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.

In the Press.                  Marin County, California

Toronto Sun

Family Systems and Enmeshment

Kodo Couples Therapy in the Media

  
Index
01Newsweek02Yahoo Life03Stuff.tv04Toronto Sun05Scary Mommy06BestMoney

Newsweek

Marriage     Ritual & Grief

“Weddings can be both joyful and poignant — holding those two realities at once is part of what makes a marriage strong.”

Read the article

Yahoo Life

Open Relationships

Stuff.tv

Technology & Intimacy

Scary Mommy

Conflict and Micro Resentments

BestMoney

Conflict and Micro Resentments

Sheena Simpson, LMFT, founder of Kodo Couples Therapy has been featured in national and international publications discussing relationships, marriage, emotional health, and modern couples dynamics.

Internet divided over whether to postpone wedding after death

Open relationships: when they work and when they don't

“People go into open relationships thinking that it’s going to relieve pressure, but it actually adds a lot. They’re adding complexity, and people may get scared or jealous and reactive, and they start to make rules instead of having honest conversations.”

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Can a robot love you back? How AI sex robots are reshaping human relationships

“The question isn’t whether people will use these, because they already are. The question is what it does to our capacity for the messy, mutual work of human connection.”

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Sex Files: Do mommy issues make your relationship a third wheel?

“The question isn’t whether people will use these, because they already are. The question is what it does to our capacity for the messy, mutual work of human connection.”

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Can little things ruin your relationship? Micro-resentments, explained

“Think about filling a backpack with little stones. One or two won’t slow you down. Every time you bite your tongue instead of saying something, you toss in another stone. Before you know it, your shoulders ache, your mood sours, and you’re dragging that invisible weight everywhere you go.”

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Should married couples have joint accounts?

“Financial autonomy has become a way to secure emotional safety, and for many couples (especially women), it represents something their mothers didn’t have: an exit if they need one”

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Sheena Simpson, LMFT, Expert Source for Journalists

Sheena Simpson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #156841) based in Marin County, California, specializing in couples therapy, infidelity recovery, discernment counseling, and relationship intensives. She is available as an expert source for journalists covering marriage, intimacy, attachment, non-monogamy, and modern couplehood. Response within 24 hours. Contact sheena@kodocouplestherapy.com

Couples therapy · Infidelity · Open relationships · Marriage · Enmeshment · Discernment counseling · Intimacy · Attachment · Relational trauma · Non-monogamy