Why choose a couples specialist over an individual therapist?

A therapist who specializes in couples has focused training on how couples connect, communicate, and clash. Unlike a general therapist who sometimes works with couples, a specialist is better equipped to spot hidden relationship patterns, use proven techniques to improve your bond, and help you understand how your past experiences affect your relationship today.

What percentage of couples stay together after couples therapy?

The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists states 90% of couples who complete therapy with a highly trained couples therapist report an increase in their emotional well-being. Approximately two-thirds of participants also report improvements in their general physical well-being. Couples therapy has also shown to be as effective as individual therapy in addressing symptoms of depression in some cases.

How long will we have to attend couples therapy sessions?

At Kodo, couples work in four-month cycles. This structure provides enough time to build momentum, practice new tools, and see measurable change in your relationship. Most couples begin to notice meaningful shifts within the first few sessions, but lasting transformation typically unfolds over the course of a full cycle. At the end of each four-month period, we review your progress together and decide whether to transition out of therapy, extend for another cycle, or shift focus based on your evolving goals.

What if my partner doesn't want to come to couples therapy?

One partner being hesitant is common. Kodo offers Couples Therapy for One for individuals who want to work on their relationship even when their partner is not ready. Discernment Counseling is also available for couples where one partner is unsure about staying.

Do you offer therapy for non-traditional relationships?

Yes. Kodo welcomes couples of all backgrounds, identities, and relationship structures. Who you love is never a question; how you love is what we focus on together.

Do you take insurance for couples therapy?

Kodo does not currently accept insurance due to the limitations it places on the therapy process. Insurance companies often impose restrictions on the types of treatment and the number of sessions covered, which can limit the flexibility needed for effective therapy. Detailed superbills are provided that you can submit to your insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement.

Do you offer remote couples therapy sessions?

Yes. Kodo offers secure and confidential remote therapy sessions for couples and individuals throughout California.

What is the cost of couples counseling in Marin County?

Sessions at Kodo are $225 to $250 for 50 minutes or $330 for 80 minutes depending on clinician. Monthly superbills are available for Marin County clients who wish to use PPO out-of-network benefits.

Do you offer in-person couples intensives in Marin County?

Yes. We offer in-person couples intensives for partners in Mill Valley, San Rafael, and throughout Marin County who want to work more deeply and efficiently than traditional weekly therapy allows.

What is the difference between marriage counseling and Relational Life Therapy (RLT)?

Relational Life Therapy (RLT) is a therapeutic approach that focuses on identifying and changing relational patterns such as power struggles, emotional withdrawal, and reactivity in order to improve connection and accountability.

How long does couples therapy take?

At Kodo, couples work in four-month cycles. Most couples notice meaningful shifts within the first few sessions. At the end of each cycle we review progress together and decide whether to continue, shift focus, or transition out.

What makes Kodo different from other couples therapists in Marin?

Kodo is a couples-only practice. Every clinician specializes exclusively in relationship work, using Relational Life Therapy, EMDR, and Emotionally Focused Therapy. We do not do general therapy with occasional couples sessions — relationships are all we do.

Trust After Betrayal: An RLT Blueprint for Marin Couples

May 16

Written By Sheena Simpson

Couples searching for support after betrayal often want clarity on how trust can realistically be rebuilt in a relationship. Healing after infidelity requires more than time or reassurance alone. Structured approaches such as Relational Life Therapy (RLT) provide a clear framework that guides partners through accountability, emotional honesty, and corrective relational experiences. Instead of relying on vague hope, couples move through intentional steps that help reduce emotional shock, rebuild safety, and create a more stable and connected foundation over time.

See our fees & policies page for more information.

1. Acknowledgment: Naming the Wound

The first critical step in rebuilding trust is honest acknowledgment of the hurt. Avoid minimizing or intellectualizing the betrayal, and instead create a safe space for both partners to express raw feelings.

Exercise: Schedule a 10-minute “Truth Moment” each week. One partner speaks uninterrupted about how the betrayal impacted them, using “I” statements (“I felt abandoned when…”). The other listens and reflects back without defense.

2. Transparency: Lifting the Veil

In couples therapy, many people want to understand what practical steps are involved in rebuilding trust after betrayal. Effective repair work focuses on consistent and observable behaviors over time rather than one-time apologies or discussions. This includes structured communication routines, predictable follow-through on commitments, and emotional responsiveness during moments of conflict. In Marin County couples therapy sessions, these approaches help partners replace anxiety-driven patterns with stable transparency systems that gradually restore emotional safety and strengthen relational trust.

3. Repair Action: Showing Through Doing

Words are vital, but meaningful change comes from consistent, trust-building behaviors. This is where promises turn into proof.

Exercise: Create a “Repair Promise” list together. Each partner picks one actionable item such as “I will arrive home by 6 PM for dinner” or “I will initiate a weekly date night.” Track progress on a shared whiteboard or a note in your phone.
Learn more about action-based trust-building in Terry Real’s work on Relational Life Therapy.

4. Ritual of Reconnection: Rekindling the Heartbeat

Finally, rituals anchor your new patterns in shared meaning. RLT calls this rebuilding the couple’s “heartbeat,” the unique rhythm that sustains your connection.

Exercise: Plan a monthly “Heartbeat Ritual,” a devoted 90-minute session where you revisit your Repair Promise list, share appreciations, and end with a simple guided visualization. Both partners close their eyes and imagine their relationship as a shared heartbeat growing stronger with each pulse.
Local twist: Host this ritual at home with Marin-grown tea and local pastries, or turn it into an outing at Tiburon’s Shoreline Park at sunset.
For couples in Marin County struggling with betrayal, infidelity recovery is not just about communication, it is about structured relational repair with professional guidance. Many clients searching for Marin County couplestherapy for infidelity are looking for a safe space to process disclosure, rebuild trust, and create long-term stability. Working with an RLT-informed therapist helps couples move beyond blame cycles into accountable repair, where both partners actively participate in rebuilding the relationship rather than simply discussing the past.

Bringing It All Together

Rebuilding trust after betrayal is not a single event but a structured journey of acknowledgment, transparency, repair, and reconnection. If you are in Marin County and ready for guided support, consider booking a free 20-minute consultation with Kodo Couples Therapy. We will explore how our RLT-informed process can help you heal deeper and reconnect more authentically.

Conclusion

Healing after betrayal is a structured process, not a single conversation or quick fix. It requires acknowledgment of the hurt, consistent transparency, and ongoing repair actions that rebuild safety over time.

With intentional effort and guided support, couples can move beyond blame and emotional reactivity toward trust, stability, and deeper reconnection. For couples in Marin County, RLT-informed therapy can provide the structure needed to rebuild the relationship with clarity and accountability.

Frequently Asked Questions

DescripCouples therapy provides a structured process to rebuild trust through accountability, emotional honesty, and consistent repair actions. It helps partners move from conflict and distance toward safety and reconnection.tion text goes here
The first step is acknowledgment of the hurt. Both partners openly recognize the emotional impact of betrayal without minimizing or avoiding it, creating space for honest communication.
Repair actions are consistent behaviors that show real change, such as keeping commitments, improving communication, and following agreed relationship routines.
Transparency means consistent actions, open communication, and predictable follow-through on commitments. It helps reduce anxiety and rebuild emotional safety over time.

Couples Therapy in Marin County

Ready to reconnect?

Kodo helps couples slow down painful patterns, communicate with more care, and find their way back to connection.

Schedule a Consultation

Sheena Simpson

Trust After Betrayal: An RLT Blueprint for Marin Couples

1. Acknowledgment: Naming the Wound

2. Transparency: Lifting the Veil

3. Repair Action: Showing Through Doing

4. Ritual of Reconnection: Rekindling the Heartbeat

Bringing It All Together

Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

How does couples therapy help rebuild trust after betrayal?

What is the first step in rebuilding trust in a relationship?

What are repair actions in relationship healing?

What does transparency mean in couples therapy?

Ready to reconnect?

A Marin County Guide to Building Emotional Safety in Your Relationship

ADHD in Relationships: When You Love Someone Who Can’t Focus