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Couples Therapy

Dr. Crystal Benjamin, PhD., CFLE, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy - Associate (Supervised by Julia Wesley, LMFT-S)

For 8 years, I’ve helped couples work through trust issues, infidelity, and disconnection.

You might find yourself searching for answers to questions like: Why do we keep having the same argument? How do we rebuild trust after cheating? Why do I feel so disconnected from my partner? Maybe you're navigating the quiet tension of emotional distance, repeated misunderstandings, or the painful aftermath of broken trust. You might be wondering if the relationship can be repaired—or if it’s time to let it go. If you're here, it likely means something isn’t sitting right, and you’re looking for clarity, healing, or simply a different way forward.

Couples Come To me When:

  • They’re having the same fight over and over, and nothing ever really gets resolved.

  • One partner cheated, and now they both feel lost, angry, or unsure if trust can be rebuilt.

  • They feel more like roommates or co-parents than romantic partners.

  • Communication feels like walking on eggshells or it leads to shutdowns and blowups.

  • They love each other, but don’t know how to feel close again.

  • One or both are wondering if they should stay or if it's time to walk away.

  • They’re tired of pretending everything’s fine and finally want to talk about the hard stuff.

Therapy With Me

I understand that your relationship doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it impacts your stress levels, your sleep, your health, and your overall sense of safety in the world. Research has shown that high-conflict or emotionally disconnected relationships can contribute to physical symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, inflammation, and chronic illness. That’s why I don’t just focus on surface-level communication. With advanced training in the Gottman Method and in treating affairs and trauma, I help couples break long-standing cycles, witness each other more clearly, and practice real-time change. Therapy with me supports both your relationship and your health because when your connection improves, your nervous system can finally exhale.

Therapeutic Techniques I Use

Compassionate, collaborative, and paced for your body.

  • I draw from:

    • Gottman Method tools and principles – to support healthy communication, conflict repair, and emotional attunement

    • Mindfulness techniques – to regulate your nervous system and restore a felt sense of safety

    • Psychoeducation – to help you understand what’s happening in your mind and body—and why it makes so much sense

    You’ll receive more than validation—you’ll receive tools, insights, and space to practice new ways of relating, rooted in trust, not fear.

Couples Therapy Results

A multi-generational African American family standing on a wooden bridge, embracing and smiling with trees in the background, dressed in light-colored summer clothes.

In our work, you may:

  • Increase your ability to name and express your needs more clearly

  • Begin noticing emotional patterns and relational triggers with more self-awareness

  • Develop a greater sense of safety in connection and communication

  • Communicate without escalating to the point of contempt or shutting down

  • Practice new relational patterns in a supportive, nonjudgmental space

About Dr. Benjamin

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I’m not here to fix you—because you were never broken.

I’m Dr. Crystal Benjamin, a licensed marriage and family therapist associate (supervised by Julia Wesley, LMFT-S) and educator with over 8 years of direct client experience and more than 15 years in the mental health field. I’ve supported individuals, couples, and professionals navigating anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, relational wounds, and life transitions.

  • Education

    • Ph.D. in Family Studies, Loma Linda University

    • M.S. in Marital and Family Therapy, Loma Linda University

    • B.S. in Behavioral Sciences with an Emphasis in Psychology, Andrews University

    • A.S. in General Business, Andrews University

  • Credentials

    • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate – Texas License No. 206086 (Supervised by Julia Wesley, LMFT-S)

    • Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE)

  • Trainings

    • Gottman Method Couples Therapy – Level 1 & Level 2

    • Gottman Method: Treating Affairs and Trauma

    • Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts (SYMBIS)

    • Youth Mental Health First Aid USA

Education & Credentials

You’ve spent years being the strong one. The one who holds it all together, who pushes through, who rarely asks for help. But even the most capable people carry invisible weight. And quietly, it’s been costing you your peace, your joy, your sense of self.

If reaching out brings up guilt or shame, you’re not alone. High-achievers often feel like they should have it all figured out. But needing support doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re human. This isn’t about breaking down. It’s about choosing yourself, maybe for the first time.

Therapy is a bold and grounded act of self-love. And you don’t have to do it perfectly.
You just have to begin.

Ready for a different kind of support? Let’s start with a complimentary consultation.

Getting Started Together