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.

Sheena Simpson 11/29/25 Sheena Simpson 11/29/25

How the Wrong Kind of Therapy Can Harm Your Relationship (and What to Look For Instead)

When a relationship feels stuck, it’s easy to think any therapist can help. After all, therapy is therapy, right? But that’s not quite the case.

Working with couples is its own discipline. The difference between individual and couples therapy is as dramatic as the difference between surgery and physical therapy: both help the body, but in totally different ways.

At Kodo Couples Therapy in Marin County, this is the world we live in every day. Our clinicians are immersed in Relational Life Therapy (RLT), the Gottman Method, and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), which are all approaches designed specifically for the delicate, high-stakes dynamics between two people.

I can’t count how many couples have told me I am their third or fourth therapist. By the time they reach Kodo, they’ve already tried general therapy, and sometimes the results have been downright damaging. One partner left feeling blamed, the other unheard. The pattern that needed attention was never named. That’s the cost of working with someone who doesn’t specialize in couples work.

Menopause Anger: How to Stay Connected When Emotions Run Hot

Menopause anger is real. It’s both physiological and relational, a mix of hormonal shifts and relationship stress. To calm the storm, you need strategies that target both body and connection.

1. Physiological Resets for Sudden Surges

When anger spikes, the body’s threat system takes over. Quick resets help you step out of that cycle before it builds.

Cold exposure. A few seconds of cold water can change everything. Dunk your hands in ice water or splash your face to activate the vagus nerve and help your nervous system settle.

Paced breathing. Try inhaling for four counts and exhaling for six to eight. The long exhale tells your body that it’s safe again, reducing heart rate and tension.

Healing from Betrayal: What Marin County Couples Actually Need

When betrayal hits a relationship, the ground beneath you shifts. The person who once felt safe now feels uncertain. Trust is replaced by vigilance, tenderness by distance.

Betrayal isn’t only about broken promises. It’s a trauma. The betrayed partner often experiences flashbacks, anxiety, or emotional withdrawal. The betraying partner may feel shame, confusion, and isolation. Both lose their sense of safety in the relationship. Ignoring that impact can harden pain into resentment. Facing it with structure and honesty creates the conditions for repair.

The goal in early sessions isn’t forgiveness. It’s clarity. The partner who caused harm must share the truth without minimizing. The partner who was hurt must have space to express the full range of feelings without being managed or silenced.

Healing from betrayal isn’t about returning to “normal.” It’s about creating a new foundation rooted in honesty, accountability, and emotional courage.