Best Marriage Therapists in Fort Lauderdale, FL (2025 Guide)

You're sitting in your car at Fort Lauderdale Beach at 11pm, googling "marriage counseling near me." You're not sure therapy can fix this, but you're willing to try.

Here's what you need to know about marriage counseling in Fort Lauderdale—what it costs, what works, which therapists are worth calling.

Can Therapy Help?

About 70% of couples who commit to therapy see improvement. "Commit" means showing up, doing the work, actually trying.

Therapy works when:

• Both people want to improve

• You're willing to own your part

• You haven't completely checked out

• No active affair (or it ended and you're rebuilding)

• You can be civil for an hour

Probably won't work if:

• One person already decided to divorce

• Ongoing substance abuse without treatment

• Physical violence

• One person won't participate honestly

• You're completely done

Even if therapy doesn't save your marriage, it can help you divorce better—less fighting, better co-parenting.

What It Costs

Therapist rates: $150-$250 per session (50-60 minutes)

By credentials:

• LMHC: $150-$200/session

• LMFT: $170-$220/session

• LCSW: $160-$210/session

• Psychologist: $200-$250/session

Typical treatment: 12-20 sessions over 3-6 months

Total: $1,800-$5,000 for 12-20 sessions

Insurance: Many take insurance, dropping cost to $30-$50 copay. Not all insurance covers couples therapy—check benefits.

Compare to divorce: $8,000-$70,000+ total. Even if therapy doesn't save marriage, $2,500 beats contested divorce.

11 Marriage Therapists Worth Calling

1. Dr. Sarah Cohen, PhD - Cohen Psychology

18 years | $230/session | Las Olas EFT, affairs recovery, high-conflict, communication. Best for: Crisis, infidelity. Insurance: BCBS, Aetna, Cigna.

2. Michael Rodriguez, LMFT - South Florida Family Therapy

13 years | $190/session | Victoria Park Blended families, parenting, pre-marital, communication. Best for: Step-families, kid issues. Insurance: Aetna, UHC.

3. Jennifer Lee, LMHC - Lee Counseling Center

15 years | $180/session | Coral Ridge Gottman Method, conflict resolution, cultural differences. Best for: Constant fighting. Insurance: BCBS, Aetna, CHP.

4. Dr. Patricia Martinez, PsyD - Martinez Clinical Services

16 years | $220/session | Downtown Sex therapy, intimacy, affairs, trauma-informed. Best for: Sexual problems, infidelity. Insurance: Aetna, BCBS, Cigna.

5. David Thompson, LCSW - Thompson Therapy

12 years | $170/session | Wilton Manors Trauma-informed, LGBTQ+ affirmative, addiction recovery. Best for: LGBTQ+ couples, trauma, addiction. Insurance: Tricare, BCBS, UHC.

6. Amanda Foster, LMFT - Foster Relationship Center

14 years | $195/session | Beach area LGBTQ+ affirmative, non-traditional, life transitions. Best for: LGBTQ+, non-traditional relationships. Insurance: BCBS, Aetna, UHC.

7. Dr. Robert Chen, PhD - Chen Psychology Associates

17 years | $225/session | Las Olas Pre-marital, high-conflict, discernment counseling. Best for: Deciding whether to divorce, pre-marital. Insurance: BCBS, Aetna, Cigna.

8. Maria Santos, LMHC - Santos Counseling

10 years | $165/session | Plantation Bilingual (English/Spanish), immigration stress, financial conflict. Best for: Spanish-speaking, money fights. Insurance: BCBS, Molina, UHC.

9. Steven Walker, LMFT - Walker Therapy Group

16 years | $185/session | Rio Vista Long-term marriages, empty nest, mid-life, retirement. Best for: 15+ year marriages, empty nesters. Insurance: BCBS, Aetna.

10. Dr. Lisa Martinez, PsyD - Martinez Clinical Psychology

14 years | $215/session | Victoria Park Depression/anxiety in relationships, mental health + marriage. Best for: One/both have mental health conditions. Insurance: BCBS, Aetna, Cigna.

11. Carlos Rodriguez, LMFT - Rodriguez Family Services

11 years | $175/session | Davie International couples, cultural differences, bilingual (English/Spanish). Best for: International/cultural issues. Insurance: BCBS, UHC.

How to Pick

Main issue:

• Constant fighting → Gottman (Jennifer Lee #3)

• Sexual problems → Sex therapy (Dr. Patricia Martinez #4)

• Affair recovery → EFT (Dr. Sarah Cohen #1)

• Blended family → Michael Rodriguez (#2)

• LGBTQ+ → David Thompson (#5) or Amanda Foster (#6)

• Mental health → Dr. Lisa Martinez (#10)

• Deciding whether to divorce → Discernment (Dr. Robert Chen #7)

• Spanish-speaking → Maria Santos (#8) or Carlos Rodriguez (#11)

Budget:

• $150-$180: LMHCs

• $180-$220: LMFTs/LCSWs

• $200-$250: Psychologists

Check insurance. Most offer free 15-20 minute consultation.

What to Expect

First session: Info-gathering, history, goals, explain approach. Following sessions: Check-in, work on issues, practice skills, homework. How long: Crisis (6-10), Repair (12-20), Maintenance (monthly).

Red Flags

• Therapist takes sides

• Doesn't address safety

• Just lets you argue

• Pushes their agenda

• No structure

When Won't Work

• Active affair

• One person done

• Active addiction

• Ongoing abuse

The Reality

Therapy is hard work. Not magic. But it works if you're both committed.

Even if it doesn't save marriage, it helps you divorce better and co-parent more effectively.

The 11 therapists above are competent. Pick 2-3, do consultations, pick one you both feel okay with.

You won't love every session. But commit to 12-15 sessions, you'll know whether marriage can be saved.

In Fort Lauderdale, clarity costs $1,800-$3,750—way less than contested divorce.