Talk about the life you will share
Premarital Counseling by video across California.
Household Roles Before Marriage
Living together involves more than who cooks dinner. It includes noticing what needs to happen, planning it and taking responsibility when circumstances change. Partners can enter marriage with unspoken ideas about all of it.
Premarital counseling can help you discuss those expectations before one person becomes the default organizer or resentment becomes the way a need gets expressed.
Maybe this sounds familiar
01
You expect different standards at home.
02
One person notices most unfinished tasks.
03
You have never discussed the mental load.
04
You want agreements that can adapt.
01 · Understand
Include the planning, not only the task
A household runs on visible tasks and less visible decisions. You can talk about cleaning, errands, bills and appointments, but also who remembers them and how you know when something is done. The point is to understand expectations, not create a scorecard for the relationship.
Your therapist can help you discuss what you learned about roles and what you want to keep or change. You may discover that a familiar arrangement does not feel fair to both people.
02 · Practice
Discuss what happens when capacity changes
An agreement needs room for illness, busy seasons, travel and other changes. How will you ask for help? How will you revisit an arrangement that no longer fits? What does taking responsibility mean when a task is missed?
There is no single division that works for every couple. Premarital sessions can help you make the conversation more explicit and collaborative. The therapist is not a household manager and cannot guarantee that an agreement will be followed.
03 · Choose Your Next Step
Six clinicians, with room to find your fit
All six treating clinicians offer premarital counseling: Holly, Emily Chen, Misty, Nicola, Dina and Aidé. Ask about the approach, language and availability that fit your needs. Emily Harris supports the team as a supervisor and does not see clients at the practice.
The consultation can clarify the service and practical next steps. You do not need a complete plan for the relationship before asking questions. No fixed package, result or number of sessions is promised here.
A therapist who fits you
These clinicians offer the related service. Availability and the right approach for your situation are part of the consultation.
Holly Whitmore
MA, LMFT
Gottman couples therapy and IFS
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Emily Chen
AMFT
EFT, attachment and inner child work
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Misty Goldenberg
AMFT
EMDR, perinatal and couples work
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Nicola Loretto
MA, AMFT
Grief, identity and Gottman couples work
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Dina Abdelaal
AMFT
Trauma and PTSD, in English and Spanish
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Aidé Merito
AMFT, APCC
Teens, identity and trauma, in English and Spanish
View profileFees in brief
We are in network with Aetna (PPO and EPO plans only), Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum and Blue Shield of California. Not every clinician is in network with every plan.
Seeing someone out of network? We provide superbills you can submit for reimbursement.
Rates and insuranceLicensed therapist
$180
per telehealth session
For adults, couples, children or families
Associate therapist
$150
per telehealth session
For adults, couples, children or families
Questions before you begin
Is household work too small a topic for premarital counseling?
No. Everyday responsibilities can carry important expectations about partnership and care. Concrete examples can make the discussion more useful.
How do I ask about this service?
Tell the practice the broad kind of support you are seeking, your language preference and whether you have a clinician in mind. Fit, availability and any fee or insurance arrangement need to be confirmed before an appointment.
A small first step
Start with a free 15 minute phone consultation to discuss provider fit, availability and the next step. Keep personal and health details out of an ordinary website inquiry. Ongoing sessions are offered by video within California.
Explore Premarital CounselingKeep exploring
Conversations Before Marriage
Planning a wedding can fill the calendar while bigger questions remain in the background.
Talking About Money Before Marriage
You may know each other's favorite meal before you know how each person thinks about shared expenses, saving or financial privacy.
Make room for a different conversation
Start with a free 15 minute phone consultation. We'll help you consider provider fit and next steps.