Premarital counseling · Hermosa Beach · Pasadena · Online in California
Premarital Counseling in Los Angeles and Online in California
You're excited about getting married. You also each carry expectations about money, family, sex and work that you haven't said out loud yet. Premarital counseling is where you find them, while things are still good.
Most couples take 6 to 10 sessions, weekly or as an intensive. Clinical, not religious: couples of any faith, or none, are welcome.
Lisa Chen & Associates Therapy offers premarital counseling for engaged couples in Los Angeles, in person in Hermosa Beach and Pasadena and online anywhere in California. Most couples complete it in 6 to 10 sessions using the Gottman Method and IFS, at $180 to $500 per 50-minute session depending on the therapist, or as a half-day or full-day intensive. Every couple starts with a free 20-minute consultation.
The conversations most couples haven't had yet
Tap a card to see a question we might ask. Couples are often surprised by how differently they answer.
Want to start at home? Download our free Gottman premarital questions or read the 20-question premarital checklist.
How premarital counseling works here
This isn't a checklist and a workbook. We look at how each of you actually handles stress, conflict and closeness, and give you tools that hold up after the wedding.
Premarital counseling is for both of you together. Your therapist won't take sides, and there's no test to pass. Most couples who come in are doing well and want to stay that way.
- 1
Assessment
Each of you shares your history, your family's patterns and what you expect from marriage, so nothing important stays hidden.
- 2
Conflict and communication
We map where you naturally pull apart when things get hard, and why.
- 3
Skills practice
Gottman-based tools for repair after a fight, staying connected and really hearing each other.
- 4
The big topics
You leave with a shared plan for money, family, intimacy, careers and the future you want.
Weekly sessions or an intensive
Weekly
6 to 10 sessions
$180–500
per 50-minute session, depending on your therapist
The most common route. Time between sessions to practice what you learn, in Hermosa Beach, Pasadena or online.
Intensive
A half day or a full day
$650
an hour with Lisa Chen, LMFT
For couples with a close wedding date or schedules that make weekly sessions hard. A half day is 4 hours ($2,600) and a full day is 6 hours ($3,900), in Hermosa Beach. More on intensives.
We're out of network. Superbills are provided through the client portal, and many employers' PPO plans reimburse a portion. See fees and FAQs.
Every therapist here works with couples
All eight of our therapists see engaged couples. Our associates train with Lisa Chen and our Clinical Director, Bob Northcutt, LMFT, before they see their first couple, and they're Gottman-trained.
Meet the couples therapists
Premarital counseling questions
How many sessions does premarital counseling take?
Most couples complete premarital counseling at Lisa Chen & Associates Therapy in 6 to 10 weekly sessions of 50 minutes. The pace depends on your goals and what comes up along the way. Couples with a close wedding date can do the same work in a half-day or full-day intensive.
What does premarital counseling cover?
We cover how each of you handles conflict and stress, money, family and in-laws, sex and intimacy, children, careers, roles at home, and cultural or religious differences. We use the Gottman Method as the main framework and IFS to understand what drives each partner's reactions.
How much does premarital counseling cost?
Weekly premarital counseling costs $180 to $500 per 50-minute session, depending on the therapist. A premarital intensive with Lisa Chen, LMFT, is $650 an hour, so a 4-hour half day is $2,600. We're out of network and provide superbills, and the first 20-minute consultation is free.
Is your premarital counseling religious?
No. Our premarital counseling is clinical and non-religious, led by licensed therapists and supervised associates. Couples of any faith, or none, are welcome. If faith or culture matters in your relationship, we make room to talk about it and about how you'll bring your traditions into your marriage.
Can we do premarital counseling online?
Yes. We offer premarital counseling by secure video anywhere in California, and in person at our Hermosa Beach office on Pacific Coast Highway and our Pasadena office on South Los Robles Avenue. Many couples combine both, meeting online when work or travel gets busy.
When should we start premarital counseling?
Any time before the wedding works. Starting a few months ahead leaves room for 6 to 10 weekly sessions without rushing the hard conversations. If your date is close, a half-day or full-day intensive can fit the core work into one or two days.
Is premarital counseling only for couples with problems?
No. Most couples who come to us for premarital counseling are doing well and want to stay that way. It works best before patterns harden, when you still have the goodwill to talk about money, family and conflict without it turning into a fight.