COUPLES & MARRIAGE COUNSELING IN CHARLOTTE, NC
For couples who still care about each other, but keep getting stuck in the same patterns.
In person in SouthPark · Online across NC and SC · Gottman and EFT trained
Do you miss the closeness, ease, and excitement you once shared?
It feels like the distance between you two just keeps on growing. From that you start to feel lonely and unappreciated.
You're tired of cycling through the same frustrating arguments without resolution.
And now you're worried that the relationship might end, or that you'll feel stuck in the same cycle of conflict again and again.
What's at stake is important. This is your relationship, the person you care about the most.
I work with couples at every stage, from a few years together to married for decades. Most of them still love each other. On our first call they tell me, "We just don't communicate well," or "We keep having the same arguments," or "We love each other, but we don't seem to connect anymore." Sometimes one big event brings them in. More often it's a pile-up of smaller frustrations, hurts that never got resolved, and work and parenting pushing the relationship to the back seat.
How Couples Counseling Can Help
Your relationship doesn't have to stay stuck in this place of distance and misunderstanding.
A lot of couples expect counseling to be about deciding who's right and who's wrong. Some worry the therapist will take sides, or that counseling will become another place to feel criticized or blamed. In reality, I'm much more interested in understanding the relationship dynamic than assigning blame.
It also isn't only about learning better communication skills. Those matter, but much of the work is understanding the emotions, fears and unmet needs underneath the conflict. When couples start to understand what's happening beneath their reactions, they often begin to see each other differently.
I draw on two approaches, and use them together:
The Gottman Method. This approach helps couples better understand the patterns contributing to conflict and develop practical ways to improve communication, manage disagreements, and strengthen their friendship and emotional connection.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). EFT helps you understand what's happening emotionally for both of you, so you become less reactive and more present with each other.
In sessions, I'll help you slow difficult conversations down and notice when you're turning away from each other or when an argument is heating up. I'll also help you see what's already working in your relationship, not just what's going wrong.
What to Expect When We Begin Couples Counseling
We typically begin with a session together, where I'll get to know both of you, understand what brings you to therapy, and hear each person's perspective.
From there, I generally meet individually with each partner. These conversations help me better understand your personal experiences, backgrounds, and the perspectives each of you brings into the relationship.
After those initial sessions, we come back together and begin looking more closely at the patterns between you, particularly what happens when you feel disconnected, misunderstood, or caught in recurring conflict.
My goal is to create a space where both of you feel heard and understood while we work toward a healthier, more connected relationship.
Your Relationship Can Feel Good Again
Imagine feeling more comfortable with each other, having conversations that don't turn into arguments, and enjoying time together without the tension that's become so familiar.
For many couples, the goal isn't simply to stop fighting. It's to feel understood, appreciated, and emotionally connected again.
Therapy provides an opportunity to better understand what's happening in your relationship, recognize the patterns that have developed over time, and begin making changes that help you relate to each other differently.
Every relationship is unique, and there's no single formula for making things better. But with a willingness to understand each other and work together, meaningful change is possible.
If you're ready to start working on your relationship, I'm here to help.
Click below to schedule a consultation, or call or text me directly at 704-741-2082.
Challenges Couples Bring to Therapy
Communication issues · Recurring arguments · Emotional distance · Lack of intimacy · Parenting problems · Blended families · LGBTQ couples · Neurodivergent counseling · Family therapy · Infidelity and betrayal
When a relationship has been affected by infidelity or betrayal, the initial focus is often on creating enough emotional safety for both partners to begin having difficult conversations. Rebuilding trust takes time, honesty, and consistency, and the process looks different for every couple.
What to Expect When We Begin Couples Counseling
Most of my work happens in person at my SouthPark office, and for couples I prefer meeting in person when I can. The hardest conversations tend to go better in the same room, away from everyday distractions.
Online sessions run on SimplePractice, a secure telehealth platform, anywhere in North Carolina and South Carolina. They can work well for couples with demanding schedules or a lot of travel, as long as you have a private, comfortable space to talk.
Hi, I’m Courtenay
I've always been curious about people: why we think, feel and respond the way we do, and how relationships develop and change. My career started in children's mental health, and over time I found myself drawn to adults and couples.
Couples work became a meaningful part of what I do because our relationships have such an impact on how we feel. I find it especially rewarding when a couple starts to recognize a dynamic they hadn't seen before and begins relating to each other differently.
My style is warm, conversational, curious, and direct when needed. I ask questions, offer observations, and help you both consider perspectives you may not have thought about before.
There is no shame in reaching out when you're struggling. This is a private place where you can come with your partner, say what you're afraid of, and start to find your way back to each other.
Common Concerns From Couples
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You've probably already tried everything you can think of to make it better. That's okay. There's no shame in struggling to figure it out on your own. When you're caught in the cycle of relationship conflict, it can be extremely difficult to see what's really going on.
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No. Many couples come in because they feel distant or keep having the same argument. Coming in earlier often makes the work easier.
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No. I want both of you to feel heard. My focus is the pattern between you, not who's to blame.
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Especially here in Charlotte, the demands of commutes, jobs, family obligations and more can make carving out time for your relationship difficult. However, consider how much time and energy relationship conflict is eating up. When a relationship is working well, it can be a foundation for the rest of your life, a space to rest and renew.
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You can't force your partner to attend counseling, but that doesn't mean you can't begin exploring what's happening in your relationship.
Individual therapy can provide an opportunity to better understand your own experiences, recognize relationship patterns, and explore changes you can make, even if your partner isn't ready to participate.
If your partner becomes interested in couples counseling later, we can discuss the most appropriate next steps, which may include working with a separate couples therapist.
Reach out to me below, and I’ll guide you through every step.
What Makes My Practice Different
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In-Person Or Online Therapy
I offer in-person therapy at my SouthPark office and online counseling for all of NC and SC, so you can get therapy the way you want it.
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Gottman & EFT Together
I combine practical tools for communication and conflict with a deeper understanding of what each of you is feeling.
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Free Initial 15-Minute Consultation
When you reach out, I'll typically respond within one business day. We can schedule a complimentary 15-minute call to briefly discuss what brings you to therapy, answer your questions, and see whether working together feels like a good fit.
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Looking Beyond the Latest Argument
I work on the patterns that keep you stuck, not only the most recent fight.
Couples Counseling in SouthPark, Charlotte
My office is at 6302 Fairview Road, Suite 310, in SouthPark, a central part of Charlotte that's easy to reach. It has large windows and natural light, and it's quiet and private, with a separate lobby. Online sessions are available anywhere in North Carolina and South Carolina.
Rates & Insurance
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My rate is $225 per session.
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I am a private-pay, out-of-network provider and do not bill insurance directly. If your insurance plan includes out-of-network benefits, I can provide a superbill that you may submit for possible reimbursement.
HSA and FSA cards are accepted.
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Using insurance for counseling requires a mental health diagnosis, which goes on your record, and many relationship struggles don't meet that threshold. Insurance can also limit the number of sessions. Many of my clients prefer to keep it private.
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When I'm not working with clients, you'll find me catching up on a NYT article, coaxing my family to take a trail walk with me, attempting a new recipe in the kitchen or squeezing in time with friends. I am also a podcast junkie, a mango lover, wanna-be plant lady, a cheating vegan and an old soul.
How To Get Started
01
Schedule a Call
Simply click below to schedule a FREE 15 minute consultation call with me.
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Free Consultation
I’ll call at a time that suits you and learn more about you and your unique situation.
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Let’s Meet
If it sounds like we are a good fit, I'll invite you both to your first session.
This is your time to experience your relationship differently