Couples Therapy and Counseling in Manhattan Beach

When you and your partner find yourselves fighting each other instead of fighting for your relationship, or the connection between you feels like it has gone quiet, couples therapy can help you talk openly and reconnect. At Playa Counseling, we offer couples therapy in Manhattan Beach, in person or online, in a setting where you can both feel safe and heard.

Rachel Thomasian, LMFT, leads our team of licensed and associate therapists and has worked with couples, individuals and families since 2007. She is passionate about making quality mental health care accessible to California families. She has ran her private practice since 2012, focusing on individual therapy for anxiety and couples therapy. This practice has expanded to multiple clinicians helping children, teens, adults, couples and families. You can read more about her work and training.

A primary focus for us is making therapy easy to access. A free, no-pressure 15-minute consultation is a simple way to see whether we're the right fit, and we welcome a conversation with more than one of our clinicians before choosing the person who suits you both. To make therapy convenient, we offer in person as well as virtual telehealth sessions. Each clinician on the team trains in a range of therapy modalities and relationship therapy approaches and keeps developing those skills through continuing education.

Couples therapy and marriage counseling in Manhattan Beach

Needing outside support at some point is normal in a long relationship, and it says nothing bad about yours. In couples therapy, we work with you on communication and recurring conflict, rebuilding trust, intimacy and connection, and parenting or extended family dynamics. For couples counseling in Manhattan Beach, we draw on EFT (emotionally focused therapy) and the Gottman Method, and your therapist tailors the approach to what you both need. We remain neutral and focus on the patterns between you, so each of you feels heard rather than blamed.

Premarital counseling and affair recovery

If you're engaged, premarital counseling gives you dedicated time to talk through money, family and parenting before the wedding. If you're healing after infidelity, affair recovery counseling offers a steady, structured way forward, even if you haven't yet decided whether you're staying together.

Individual, teen and child therapy in Manhattan Beach

If you're looking for a therapist in Manhattan Beach for yourself or someone in your family, our team also works with adults, teens and children.

Individual therapy and anxiety therapy

Individual therapy offers a confidential space to work through stress, anxiety, relationship concerns and trauma. If anxiety is weighing on you, our anxiety therapy most often draws on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), along with EMDR.

Teen therapy

Our experienced therapists offer teen therapy in a way that gives teens a safe, judgment-free place to talk about anxiety, school, friendships and family. To build trust, a teen therapist keeps most of what your teen shares confidential, always lets you know about any safety concerns, and involves you as your teen's age and wishes allow.

Child therapy and play therapy

Children often express through play what they can't yet put into words. In child therapy, a child therapist uses play therapy to help your child work through big feelings, and you remain an active part of the plan. During your free consultation, we can talk through areas of concern and how an experienced child therapist can help your family.

Our Manhattan Beach office

Playa Counseling - Manhattan Beach, 818 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, (424) 228-8589

Two of our licensed therapists are now accepting clients in our Manhattan Beach office. Julia White, LCSW, or Emma Eskildsen, LMFT, are both licensed therapists who work with children, teens, adults and couples. They bring a range of experience and training to their clinical work and are excited to serve Manhattan Beach and South Bay families.

The office is an easy drive from nearby South Bay towns: about 9 minutes from Hermosa Beach and 11 from Redondo Beach or El Segundo. Our main office, Playa Vista Counseling, is in Culver City, about 24 minutes away, and you can also meet with us online anywhere in California.

Questions about couples therapy in Manhattan Beach

What approaches do your couples therapists use?

We draw on EFT and the Gottman Method, two well-researched approaches to relationship work. Our clinicians are also trained in CBT and mindfulness, and your therapist will explain their approach and how it fits your goals.

Can we do couples therapy online?

Yes. We meet by secure video with couples anywhere in California, which helps when work, school runs and beach-city traffic leave little room in the week.

Do you see couples who are not married?

Yes. We work with couples whether you're dating, engaged, married or separated, and we are an LGBTQ+ affirming practice.

For more answers, see our frequently asked questions.

Fees and your free 15-minute consultation

Our fees are per 50-minute session. Couples and family sessions are $300 with a licensed therapist, $200 with an associate therapist. Individual therapy sessions are $250 with a licensed therapists and $150 with an associate therapist. We are a private pay practice and are not in network with any insurance providers. We can, however, give you a superbill to send to your insurer for possible reimbursement, and HSA or FSA plans are welcome for payment.

When you're ready, book your free 15-minute consultation or call (424) 228-8589.