average). Relationship counseling varies based on the needs of the couple, the challenges they are facing, and the pace of their progress.
Can therapy help if we’re considering divorce?
Absolutely. Discernment counseling or SART can help you make the healthiest decision—together.
How much does couples counseling cost in Tampa, FL?
$225 per 60-minute session. We are out-of-network but provide superbills and accept HSA/FSA.
What type of therapy is used in couples counseling?
Our relationship therapists use a variety of evidence-based and clinically proven approaches. Whenever possible, we strongly encourage couples to attend sessions in-person. While we primarily rely on four approaches, our couples therapists in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota 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 for Couples
Imago Relationship 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 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.
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, Sarasota 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.
More Resources for Building a Stronger Relationship
Explore expert advice and therapist insights from our team at It Begins Within to help your relationship grow stronger.
Best Therapy for Relationship Problems
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, St. Petersburg & Sarasota we invite you to schedule a free consultation call with our expert marriage and couples therapists.