Houston offers both joint couples counseling and individual therapy for relationship difficulties. The practices below cover central Houston, west Houston, The Woodlands, and online appointments. Start with the session format: a therapist who helps one partner with relationship stress is offering something different from a session with both partners in the room. Before an initial appointment, choose a few marriage counseling questions to clarify what each partner wants to discuss.
1. Dilek Wise
- Location
- Montrose, Houston; online across Texas
- Format
- Couples, individual, and family therapy
- Focus
- Relationship conflict and affair recovery
Dilek Wise, PhD, LMFT, works with couples and families from her Dunlavy Street practice in Montrose and by video throughout Texas. Affair recovery is a particular area of her work. Her practice offers a way to address a specific breach of trust alongside broader communication and relationship patterns. Sessions are available in English and Turkish; discuss the language and appointment format that will work for both partners.
2. Coleen Louise Owens
- Location
- West Houston
- Format
- In-person and telehealth counseling
- Focus
- Marriage, premarital work, and relationship transitions
Coleen Louise Owens, MS, LMFT, sees individuals, couples, and families from her South Gessner Road office. Her couples work spans dating and premarital concerns, established marriages, and separation or divorce. That range matters when the two partners arrive with different goals. A brief initial consultation is available to discuss those goals and whether her approach fits.
3. Creative Life Counseling — Cindy Thornby
- Location
- The Woodlands, Houston metro
- Format
- In-office counseling
- Focus
- Relationship distress, intimacy, and life changes
Cindy Thornby, MA, LPC, offers in-office counseling in The Woodlands. Her practice addresses relationship distress, anger, intimacy concerns, and the effects of grief or chronic pain. This is a north-metro option, so consider the journey to regular appointments before choosing it. Her current website specifies office-based services; it should not be treated as a Houston-wide video practice.
4. D. Scott Stanley
- Location
- Spring Branch, Houston
- Format
- Individual, in-person therapy
- Focus
- Relationship issues, depression, and life transitions
D. Scott Stanley, PhD, LPC, LMFT, describes a collaborative approach to understanding the stories and patterns behind a person’s difficulties. His current practice profile lists in-person individual sessions on Long Point Road. This makes him an option for someone seeking help with their own part in a relationship problem. Couples wanting joint sessions should establish that availability directly before booking.
5. Hope Alive Christian Counseling — Cecelia Johnson
- Location
- Online in Texas
- Format
- Individual video therapy
- Focus
- Christian counseling and relationship stress
Cecelia Johnson, LPC, approaches counseling from a Christian perspective. Her previously published booking profile described individual therapy for adults and seniors, including women’s issues, trauma, anxiety, and relationship difficulties. Confirm current availability and appointment format directly with the practice. This is an individual support option for a partner who wants faith to be part of counseling. The previously listed service was individual therapy; do not assume that an appointment includes both partners.
Frequently asked questions
What do Houston marriage counselors charge?
Two published couples-session examples are Coleen Owens at $250 and Dilek Wise at $295. These are provider examples, not a Houston average. Confirm the appointment length, whether the first assessment has a different price, and the cancellation policy before comparing totals.
Can I start counseling if my partner will not attend?
Yes. Scott Stanley’s current practice explicitly lists individual sessions for concerns including relationship issues. Individual work can address your responses, boundaries, and decisions. It does not let a therapist assess or speak for the partner who is absent.
Which options offer video sessions or a north-Houston office?
Dilek Wise offers virtual sessions throughout Texas, while Coleen Owens lists both office and telehealth care. For people nearer The Woodlands, Creative Life Counseling is an in-office practice. Choose a format both partners can attend consistently; for video appointments, arrange a private space and check whether partners can join from separate locations.
How much time should we budget for a course of therapy?
AAMFT describes marriage and family therapy as often brief, reporting an average of about 12 sessions across that profession. This is not a promised course length for your marriage or a Houston-specific figure. Ask for clear goals and a planned progress review, especially if weekly appointments involve childcare, time off work, or a substantial commute.