Couples Therapy
Love and passion brought you together, but staying together requires navigating challenges with care and skill. Annie Chen (CA LMFT #80025) offers couples therapy online for residents throughout California.
I look forward to working with couples who are clear in their desire to work toward a relationship based on clarity of intention and mutual security. If you are ready to take actionable steps towards these goals, I can help. My skillset is fine-tuned to help partners with the following issues:
You trigger one another
You want better ways to discuss and resolve conflict
You want to improve your physical intimacy
You want more emotional connection
You’re considering marriage and want pre-marital counseling
You have different ideas about what role friends, family, work, or other elements should play in your lives.
You have trouble understanding and working with neurodivergence in your relationship (like ADHD and Autism)
Embarking on couples therapy is a courageous step towards understanding and growth. If you’re feeling uncertain, know that it's a journey we'll navigate together, as I provide support and guidance every step of the way.
Spaces in my schedule are intentionally limited to ensure that each couple receives the focused, personalized support they deserve. If you're ready to take the leap toward a more sustainable relationship, check my consultation schedule below.
Couples I Work With
Your Therapy Journey
Step 1 — Book a consultation call
Book a consultation to check my availability for a complimentary 20-minute video consultation call. This call offers us a chance to understand the unique challenges you face as a couple and ensure you get all the information you need to decide whether my services will meet your needs. This informative and exploratory conversation comes with no obligation to schedule further sessions. Following our call, you and your partner can discuss the best steps for your relationship.
Step 2 — Schedule a first session
Initial sessions for couples take place online and last 100 minutes, providing us ample time to understand how you function as a unit. I ask thoughtful questions, observe your interactions in real-time, and assess your strengths and areas of growth. Following this, I’ll share my findings and provide a roadmap of recommendations to work on building a more effective and secure partnership. We’ll also take into account your priorities and values in mapping the counseling journey to ensure that it is aligned with what matters most to you.
Step 3 — Meet weekly
In our weekly 75-minute sessions, we will engage deeply with the core dynamics of your relationship. I utilize a blend of tools and exercises ranging from communication strategies to emotional regulation techniques. I will provide active guidance that speaks directly to your relationship’s unique needs. Our sessions will include insights and feedback that help you both reflect on your interactions, understand one another, and take practical steps towards improving connection. This journey is designed to be fully collaborative and paced according to your comfort and readiness, with a clear focus on reaching the milestones that are important to you.
Sessions are only offered virtually.
Step 4 — Celebrate milestones
Along our journey, we’ll take moments to celebrate your progress and victories as a couple, both big and small. Once you’ve reached your overall objectives, we’ll discuss a plan that ensures you’re equipped with the tools and confidence needed to sustain and build upon your gains. This plan might include practical strategies for ongoing growth and, if beneficial, periodic check-ins to support your continued success. My goal is to ensure you feel prepared and empowered to maintain the positive changes you've worked so hard to achieve in your relationship.
FAQs
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My practice is grounded in advanced training across several therapeutic approaches, focusing on attachment, nervous system regulation, and trauma recovery. Techniques I employ include the Psychological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT), Developmental Model of Couples Therapy, Brainspotting, and Neuroaffective Touch, among others. Each of these methods offers unique benefits, from deepening emotional connections to healing trauma through body awareness.
I integrate the latest insights from neuroscience with proven relationship strategies designed to align with your personal goals and challenges. This customized approach ensures that you not only understand the patterns influencing your relationships but also have the tools and support to initiate sustainable change.
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My practice is a safe and inclusive space, welcoming couples from all backgrounds, orientations, and relationship dynamics.
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I charge $600 for initial sessions (100 minutes) and $450 for ongoing sessions (75 minutes).
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I am an out-of-network provider, meaning I do not bill insurance companies directly. However, I can provide a monthly superbill—a detailed receipt of services I provided—for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement based on any out-of-network benefits your plan covers. I recommend contacting your insurance provider by calling the number on the back of your card to understand your coverage specifics so that you can make the most of your benefits.
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Federal law requires therapists to post the following notice:
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.
“Today, I stand before you not just as a professional but as a fellow traveler who has navigated the journey from trauma to peace, from isolation to connection.”
Annie Chen, LMFT