Couples counseling, discernment counseling & mediation
An independent directory connecting partners and couples with independently licensed clinicians and private relationship consultants.
How do I find a couples counselor?
Decide whether you want in-person sessions, telehealth or an intensive, and what you want to work on, then check the therapist's license on your state's official lookup, linked on each metro page. CivilCouplesCounseling is an independent directory: either partner can send one request, and a coordinator introduces you to one independent provider (a licensed therapist, a discernment counselor or a private mediator) in Sacramento, Reno, Modesto, Fresno, Boise or Spokane, or by telehealth.
Who this is for
Couples who want to communicate better, prepare for marriage, work through recurring conflict, or decide together where their relationship is going. Either partner can start the request.
Formats you can ask for
Providers in the directory run independent practices and hold their own state licenses. Check any license with your state's board; each metro page links the official lookup.
Couples counseling
Regular sessions, usually around 50 minutes each, with a licensed clinician. Most couples meet weekly or every other week, in an office or by telehealth.
Premarital counseling
A set number of sessions before marriage covering expectations, money, family and how the two of you handle disagreements.
Discernment counseling
A short-term format, developed at the University of Minnesota, for couples where one partner is unsure about continuing. It aims for clarity about direction, not a particular result.
Intensives
Extended half-day or multi-day sessions for couples who prefer concentrated work or live far from an office.
Private mediation
Mediators help separating partners negotiate agreements together. Mediation is not counseling, and the directory can't advise on legal questions; separating parents should also look at their local court's self-help resources.
Metros we serve
- Sacramento & the Capital Region, CA
- Reno, Sparks & Washoe County, NV
- Modesto & Stanislaus County, CA
- Fresno, Clovis & the Central Valley, CA
- Boise & the Treasure Valley, ID
- Spokane & the Inland Northwest, WA
Outside these metros? Choose "Elsewhere / telehealth only".
Fees: market benchmark estimates
These are market benchmark estimates from a 2026 consumer pricing guide, not quotes. It reports most couples paying about $100 to $175 for a standard 50-minute private-pay session, within an overall range of $150 to $300 per session; longer 75 to 90 minute sessions at roughly $180 to $350; and half-day or full-day intensives from about $500 to $2,000 or more. Fees vary by license, experience and location, so ask each clinician directly.
Questions to ask a clinician
- Are you licensed in our state, and what is your license number?
- How much of your practice is work with couples?
- What is your fee per session, and for longer or intensive formats?
- Do you offer telehealth, and are you licensed where we'll be during sessions?
- What is your cancellation policy?
How the directory works
Tell us your metro, the format you'd like and what you want to work on. A coordinator reviews the request and introduces you to one independent provider who fits. You speak with them directly and decide together whether to go ahead; the directory takes no part in counseling itself.
Either partner can make the request. Your details go to one provider only and are never sold.