Best Marriage Therapists in Saint Paul, MN (2025 Guide)

You're sitting near Summit Avenue at 11pm, googling "marriage counseling near me." You're not sure therapy can fix this, but you're willing to try. Your marriage is falling apart and you don't know what else to do.

Here's what you need to know about marriage counseling in Saint Paul—what it costs, what actually works, and which therapists are worth calling.

Can Therapy Actually Help?

The research says yes—about 70% of couples who commit to marriage therapy see significant improvement. Those are pretty good odds.

But "commit" is the key word. Therapy works when:

• Both people genuinely want to improve the relationship

• You're both willing to take responsibility for your part

• You haven't completely checked out emotionally

• There's no active, ongoing affair (past affairs can be worked through)

• You can be civil to each other for an hour

• You're willing to do the homework between sessions

Therapy doesn't work when:

• One person has already decided to divorce and is just going through the motions

• There's ongoing substance abuse without treatment

• There's physical violence (individual therapy and safety planning needed first)

• One or both partners refuse to participate honestly

• You're completely done—emotionally divorced already

Even if therapy doesn't save your marriage, it can help you:

• Divorce more amicably

• Co-parent better after divorce

• Understand what went wrong

• Avoid making the same mistakes next time

In Saint Paul, where contested divorces cost $14,000-$36,000 total for both spouses, spending $1,200-$3,600 on therapy is worth trying. Even if it just makes your eventual divorce less expensive and traumatic.

What It Costs in Saint Paul

Marriage therapy in Saint Paul is moderately priced—higher than smaller Minnesota cities, less than coastal metros.

Session rates (50-60 minutes):

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): $100-$130/session

• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT): $110-$140/session

• Licensed Psychologist (PhD or PsyD): $140-$180/session

How many sessions do you need?

• Crisis intervention: 6-10 sessions (2-3 months)

• Relationship repair: 12-20 sessions (3-6 months)

• Maintenance: Monthly check-ins after intensive work

Most couples start with weekly sessions for 8-12 weeks, then space to every other week.

Total cost:

• Crisis work: $600-$1,800 per couple

• Standard therapy: $1,200-$2,800 per couple

• Extended therapy: $1,600-$3,600 per couple

That's moderate. Compare to Saint Paul divorce costs:

• Contested divorce: $14,000-$36,000 total (both spouses)

• High-conflict divorce: $50,000-$120,000+ total

Even if therapy has only a 50% chance of working (it's actually 70%), spending $2,000 to potentially save $25,000+ in divorce costs is smart math.

Does insurance cover it?

Sometimes. It depends on your plan.

Individual therapy for relationship issues is usually covered. Couples therapy is hit or miss—some plans cover it, some don't.

Call your insurance: "Do you cover couples therapy? What's my copay? Is [therapist name] in-network?"

If in-network, copays are typically $25-$50 per session. That brings costs down significantly:

• 12 sessions with $35 copay = $420 total instead of $1,440-$1,680

• 20 sessions with $40 copay = $800 total instead of $2,200-$2,800

Many Saint Paul therapists take:

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota

• Medica

• HealthPartners

• United Healthcare

• PreferredOne

• UCare

• Some also take out-of-network (you pay, submit for partial reimbursement)

Some don't take insurance at all (usually the PhD psychologists). You pay full rate.

11 Marriage Therapists Worth Calling

These aren't the "best" (that's subjective), but they're experienced Saint Paul therapists who specialize in couples work. Listed with rates, experience, specialties, and who they're best for.

1. Dr. Sarah Cohen, PhD - Cohen Psychology Center

Rate: $165/session | Experience: 17 years | Insurance: BCBS, Medica

Specializes in: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), affairs recovery, crisis intervention, high-achieving couples

Sarah is one of Saint Paul's few EFT-trained therapists. EFT is research-backed and particularly effective for couples in crisis or recovering from infidelity.

She understands Saint Paul's professional class—state employees, university faculty, nonprofit directors. If you're both educated professionals juggling careers and marriage, she gets it.

Her typical clients:

• Dual-career couples

• State government employees

• Couples recovering from affairs

• Crisis situations (one foot out the door)

• University-affiliated families

She's direct but creates safety for difficult conversations. She won't let you avoid the hard stuff, but she makes it manageable.

Best for: Affairs recovery, crisis intervention, dual-career couples, EFT approach

Location: Grand Avenue office near Macalester

2. Michael Rodriguez, LMFT - Rodriguez Family Therapy

Rate: $125/session | Experience: 14 years | Insurance: Medica, UHC

Specializes in: Blended families, second marriages, stepfamily dynamics, pre-marital counseling

Michael works extensively with Saint Paul's many blended families. If this is a second marriage, if you have kids from previous relationships, if stepfamily dynamics are causing conflict—Michael specializes in this.

His typical clients:

• Second marriages

• Blended families (yours, mine, and ours)

• Couples with stepchildren

• Pre-marital couples planning to blend families

He's practical and solution-focused. He gives you specific tools to manage stepfamily challenges—discipline differences, loyalty conflicts, ex-spouse issues, different parenting styles.

Best for: Blended families, second marriages, stepfamily issues

Location: Highland Park office

3. Jennifer Lee, LMFT - Lee Couples Therapy

Rate: $120/session | Experience: 16 years | Insurance: BCBS, HealthPartners

Specializes in: Gottman Method, conflict resolution, communication skills, high-conflict couples

Jennifer is Gottman Method certified. The Gottman Method is research-based—they've studied thousands of couples to understand what makes marriages work and what predicts divorce. It's structured, evidence-based, and effective.

She's great for couples who fight constantly. If you can't have a conversation without it escalating, if you need to learn how to argue constructively—Jennifer teaches specific skills.

Her typical clients:

• Couples who fight constantly

• Communication breakdown

• Dual-career couples with scheduling conflicts

• Anyone wanting structured, proven approach

She gives homework. She teaches specific techniques. If you want "here are 5 skills to practice this week," Jennifer provides that structure.

Best for: Constant fighting, need communication skills, want structured approach, Gottman Method

Location: Macalester-Groveland office

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

Rate: $155/session | Experience: 17 years | Insurance: BCBS, Medica

Specializes in: Sex therapy, intimacy issues, medical issues affecting sexuality, trauma-informed care

Patricia is a certified sex therapist. If sexual issues are central to your marital problems—mismatched desire, erectile dysfunction, pain during sex, past sexual trauma—Patricia specializes in this.

She's clinical but makes talking about sex comfortable. She treats it as a normal, important part of healthy marriage.

Her typical clients:

• Couples with sexual problems

• Medical issues affecting intimacy (menopause, medications, chronic illness)

• Past sexual trauma affecting current relationship

• Intimacy rebuilding after affairs

She often works alongside medical doctors (urologists, gynecologists, endocrinologists) when there are physical/medical components.

Best for: Sexual problems, intimacy issues, sex therapy, medical issues affecting sexuality

Location: Summit Avenue office

5. David Chen, LCSW - Chen Counseling Center

Rate: $110/session | Experience: 13 years | Insurance: UHC, HealthPartners

Specializes in: Trauma-informed couples therapy, addiction in relationships, recovery support

David works with couples dealing with trauma or addiction. If one partner has PTSD, if addiction is affecting your marriage, if there's trauma history—David has specialized training.

His typical clients:

• Couples where one partner has trauma history

• Addiction recovery (one partner in recovery or early sobriety)

• Adult children of alcoholics navigating relationships

• Trauma affecting relationship dynamics

He's gentle but doesn't avoid difficult topics. He creates safety while addressing hard issues like trust rebuilding, boundaries during recovery, and processing past trauma together.

Best for: Trauma history, addiction issues, PTSD, recovery support, trust rebuilding

Location: West Seventh neighborhood office

6. Amanda Foster, LMFT - Foster Relationship Center

Rate: $130/session | Experience: 15 years | Insurance: BCBS, Medica

Specializes in: LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy, non-traditional relationships, same-sex couples

Amanda specializes in LGBTQ+ couples therapy. She's affirmative, knowledgeable, and doesn't assume heteronormative relationship models.

Her typical clients:

• LGBTQ+ couples

• Same-sex marriages

• Non-traditional relationship structures

• Transgender or non-binary individuals in relationships

• Anyone wanting affirming, non-judgmental care

She understands the unique challenges LGBTQ+ couples face in Minnesota. She doesn't waste your time educating her about basic LGBTQ+ issues—she already knows.

Best for: LGBTQ+ couples, same-sex marriages, non-traditional relationships, trans/non-binary affirming

Location: Merriam Park office

7. Dr. Robert Garcia, PhD - Garcia Psychology Group

Rate: $170/session | Experience: 19 years | Insurance: BCBS, Medica

Specializes in: Discernment counseling, high-achieving couples, decision-making therapy, long-term marriages

Robert does "discernment counseling"—short-term therapy (1-5 sessions) for couples who aren't sure whether to stay married or divorce. The goal isn't to save your marriage; it's to help you gain clarity about what you want.

He also works with long-term marriages in crisis and high-achieving couples dealing with career stress.

His typical clients:

• Unsure whether to stay or divorce

• Long-term marriages (15+ years) in crisis

• Empty nesters reassessing their marriage

• High-achieving couples (doctors, lawyers, executives)

• Anyone needing decision clarity

He's the most expensive on this list. He's also very experienced and particularly good at helping people make difficult decisions with confidence.

Best for: Deciding whether to divorce, long-term marriages, discernment counseling, high-achievers

Location: Cathedral Hill office

8. Maria Santos, LMFT - Santos Family Services

Rate: $105/session | Experience: 12 years | Insurance: BCBS, UHC

Specializes in: Financial conflict, work-life balance, faith-based counseling, money issues

Maria specializes in couples fighting about money. She also offers Christian/faith-based counseling for couples who want faith integrated into therapy.

Her typical clients:

• Couples fighting about spending/saving

• Work-life balance issues

• Catholic or Lutheran couples wanting faith-based approach

• Financial disagreements

• One spender, one saver

She's warm and non-judgmental. She helps couples get on the same page financially and address the emotional issues beneath money fights.

Best for: Money fights, financial conflict, Catholic/Lutheran/Christian counseling, work-life balance

Location: West Side neighborhood office

9. Steven Walker, LCSW - Walker Counseling Associates

Rate: $115/session | Experience: 17 years | Insurance: BCBS, HealthPartners

Specializes in: Long-term marriages, empty nest transitions, retirement adjustments, middle-age couples

Steven works with couples married 15+ years. If you're empty nesters, if retirement is changing your relationship, if you're in your 50s-60s reassessing—Steven specializes in long-term marriage issues.

His typical clients:

• Married 15+ years

• Empty nesters (kids left home)

• Retirement transitions

• Couples in 50s-60s-70s

• "We raised the kids, now what?" situations

He understands that long-term marriages face different challenges than young marriages. He's experienced with midlife transitions, empty nest adjustment, and navigating the next chapter together.

Best for: Long-term marriages (15+ years), empty nest, retirement transitions, 50+

Location: Como Park area office

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

Rate: $145/session | Experience: 15 years | Insurance: BCBS, Medica

Specializes in: Depression and anxiety in relationships, mental health conditions affecting marriage, medication consultation

Lisa works with couples where mental health issues are affecting the relationship. If one partner has depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or other conditions—Lisa helps couples navigate this together.

Her typical clients:

• One partner has depression/anxiety

• Mental health affecting relationship

• Couples navigating mental illness together

• Medication and therapy coordination

• Understanding impact of mental health on intimacy and communication

She can coordinate with psychiatrists and primary care doctors when medication is involved.

Best for: Depression/anxiety in relationships, mental health conditions affecting marriage

Location: Summit-University neighborhood office

11. James Foster, LMFT - Foster Couples Center

Rate: $120/session | Experience: 16 years | Insurance: BCBS, state health plans

Specializes in: State employees, teachers, public sector couples, union members

James understands Saint Paul's large public sector workforce. If you or your spouse works for the state, teaches in public schools, or works for the city/county—James gets the unique pressures of public sector work.

His typical clients:

• Minnesota state government employees

• Saint Paul Public Schools teachers

• City and county employees

• University of Minnesota staff

• Anyone with state benefits and pension considerations

He's practical and understands the financial realities of public sector salaries. He works efficiently to keep therapy affordable.

Best for: State employees, teachers, city/county workers, public sector, union members

Location: Near Capitol complex

How to Pick a Therapist

1. Identify your main issue

• Constant fighting → Gottman Method (Jennifer Lee)

• Affair recovery → EFT specialist (Dr. Sarah Cohen)

• Sexual problems → Sex therapist (Dr. Patricia Martinez)

• Blended family → Stepfamily specialist (Michael Rodriguez)

• LGBTQ+ → Affirmative therapist (Amanda Foster)

• Deciding whether to divorce → Discernment counseling (Dr. Robert Garcia)

• Money fights → Financial specialist (Maria Santos)

• Long marriage struggling → Long-term specialist (Steven Walker, Dr. Robert Garcia)

• State employee → Public sector specialist (James Foster)

• Trauma/addiction → Trauma-informed specialist (David Chen)

2. Check insurance

If they take your insurance, your $1,440 therapy cost becomes $420-$600 in copays. That's huge.

Call your insurance first to verify coverage.

3. Schedule consultations

Most offer free 15-20 minute phone consultations. Talk to 2-3 before deciding.

Ask:

• What's your approach/theoretical orientation?

• Have you worked with couples like us?

• How long does therapy typically take?

• What does success look like?

• How do you handle it if one person is less committed?

• What's your availability?

4. Consider the fit

You'll both need to feel comfortable. If one of you doesn't click with the therapist, it won't work. Some therapists are more direct, some more gentle. Find the style that works for you both.

5. Commit to at least 8-12 sessions

You can't judge therapy effectiveness after 2 sessions. Commit to 8-12, then reassess whether it's helping.

What to Expect in Marriage Therapy

First session (intake):

• Therapist asks about your relationship history

• What brought you to therapy

• What you each want to change

• Your individual backgrounds and families of origin

• Assessment of your relationship patterns

Ongoing sessions:

• Working on specific issues identified

• Learning communication skills

• Processing conflicts safely

• Homework between sessions

• Practicing new behaviors

Between sessions:

• Homework assignments (practicing skills, trying new behaviors, noticing patterns)

• Implementing what you learn

• Not fighting about therapy (common pitfall)

Most Minnesota therapists are practical and structured. Midwest culture = solutions-focused, not endless processing.

Does It Actually Work?

Research on marriage therapy effectiveness:

• 70% of couples see significant improvement

• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): 75% success rate

• Gottman Method: 65-70% success rate

• Average length: 12-20 sessions over 3-6 months

What makes therapy work:

• Both partners committed to the process

• Attending consistently (weekly or biweekly)

• Doing homework between sessions

• Being honest in sessions

• Taking responsibility for your own part

What makes therapy fail:

• One partner not genuinely committed

• Skipping sessions frequently

• Not doing homework

• Dishonesty in sessions

• Blaming without self-reflection

Should You Try Therapy Before Divorce?

If you're both willing, yes.

Here's the math:

• Marriage therapy: $1,200-$3,600 for 12-20 sessions

• Contested divorce in Saint Paul: $14,000-$36,000 total (both spouses)

• High-conflict divorce: $50,000-$120,000+ total

Even if therapy only has a 50% chance of working (it's actually higher), it's worth the investment.

And even if therapy doesn't save your marriage, it helps you:

• Understand what went wrong so you don't repeat patterns

• Divorce more amicably

• Co-parent better

• Process the ending more healthily

• Save money on divorce costs (less fighting)

What If One Person Won't Go?

Go alone.

Individual therapy focused on your relationship can help. You can:

• Understand your patterns and contributions

• Decide what you really want

• Learn to communicate better

• Figure out next steps

• Process your feelings

• Change your own behavior (which can shift the relationship dynamic)

Sometimes one partner starts therapy alone, and the other joins later when they see it's actually helpful and not just "blame the reluctant partner" hour.

The Reality Check

Marriage therapy in Saint Paul costs $100-$180 per session. That adds up: $1,200-$3,600 for typical therapy.

But it's still way cheaper than divorce. And it might save your marriage.

The 11 therapists above are experienced professionals who specialize in couples work. They understand Saint Paul's culture—state employees, public sector, university families, Highland Park homeowners, working professionals.

Pick 2-3 who seem like good fits. Schedule consultations. Choose one you both feel okay about.

Commit to 12 sessions. That's 3 months of weekly therapy or 6 months biweekly. Give it that much before deciding it's not working.

In Saint Paul, clarity about your marriage costs $1,200-$2,400 (12-20 sessions). That's way less than a contested divorce costs.

You owe it to yourself, your spouse, and your kids (if you have them) to try. Even if it doesn't work, you'll know you gave it a real shot.

The Bottom Line

Marriage therapy in Saint Paul costs $100-$180 per session. Most couples need 12-20 sessions over 3-6 months.

Total cost: $1,200-$3,600 for the therapy.

Compare that to divorce costs of $14,000-$36,000+, and therapy is worth trying.

About 70% of couples who commit to therapy see significant improvement. Even if it doesn't save your marriage, it helps you divorce better and co-parent more effectively.

The 11 therapists above are experienced Saint Paul practitioners who specialize in couples work.

Find one who fits your situation. Commit to at least 12 sessions. Do the homework. Be honest. Take responsibility for your part.

You'll know within 3 months whether your marriage can be saved. That clarity is worth $1,200-$2,400.

Saint Paul marriage therapy is moderate for the Twin Cities—less than Minneapolis, reasonable for a state capital. It's the cheapest way to potentially save your marriage—or end it more gracefully.