Services
Marriage Counseling in Tampa & St. Petersburg, FL
Even the strongest marriages experience moments of distance, doubt, and disconnection that can leave you wondering if things can get better. Our licensed marriage counselors in Tampa and St. Petersburg provide the support and guidance to help you rebuild trust, reignite intimacy, and rediscover the connection you once shared.
What to Expect in Marriage Counseling
Before beginning the process of marital therapy, we encourage couples to consider the process of discernment, especially when one or both partners feel unsure about staying in the relationship. Through our teams collective experience, we’ve seen how clarity and commitment before counseling begins can transform outcomes.
"Regardless of the situation, whether it be infidelity, betrayal, or years of a sexless marriage…through the thousands of couples I've supported, the one common denominator of success in marriage counseling is a desire from both parties to want to fix things. With that, we can reignite the fire, heal past trauma, and discover a new passion together."
— Dr. Mary Perleoni, LMHC, Top-Rated Tampa Marriage Therapist & Founder of IBW
Beginning marriage counseling can bring up a mix of emotions, from uncertainty to hope. Whether you’re seeking help in Tampa, St. Petersburg, or virtually throughout Florida, our goal is to create a supportive space where both partners feel heard, respected and empowered.
Key Elements of Our marriage Therapy Sessions
Understanding Relationship History
Explore the dynamics, events, and pain points that led you hereCollaborative Goal Setting
Identify shared priorities like rebuilding trust, improve communication, or deepening connectionAssessments & Ground Rules
Ground the work in clarity, fairness, and mutual respectBetween-Session Practice
Reflection tools and exercises to support growth at home
How Sessions Are Structured
In your first session, your therapist will take time to understand your story, what's challenging you now, and where you’d like to go as a couple. You’ll begin identifying shared goals, whether that’s recovering from betrayal, improving communication, improving intimacy, or simply reconnecting emotionally.
Most sessions are held together; however one-on-one sessions may happen early on to explore individual perspectives. Your therapist may also incorporate assessments to highlight strengths and guide your work more intentionally.
Over time, you’ll engage in guided conversations, clinically-proven strategies, and practical exercises tailored to your relationship. You’ll also receive tools to use between sessions like conflict resolution skills or emotional check-ins to help reinforce what you’re building together.
Your therapist will also outline what you can expect in future sessions, providing you with a clear understanding of the therapeutic journey ahead.
Common Marriage Issues We Help With
Couples seek marriage counseling for many reasons, some urgent, others quiet and ongoing. Our therapists help couples in Tampa, St. Petersburg navigate a wide range of challenges with clarity, compassion, and proven tools for change.
marital challenges in tampa & st. petersburg we provide support for
Communication breakdowns
Trust issues and infidelity
Emotional distance and lack of intimacy
Sexless marriages
Financial stress and conflict around decision-making
Parenting disagreements and family dynamics
Navigating new parenthood and postpartum changes
Coping with major life transitions (e.g., menopause, moving, job changes, retirement, midlife stressors)
Types of Marriage Therapy in Tampa & St. Pete
In Tampa and St. Petersburg, our marriage counselors use a variety of evidence-based approaches tailored to the needs of each couple. These methods are delivered by licensed, specialized and experienced marital therapists.
Gottman Method Couples Therapy
A structured, research-based approach focused on improving communication, rebuilding trust, and strengthening connection, widely used by our Tampa marriage counselors.
“The Gottman Method is one of the most effective frameworks we use to help married couples in tampa rebuild connection, learn to communicate with respect, and navigate conflict without getting stuck in blame.”
— Dr. Mary Perleoni, LMHC, Founder of It Begins Within – Tampa, Florida
Learn more about Gottman Method in Tampa
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Helps couples in St. Petersburg and Tampa explore deep emotional patterns and reduce conflict while building secure bonds.
Explore EFT in St. Petersburg & Tampa
Narrative Therapy
Empowers couples to rewrite negative stories about their relationship and create more compassionate, constructive narratives.
Solution-Focused Therapy
Practical and goal-oriented, ideal for couples in Tampa looking to make rapid progress on specific challenges.
“For high-achieving couples or entrepreneurs, solution-focused therapy gives them structure, clarity, and action.”
— Kaitlyn Shelp, MA, LMHC, Clinical Director – St. Petersburg
Imago Relationship Therapy
Reveals how childhood wounds impact adult relationships. Helps partners heal and respond to each other with empathy.
Discernment Counseling
Offered in both Tampa and St. Pete, this short-term approach supports couples considering separation but unsure of next steps.
Is Discernment Counseling right for you?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Useful for couples managing anxiety, depression, or trauma. CBT helps shift negative thought patterns and improve emotional resilience.
Used by our licensed CBT-certified therapists in both Tampa and St. Pete to support couples facing emotional overwhelm.
SYSTEMATIC AFFAIR RECOVERY THERAPY
A phase-based approach that helps couples heal after infidelity by addressing the trauma of betrayal, rebuilding emotional safety, and guiding partners toward long-term relational recovery and trust.
Related Therapy Approaches
While your 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.
Marriage Counseling Success & Research
Choosing the Right Marriage Counselor
When making a decision on marriage counseling, choosing the right therapist is essential for the success of your therapy. Research indicates that the therapeutic relationship, where both partners feel understood and supported by the therapist, is one of the most significant factors in achieving success.
With so many therapists in Florida, it’s critical to choose a marriage counselor with the right combination of training, experience, and skill to truly help heal your most important relationship. At It Begins Within, our mission is to set that standard—ensuring you work only with the best marriage counselors in Tampa and St. Petersburg. This commitment is rooted in the vision of our founder, Dr. Mary Perleoni, a PhD Counselor Educator, whose mission has always been to elevate the quality of care and ensure every therapist is equipped to provide transformative, research-based treatment.
Therapies such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman Method, and Solution-Focused Therapy have shown high success rates, with EFT achieving therapy goals in about 70-73% of cases. Ensuring that the therapist has a good understanding of your unique needs and challenges is also vital. Open communication and commitment to the therapeutic process are key factors that influence the success of marriage counseling.
A therapist who can foster a supportive and non-judgmental environment will help you and your partner feel more comfortable and engaged in the therapy process.
Is Marriage Counseling Worth the Money?
The question of whether marriage counseling is worth the investment is often a significant consideration for couples. The data answers this question clearly, marriage counseling is highly effective and can significantly improve relationship satisfaction.
Studies show that approximately 70% of couples report improved relationship satisfaction after attending therapy, and nearly 90% of clients report improved emotional wellness. Additionally, couples who attend therapy are 30% more likely to stay together long-term compared to those who do not. While the average cost for a session in Florida ranges from $150 to $250, the long-term benefits of a healthier, more fulfilling relationship far outweigh the costs.
Meet Our Marriage Therapists in St. Petersburg & Tampa
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![Dr. Mary Perleoni, LMHC – PhD Counselor Educator and top-rated marriage therapist in Tampa]()
Mary Perleoni, Ph.D., LMHC
Tampa marriage therapist specializing in infertility challenges, including loss and grief
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Kaitlyn Shelp, MA, LMHC
St. Petersburg marriage therapist specializing in infidelity and affair recovery
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![Tampa marriage therapist specializing in sex therapy and certified in the Gottman Method]()
Melissa Zentner, MS, LMHC
Sex Therapy & Marriage Counseling in Tampa
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![Tampa couples counselor specializing in military marriage counseling and blended family dynamics]()
Paris McDonald, MS, LMHC
Marriage Counseling for Military & Blended Families
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Emma Groskind, MS, LCSW
Marriage Therapist in Tampa Bay
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![Gottman Kelly LMFT - Method Marriage Therapy in South Tampa]()
Kelly Morrissey, MA, LMHC, LMFT
Gottman Method Marriage Therapy in South Tampa
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![Marriage and family therapist specializing in discernment counseling and high-conflict relationships in St. Petersburg]()
Amanda Farris, MS, LCSW
Discernment Counseling & Conflict Resolution in St. Petersburg, Florida
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![Marriage therapist in St. Pete specializing in trauma, attachment wounds, and emotional repair]()
Tyler MacDonald, MA, LMHC
Trauma-Informed Marriage Therapist in St. Pete
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![Veteran therapist in St. Petersburg supporting couples through decades-long marriage challenges and life transitions]()
Trish Cunningham, MS, LMHC
Long-Term Marriage Counseling in St. Petersburg
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![Jessica is an experienced marriage counselor serving st. petersburg]()
Jessica Klein, MA, LMHC
Gottman Method Marriage Therapy in St. Petersburg
Commonly Asked Questions
What can we expect during the first session of marriage counseling?
During the first session of marriage counseling, you and your partner will meet with the therapist to discuss the history of your relationship distress, identify key problems, and set goals for therapy. The therapist may also conduct an intake, ask introductory questions, and establish ground rules for communication. Individual sessions might follow to gather separate backgrounds.
The primary aim of this session is to build trust, lay the foundation for the therapeutic relationship, and outline expectations for future sessions.
How do marriage counselors typically assess the strengths and weaknesses of our relationship?
Marriage counselors typically use structured assessment tools to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a relationship. These tools include interviews, workbooks such as the Self-Assessment Workbook, and specific measures like the Gottman Relationship Checkup, the CARE (which assesses seven elements of relationship functioning), and the Personal Traits in Relationships Measure.
What if my partner is unwilling to attend marriage counseling sessions?
If your partner is unwilling to attend marriage counseling, it’s important to accept that you cannot control their decision. Start by discussing their reasons for refusing and actively listen to their concerns.
Focus on improving your own communication skills and consider individual therapy to work on your role in the relationship. You can also explore alternative options such as couples workshops or self-help books.
How long does marriage counseling usually last, and what is the recommended commitment?
Marriage counseling typically lasts between 12 to 25 sessions, spread over several months. Sessions at IBW are typically 60 minutes long and initially scheduled weekly, then bi-weekly, and eventually monthly. The frequency and duration are adjusted based on the couple's progress and schedules.
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.