Marriage Counseling in Montana

Strengthening Bonds, Healing Wounds, and Creating Lasting Connection

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Marriage can bring deep joy, but it can also come with challenges that feel overwhelming or painful. At Bozeman Therapy & Counseling, we specialize in helping couples navigate conflict, repair emotional distance, and restore a sense of trust and connection. Whether you’re facing recurring arguments, struggling with intimacy, or feeling disconnected, marriage counseling offers a safe space to heal and grow together.

Close-up of wedding rings symbolizing commitment and pre-marital therapy support in Montana

Why Choose Marriage Counseling?

Many couples seek therapy not because their relationship is failing, but because they want it to thrive. Common reasons people reach out include:

  • Frequent arguments or unresolved conflicts

  • Emotional distance, loneliness, or lack of intimacy

  • Trust issues, including the aftermath of betrayal or infidelity

  • Difficulty communicating needs and concerns

  • Life transitions—such as parenthood, relocation, or career shifts—that strain connection

Marriage counseling can help you better understand each other, break unhelpful cycles, and strengthen your bond.

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Common Signs It May Be Time to Start Marriage Counseling

Couples often wait longer than they need to before seeking support. Marriage counseling may be helpful if you notice:

  • The same arguments repeating without resolution

  • Feeling emotionally disconnected or misunderstood

  • Escalation or shutdown during conflict

  • A growing sense of loneliness within the relationship

  • Difficulty repairing after hurt or misattunement

You do not need to be in crisis to benefit. Many couples come in proactively to strengthen connection and prevent small issues from becoming larger ones.

Our Approach: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

At Bozeman Therapy & Counseling, we use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)—one of the most research-backed and effective methods for couples counseling. EFT helps partners:

  • Identify Negative Patterns that keep you feeling stuck and disconnected

  • Heal Attachment Wounds by repairing moments of hurt, betrayal, or disconnection

  • Rebuild Trust and Intimacy so you can feel emotionally safe with each other again

  • Learn New Ways to Communicate that foster empathy, closeness, and respect

EFT goes beyond surface-level conflict management. It helps couples create lasting change by addressing the deeper emotional needs that drive conflict and disconnection.

What to Expect in Marriage Counseling

Your therapist will guide you through a structured, supportive process designed to help you understand each other more deeply and reconnect.

Early sessions typically include:

  • An initial couples session (60 minutes) to understand concerns, goals, and relational patterns

  • Individual sessions (60 minutes each) with each partner to explore attachment history, emotional triggers, and personal experiences

  • Ongoing couples sessions focused on interrupting negative cycles, strengthening emotional safety, and building healthier patterns

This structure allows the work to move thoughtfully and efficiently while supporting both the relationship and each individual.

A 0–6 Week Roadmap for Marriage Counseling

While every couple’s journey is unique, many follow a similar early progression:

Weeks 1–2

  • Initial couples session

  • Individual sessions with each partner

Weeks 3–6

  • Returning to couples sessions with a clearer understanding of both partners

  • Identifying and interrupting negative interaction cycles

  • Practicing new ways of responding and repairing

  • Increasing emotional safety, understanding, and connection

Many couples notice early shifts during this phase, including fewer escalations, faster repair, and improved communication.

Meet Our Marriage Counselors

  • Headshot of Cindy Poulsen, LCSW, marriage counselor in Bozeman, Montana

    Cindy Poulsen, LCSW

    Licensed Marriage Therapist | Bozeman, Montana

    Cindy specializes in working with couples who feel stuck in painful patterns, are navigating attachment injuries, or are trying to rebuild trust and emotional closeness. Her work is grounded in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and attachment theory, helping partners understand the deeper emotions driving conflict and disconnection. Cindy has extensive experience supporting couples through relational rupture, long-standing emotional distance, and complex life transitions, and she brings a steady, compassionate presence to the work.

    Areas of Focus:
    Attachment wounds, emotional disconnection, trust repair, communication breakdowns, relationship repair after hurt or betrayal

    Schedule with Cindy
  • Headshot of Kelsie Ortiz, PCLC, marriage counselor in Bozeman, Montana

    Kelsie Ortiz, PCLC

    Marriage Counselor | Bozeman, Montana

    Kelsie is passionate about helping couples move out of cycles of disconnection and into more secure, emotionally responsive relationships. Using Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), she helps partners identify negative interaction patterns, explore attachment needs, and rebuild emotional intimacy. Kelsie works with couples who want to strengthen connection, improve emotional safety, and create healthier patterns for the long term.

    Areas of Focus:
    Emotional intimacy, attachment patterns, recurring conflict, relational disconnection, building secure bonds

    Schedule with Kelsie

  • Both online and in-person marriage counseling can be highly effective. The best option depends on your preferences, schedule, and what helps you feel most engaged.

    Online Marriage Counseling (Telehealth)
    Telehealth sessions allow couples to meet from home using a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. This option works well for busy schedules, childcare needs, or couples who feel more comfortable opening up in a familiar environment.

    In-Person Marriage Counseling
    In-person sessions take place at our Bozeman office and provide a shared physical space to slow down, focus, and connect without outside distractions. Some couples find face-to-face sessions especially grounding during emotionally intense work.

    Our clinicians can help you decide whether online therapy, in-person sessions, or a combination of both is the best fit.

  • Marriage counseling sessions range from $150–$250 per 60-minute session, depending on the clinician.

    For in-network clients, session fees are discounted to the agreed insurance rate, which is typically around $150 per hour. After that rate is applied, clients are responsible for any copay or remaining balance based on their plan. Even with high deductibles, this often lowers out-of-pocket costs compared to private pay.

    Sliding scale and discounted fee options may be available. Our team is happy to help verify benefits and explain options.

  • Marriage counseling is not a substitute for emergency care. If you or your partner are experiencing immediate danger, domestic violence, or thoughts of harming yourself or others, please seek immediate help:

    • Call 911 for emergencies

    • Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

    Your safety is always the priority.

  • Getting started is simple. You can:

    • Schedule directly through our online booking system

    • Contact our office with questions or insurance inquiries

    • Request help determining the best next step

    We currently offer same-week appointments with morning, mid-day, and evening availability, both online and in person.

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