Low-Cost Couples Therapy in California
Affordable Online Couples Counseling Throughout California, Starting at $15 Per Session
Every relationship faces challenges. Communication breaks down. Trust erodes. Partners feel disconnected, frustrated, or stuck in the same arguments over and over. Couples therapy can help, but for many Californians, the cost puts it out of reach. Standard couples therapy rates often exceed $200 per session, making consistent treatment impossible for couples already stressed about finances.
Sentio Counseling Center is different. As a California nonprofit, we provide low-cost couples therapy on a sliding scale starting at just $15 per session. We believe that relationship support should be accessible to all couples, not just those who can afford premium rates.
Why Couples Avoid Therapy
Most couples wait an average of six years from when problems begin to when they seek help. Cost is one of the biggest reasons. When a single session costs $150, $200, or more, and couples therapy typically requires weeks or months of consistent work, the total expense becomes overwhelming. Couples put it off, hoping things will improve on their own. Often they do not.
Financial stress itself is one of the leading causes of relationship conflict. The cruel irony is that the couples who most need support are often the least able to afford it. At Sentio, we reject the idea that your income should determine whether your relationship gets help.
Affordable Couples Therapy That Actually Works
Our sliding scale makes couples therapy genuinely accessible:
$15 to $30 per session for couples experiencing significant financial hardship
$31 to $60 per session for couples with moderate household income
$61 to $90 per session for couples with higher income who want to support our nonprofit mission
These rates apply to full 75-minute couples therapy sessions with trained clinicians. Low cost does not mean low quality. Our therapists receive extensive training in evidence-based approaches to couples work, including Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, one of the most researched and effective methods available.
Online Couples Therapy Across All of California
We provide telehealth couples therapy to partners anywhere in California. Whether you live in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, the Bay Area, the Central Valley, or a rural community, you can access our services from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
Online couples therapy offers real advantages. You avoid the stress of commuting to appointments together after a long day. You can attend from separate locations if needed. You save time and transportation costs. Research confirms that online couples therapy is just as effective as in-person sessions for most relationship concerns.
Couples Therapy in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese
Finding an affordable couples therapist is hard enough. Finding one who speaks your language can feel impossible. Sentio offers couples therapy in English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese. Our bilingual therapists provide culturally responsive care that honors your background and allows you to express yourself fully in your preferred language.
Whether both partners share a language or you need a therapist who can work across languages, we can help.
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy
The Science of Love and Connection
Sentio Counseling Center offers Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, also known as Emotionally Focused Therapy or EFT. Developed by Dr. Sue Johnson, EFT is one of the most extensively researched and validated approaches to couples counseling in the world. Studies consistently show that 70 to 75 percent of couples move from distress to recovery through EFT, and approximately 90 percent show significant improvement.
How Emotionally Focused Therapy Works
EFT is based on attachment theory, which recognizes that humans are wired for connection. When we feel securely attached to our partner, we feel safe, supported, and able to face life's challenges together. When that attachment feels threatened, we react with predictable patterns of anxiety, withdrawal, criticism, or defensiveness.
Most couples get stuck in negative cycles. One partner pursues, criticizes, or demands. The other withdraws, shuts down, or becomes defensive. Both partners feel hurt, misunderstood, and alone. The cycle feeds on itself, and over time the relationship erodes.
Emotionally Focused Therapy helps couples identify these patterns and understand the deeper emotions driving them. Beneath the anger is often fear. Beneath the withdrawal is often pain. When partners learn to recognize and share these vulnerable emotions, they can respond to each other with empathy rather than reactivity. The negative cycle slows, stops, and eventually reverses.
What to Expect in EFT Sessions
EFT typically unfolds in three stages:
Stage One: De-escalation Your therapist helps you identify the negative cycle that has taken over your relationship. You learn to see the pattern itself as the problem rather than blaming each other. As you understand the cycle, its grip loosens and conflicts begin to de-escalate.
Stage Two: Restructuring the Bond With the cycle slowed, you begin accessing and sharing the deeper emotions underneath your surface reactions. Partners learn to express vulnerable feelings like fear, sadness, and loneliness. They learn to hear and respond to each other's attachment needs. New patterns of connection replace old patterns of conflict.
Stage Three: Consolidation As new ways of relating become natural, couples integrate what they have learned. They develop tools to recognize and interrupt old patterns when they resurface. The relationship becomes a secure base that both partners can rely on.
Is EFT Right for Your Relationship?
Emotionally Focused Therapy is effective for couples facing a wide range of challenges:
Communication problems and frequent arguments
Feeling disconnected, distant, or like roommates
Trust issues and difficulty being vulnerable
Recovery from infidelity or betrayal
Navigating major life transitions together
Strengthening a good relationship and deepening intimacy
Preparing for marriage or long-term commitment
EFT works with couples at all stages, from those on the brink of separation to those simply wanting to strengthen an already healthy relationship.
What Issues Can Couples Therapy Address?
Communication Problems
You talk past each other. Conversations escalate into arguments. You feel unheard, dismissed, or misunderstood. Couples therapy teaches partners how to listen deeply, express needs clearly, and communicate without triggering defensiveness.
Frequent Conflict and Arguments
The same fights happen over and over. Small disagreements explode into major battles. Resentment builds. Therapy helps you understand the patterns driving your conflicts and develop healthier ways to navigate disagreement.
Emotional Distance and Disconnection
You feel more like roommates than partners. Physical and emotional intimacy has faded. You coexist but no longer feel close. Couples therapy helps partners reconnect and rebuild the bond that brought them together.
Trust Issues and Betrayal
Trust has been broken through infidelity, dishonesty, or repeated disappointments. Rebuilding trust takes time, intention, and often professional support. Therapy provides a structured path toward healing.
Life Transitions and Stress
Major changes test relationships. A new baby, job loss, relocation, illness, caring for aging parents, or any significant transition can strain even strong partnerships. Couples therapy helps partners navigate change as a team.
Differences in Parenting, Finances, or Future Goals
Partners do not always agree on how to raise children, manage money, or plan for the future. These differences can create ongoing tension. Therapy helps couples find common ground and make decisions together.
Intimacy and Sexual Concerns
Physical intimacy has declined or become a source of conflict. Partners have mismatched desires or unresolved issues affecting their sexual connection. Therapy creates space to address these sensitive topics openly.
Premarital Counseling
You want to start your marriage on a strong foundation. Premarital counseling helps engaged couples discuss important topics, identify potential challenges, and develop skills for a lasting partnership.
Why Choose Sentio for Couples Therapy?
Truly Affordable Rates
Our $15 minimum sliding scale is among the lowest available for couples therapy anywhere in California. Most low-cost options start at $40 to $60. Many couples therapists charge $175 to $250 per session. We believe cost should never prevent a couple from getting help.
Nonprofit Mission
Sentio Counseling Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We exist to expand access to mental health care, not to maximize profits. When you choose Sentio, you support an organization dedicated to making therapy available to all Californians.
Trained Couples Therapists
Our clinicians receive specialized training in couples therapy approaches including Emotionally Focused Therapy. They understand relationship dynamics, attachment patterns, and the specific skills required to help two people in the same room. Couples work is different from individual therapy, and our therapists are prepared for it.
Flexible Online Format
All sessions take place via secure video conferencing. You can attend from home, from work, or from anywhere with privacy and internet access. Partners can even join from separate locations if schedules or circumstances require it.
Multilingual Services
We offer couples therapy in English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese. Our bilingual therapists provide culturally attuned care that respects your background and communication preferences.
No Judgment, No Barriers
We welcome all couples regardless of how long you have been together, whether you are married or dating, and regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. LGBTQ+ couples receive the same affirming, respectful care as all our clients.
How Sliding Scale Couples Therapy Works
Step One: Reach Out
Complete our online intake form or contact us directly. Let us know you are interested in couples therapy.
Step Two: Brief Consultation
A member of our team will contact you to discuss what brings you to therapy, your goals, scheduling needs, and financial situation.
Step Three: Determine Your Fee
We will work together to find a sliding scale rate that fits your budget. We do not require income verification or extensive documentation. You tell us what you can afford, and we trust you.
Step Four: Get Matched
We will match you with a couples therapist based on your needs, preferences, and availability. If you want a therapist who specializes in a particular area or speaks a specific language, let us know.
Step Five: Begin Therapy
Schedule your first session and start working on your relationship. Most couples begin therapy within one to two weeks of their initial inquiry.
Frequently Asked Questions About Couples Therapy
How much does couples therapy cost at Sentio?
Our sliding scale ranges from $15 to $90 per session. Your fee is based on your financial situation, and we never require proof of income. Many couples pay between $25 and $50 per session.
Do both partners need to attend every session?
Ideally, yes. Couples therapy works best when both partners participate consistently. Occasionally, individual sessions may be appropriate, but the focus remains on the relationship.
What if my partner is reluctant to try therapy?
This is common. Many people feel nervous, skeptical, or resistant to therapy. Sometimes it helps to frame couples therapy as a way to improve communication and strengthen the relationship rather than as a sign that something is broken. You might also consider starting individual therapy yourself while your partner considers joining.
How long does couples therapy take?
The length of therapy varies based on your goals and the complexity of your concerns. Some couples see meaningful improvement in 8 to 12 sessions. Others benefit from longer-term work spanning several months. Your therapist will help you assess progress along the way.
Can online couples therapy really help?
Yes. Research shows that online couples therapy is as effective as in-person therapy for most relationship issues. Many couples appreciate the convenience and find it easier to attend consistently when they do not have to commute.
Do you work with couples in crisis?
Yes. Whether you are on the verge of separation or simply feeling stuck, we can help. Couples often wait until things feel urgent before seeking support. It is never too late to try therapy, and earlier is usually better.
Do you offer LGBTQ+ affirming couples therapy?
Absolutely. We welcome couples of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Our therapists are trained to provide affirming, respectful care to LGBTQ+ individuals and relationships.
What if we decide to separate?
Sometimes couples therapy clarifies that ending the relationship is the healthiest path forward. If that happens, therapy can help you separate with clarity, respect, and minimal damage, which is especially important when children are involved.
Your Relationship Deserves Support
You do not have to keep struggling alone. Whether you are caught in endless arguments, drifting apart, recovering from betrayal, or simply wanting to strengthen your bond, affordable help is available.
Sentio Counseling Center provides low-cost couples therapy throughout California, with sessions starting at just $15. Our trained therapists offer evidence-based approaches including Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. Services are available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese.
Take the first step toward a stronger relationship today.