Matthew RojoWalnut Creek Therapist

Couples therapy

Couples therapy in Walnut Creek

Structured, skills-based couples therapy where you build real skills, track real progress, and know whether it's working — instead of talking in circles.

Book a free consultation Call (925) 315-8205

Therapy that goes somewhere

If you've never done this before, you might picture the two of you rehashing every fight while someone referees. That's not how this works. We start with a thorough assessment of the relationship and each of you, set clear goals together, then work three ways at once.

We track it

Each week you complete a short check-in that maps to a standard measure of relationship satisfaction. We review the score together, reinforcing what's working and finding where you're stuck. If it isn't moving by around the tenth session, we change the plan or I refer you on. When you're both feeling good about your relationship, we know that we're done.

You build skills

You learn four conflict and communication skills, in order, each building on the last — starting with a reliable way to call a time-out. We practice them in session, so the room never becomes the fight you came in to fix.

We work your list

You each list what brought you in — parenting, intimacy, money, whatever it is — and we work through every item with those skills until you both agree it's handled.

Why we track it

The real work happens between sessions, in what you actually do at home — and it's easy to forget most of it the moment you walk out the door. Tracking keeps that honest, and keeps me on you about it.

It also gives you perspective. On the weeks you come in sure that nothing is working, the trend can show you that you were worse a month ago and you've genuinely made progress — which is often exactly what you need to see. And if the line isn't moving, that's our cue to change the plan.

A lot of people, men especially, walk in braced to be told they're the problem. That's not how I work. You both learn the same skills, in the same order, and no one gets ganged up on.

Couples sessions are held in person in downtown Walnut Creek.

When there's been a betrayal

Affair and addiction recovery

When there's been an affair or an addiction, the relationship needs more than communication skills. There's a separate, structured path for rebuilding: making the betrayal stop, getting the whole truth out so there are no more surprises, and healing the trauma a betrayal leaves behind. It has a clear sequence, and I guide people through it every day. Ask about it when we talk.

Going deeper

Healing old wounds, together

Sometimes what strains a relationship isn't really about the dishes or the calendar — it's old pain each of you carried in long before you met. For couples who want to go further, we can work on that history directly, with your partner there as support rather than a bystander. Using EMDR and a structured couples approach to trauma, we treat the past wounds that keep resurfacing in the present, so they stop running the relationship.

Common questions

Frequently asked

What if my partner doesn't want to come?
That's common, and it's something I work with directly. A lot of people, men especially, arrive braced to be told they're the problem. You both learn the same skills in the same order, and no one gets ganged up on. Many reluctant partners stay once they see it's structured and fair.
Can I start individual therapy and have my partner join for couples later?
Ideally you'd both start couples therapy together. A lot of people do come individually to work on their relationship — because a partner won't come, or because they want to work on themselves first — and that's fine. But bringing a partner in later can be tricky: the one who joins can feel like they're walking into a room to be ganged up on. I'd generally advise starting together; if you do start solo, it's easier to add your partner after a session or two than much later.
Do you work with same-sex couples?
Yes — same-sex couples are a regular part of my couples work.
What does couples therapy cost?
Couples sessions are $305 per 50-minute hour. The practice is private-pay and out-of-network; a monthly superbill is available for reimbursement, and you can pay with an HSA or FSA card.
Is couples therapy in person?
Yes — couples therapy is held in person in downtown Walnut Creek. (For individual therapy, secure video is available across California when needed.)
How long does couples therapy take?
We track progress weekly against a standard measure. If it isn't improving by around the tenth session, we change the plan or I refer you on. When you're both feeling good about the relationship and it holds, you're done — you won't be in open-ended therapy.
Do you accept insurance?
The practice is private-pay and out-of-network, with a monthly superbill available for out-of-network reimbursement.
How do I know I can trust you?
You don't have to force it. If part of you doesn't trust me, that's worth paying attention to rather than pushing past — closing the gap between us is my job, not yours, and it's genuinely okay if we turn out not to be the right fit. There's more on my About page, including why some wariness toward a therapist can be perfectly reasonable.

Explore

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Get started

Start with a free 30-minute consultation

Office
1535 North Main Street, Suite 250
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Sessions
Couples therapy is only in person. Individual therapy is in person or by video.
Book a free consultation