Marriage is a vocation, not just a lifestyle. When it feels unstable, everything else—your family, your peace, your faith—feels the weight. You aren’t here for a tune-up; you’re here because the status quo is no longer an option.

You may be here because:

• the same arguments keep happening with no real resolution
• one of you feels unheard, dismissed, or shut down
• you are carrying more of the emotional or relational weight
• trust has been damaged
• something feels off, but you can’t fully explain it

At some point, it stops feeling like normal conflict
and starts feeling like the relationship itself is unstable.

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This Is the Therapy and Counseling Work I Focus On

I work with couples where:

• patterns repeat despite attempts to fix them
• communication has broken down or become unproductive
• one or both partners feel misunderstood, controlled, or emotionally alone
• there is a growing gap in accountability, effort, or engagement

This is not surface-level couples work.

We are not just improving communication.
We are identifying and changing the patterns that are keeping you stuck.

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A Catholic Approach to Marriage and Therapy

We integrate the clinical precision of Systems Theory with the unchanging truths of Catholic Anthropology. This is where psychological science meets the dignity of your soul.

Marriage is not just a relationship.
It is a vocation that carries meaning, responsibility, and weight.

In our work together, we take that seriously.

This means:

• we do not avoid hard truths in the name of keeping peace
• we look honestly at responsibility on both sides
• we work toward integrity, not just comfort
• we respect the dignity of each person while also addressing harmful patterns

This is not about telling you what to do.

It is about helping you:

• see clearly
• take responsibility where needed
• and determine what is required to move forward in a way that is aligned with your values

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How Couples Therapy Is Structured

Couples therapy in this context is active and direct.

We focus on:

• identifying the patterns that are driving conflict
• interrupting cycles that keep repeating
• increasing accountability and clarity
• creating structure around communication and expectations

In some cases, we may also incorporate individual sessions to better understand each partner’s role in the dynamic.

The goal is not just to talk.

The goal is to create meaningful change in how you relate to each other.

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Who I Am, Who This Therapy is For, The Cost of Couples Therapy

Kristin Martinez, LMFT 90136

I specialize in high-stakes relational dynamics. I am not a ‘passive listener’; I am a clinical strategist for your marriage.

I’ve been working in the mental health field for over 15 years, including intensive work with individuals, couples, and families in high-stress and complex situations.

My background includes community mental health and supervising intensive family-based services, where I saw firsthand how quickly relationships can become unstable and what it actually takes to bring them back to a place of clarity and structure.

I don’t approach therapy as a passive process.

I am direct, engaged, and focused on helping you understand what is happening and what needs to change.

My work is grounded in systems thinking, which means I pay close attention to patterns, roles, and dynamics, not just individual behavior.

I am also married and raising a family, and I understand that marriage is not sustained by good intentions alone. It requires ongoing responsibility, clarity, and the willingness to face what is actually happening rather than avoiding it.

As a Catholic, I bring a framework that takes truth, responsibility, and the dignity of each person seriously.

This allows us to do deeper work without losing direction, structure, or purpose.

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Who This Therapy is For

This work is a good fit if:

• you are willing to look at your own role in the relationship
• you want clarity, not just validation
• you are open to structure and direct feedback
• you are trying to determine whether repair is possible—or how to move forward in a healthier way

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Who This Therapy is Not For

This may not be the right fit if:

• you are only looking for someone to take your side
• you are not open to examining your own patterns

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Couples Therapy Fees

Couples sessions are 50 minutes: $250

I do not partner with insurance companies because I believe your marriage deserves more than a mental health diagnosis. Insurance requires a ‘disorder’ to justify treatment. In this practice, we focus on relational integrity and sacramental health, allowing us the freedom to do deep, direct work without the constraints or labels of an insurance provider.

Contact Me!