Relationship and Marriage Counseling therapists in Washington, D.C. DC
We are proud to feature top rated Relationship and Marriage Counseling therapists in Washington, DC. We encourage you to review each profile to find your best match.
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Erica Hart
Psychologist, PhD in Clinical Psychology
I enjoy working with couples looking to deepen their connection, heal from relational wounds, and communicate better. I have helped couples who are preparing for marriage work through difficulties and stressor so that they can move into their married lives feeling closer and more secure.
16 Years Experience
In-Person in Washington, DC 20016
Online in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Thomas Ballas
Psychologist, PhD; PSYPACT
The relationship we share with our partner is one of the most significant and transformative connections in our lives. I’ve had the privilege of helping countless couples navigate the complexities of their relationships. With years of experience in diverse clinical settings, including private practice and hospital environments, I’ve developed a deep understanding of the challenges couples face and the strategies needed to overcome them.
Whether addressing communication barriers, emotional disconnect, or breaches of trust, I use evidence-based approaches to guide partners toward greater understanding and connection. I specialize in creating a supportive space where couples can rebuild trust, foster intimacy, and develop the tools to thrive together.
Through my work, I’ve witnessed how couples therapy can transform relationships—helping partners heal, grow closer, and create a fulfilling and resilient bond. Together, we can navigate the challenges you face, allowing your relationship to flourish in new and meaningful ways.
9 Years Experience
Online in Washington, D.C. (Online Only)
Karen J. Osterle
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, MSSA, LICSW
I happily offer pre-marital counseling, couples therapy, and marriage counseling, focusing on helping each of you be your optimally functioning selves inside of an intimate relationship-. (Or, if we learn that this can't be the case, for whatever reason, I will help you part as amicably as possible.) Please see my website for more information on the services that I offer.
24 Years Experience
In-Person in Washington, DC 20036
Robin Kaye Stilwell
Marriage and Family Therapist, M.A., L.M.F.T.
Whether married, engaged, dating, straight, gay, in conventional, non-conventional relationships, all relationships are important to our health and well-being. Some seek therapy as a "tune up" to tweak minor issues to prevent them from becoming major deal breakers. Some are experiencing potential "deal breakers" and may be considering ending the relationship. Often, one member of the couple is unsure how they feel and may be ambivalent as to what outcome they would like.to see. Each person has a different perspective of how the relationship feels.
43 Years Experience
Online in Washington, D.C. (Online Only)
Georgina Arhin
Licensed Professional Counselor, LCPC, LPC, ACS, CCTP
Emotion focused therapy, Gottaman method, Soultution-focused therapy, Imago relationship therapy (IRT)
22 Years Experience
Online in Washington, D.C. (Online Only)
Douglas LaBier, Ph.D.
Psychologist, Ph.D.
I do couples therapy, focused on identifying what has happened along the way to the couple, from initial attraction to their current life situation and conflicts. The aim is to help the couple clarify what each needs or wants to do, to increase intimacy and build a sustaining relationship. And, if that is not possible, how to part in a mutually respectful way.
53 Years Experience
In-Person in Washington, DC 20015
Online in Washington, D.C.
Meghan McGinn
Psychologist, PhD
"How did we end up here?" you wonder as you and your partner fall into yet another version of the same argument you've been having for years. No matter what you try, the cycle repeats—leaving you both feeling more resentful and disconnected each time. You need a skilled couples therapist who understands the contributing factors to your relationship struggles. Conditions like ADHD, OCD, or anxiety don’t just affect the person diagnosed—they also influence their partner’s reactions in ways that create predictable, and often painful, patterns. With the right guidance, you can break free from these cycles and reconnect.
12 Years Experience
Online in Washington, D.C. (Online Only)
Dr. Anita Gadhia-Smith
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, PsyD, LICSW, LCSW-C
WORKING WITH RELATIONSHIP ISSUES HAS BEEN ONE OF MY SPECIALTIES FOR OVER 20 YEARS. I WILL ASSIST YOU IN MAKING PROGRESS ACCORDING TO YOUR GOALS, USING A VARIETY OF INTERPERSONAL TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES. PLEASE SEE MY BOOK: "HOW TO STAY TOGETHER: WHETHER YOU WANT TO OR NOT" , AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.COM.
27 Years Experience
In-Person in Washington, DC 20007
Online in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Cynthia Edwards-Hawver
Psychologist, Psy.D.
You may be searching for couples counseling to save your marriage—but what if the real answer is getting support for you?
If you’re feeling emotionally drained, constantly blamed, and unsure whether you’re the problem—or if your relationship is even salvageable—you’re not alone. Many high-achieving women I work with come in feeling depressed, disconnected, and desperate to “fix things.” They’re carrying the mental and emotional load of the entire relationship while slowly losing themselves in the process. You may be navigating gaslighting, stonewalling, emotional neglect, covert narcissistic abuse, or post-separation abuse—but because it’s subtle, no one sees it. Not even some therapists.
The truth is, traditional marriage counseling can do more harm than good when narcissistic personality traits, emotional abuse, or manipulation are involved. Most couples therapists are trained in neutrality and communication skills—not in the dynamics of control, DARVO (deny, attack, reverse victim and offender), or covert domestic violence. You might have already tried couples counseling and walked away feeling more confused, silenced, or even blamed.
That’s because in emotionally abusive relationships, you can’t heal as a couple if the abuse isn’t named—and most narcissistic or emotionally manipulative partners will never allow that to happen in front of a neutral third party.
If you’ve been searching for:
Is my relationship toxic or just hard?
Can you do marriage counseling with a narcissist?
Relationship burnout from emotional abuse
Depression in marriage
Gaslighting in couples therapy
How to co-parent with a narcissistic partner
Should I stay or leave a narcissist?
Parallel parenting after divorce
Therapist for narcissistic abuse recovery
...then you’re starting to wake up to the pattern. And that matters.
You’re not crazy. You’re not overreacting. You’re exhausted from trying to make a one-sided relationship work.
I help high-functioning women who are navigating relationship burnout, emotional abuse, and the quiet grief of being stuck in a marriage that no longer feels safe or loving. Whether you're trying to decide if there’s hope, planning your exit, or staying for now while learning how to set boundaries and protect your energy—I’m here to support you. Not as a couples therapist, but as someone who understands the unique psychology of narcissistic abuse and the slow unraveling it creates in women who’ve given their all.
This isn’t about fixing him. This is about finding you.
25 Years Experience
Online in Washington, D.C. (Online Only)
Bold Expressions Therapy
Psychologist, Psy.D.
My approach to marry counseling therapy is through an emotionally focused practice. It brings couples together in a way they can connect intimately and get back to their roots of what was so interesting in the beginning of their relationship.
5 Years Experience
In-Person in Washington, DC 20008
Online in Washington, D.C.
Johanna Isaacs
Psychologist, Psy.D., PsyPACT Participant
I work with couples to help improve their communication so that they can better understand one another and appreciate each other's strengths and weaknesses. My goal is to create a safe place where each person is heard and validated for who they are. We explore the value that the relationship provides to each person and work to strengthen the connection by creating behaviors that join each other together.
14 Years Experience
Online in Washington, D.C. (Online Only)