Understanding the Cost of Marriage Therapy in California – Heather Seguin, LMFT

What affects the cost of couples therapy?

1. Therapist Services
Therapists with advanced training—such as in the Gottman Method, Emotional Intelligence Therapy (EFT), or Relational Life Therapy (RLT)—often charge more, and with good reason. Their expertise can lead to faster, more effective results. While newer therapists or platforms like BetterHelp may offer lower rates, you may need more sessions to make progress, which can cost more in the long run (financially AND relationally).

2. Place
In larger cities, treatment rates are generally higher than in smaller cities. In private practices throughout the Temecula Valley and most of Southern California, individual therapy typically costs $150-$200 per session.

Couples therapy is more expensive because it not only requires two clients to manage in real time, but also to master a completely different therapeutic skill. Many therapists in our area never offer couples therapy because it is complex and emotionally demanding.