Deciding to start marriage counseling is often the hardest part. Once you’ve made that decision, it helps to know exactly what you’re walking into: where you’ll go, who you’ll see, and what actually happens in the room. This guide covers the practical details of marriage counseling at our Kaysville and Syracuse offices, so you can walk into your first session feeling prepared rather than uncertain.
If you’re still deciding whether professional support is the right fit for your situation, our earlier post on finding the right marriage counselor in the Ogden-Layton area covers what to look for more generally. This article picks up from there with specifics about our practice.
Our Kaysville and Syracuse locations
Our Kaysville office is located at 375 N Main St, Suite 102, and our Syracuse office is at 1261 W Antelope Dr, Suite E. Both locations are part of the same group practice, along with our Ogden office, so scheduling is coordinated across all three depending on which therapist and location work best for your family. We’re open Monday through Thursday from 8am to 9pm and Friday and Saturday from 8am to 6pm, which gives most couples options outside of a standard workday.
What happens in your first session
According to the American Psychological Association, a typical first session focuses on understanding what brings you in and beginning to build a working relationship with your therapist, and marriage counseling follows a similar shape with both partners in the room. At Carbajal Counseling, your first appointment usually includes:
- A conversation about your relationship’s history. Your therapist will ask how you met, what your relationship has looked like over time, and what’s changed recently.
- Naming what brought you in now. This might be a specific event, like a breach of trust, or a longer pattern, like communication that’s grown more difficult over time.
- Setting initial goals together. You and your therapist will start to identify what you each hope counseling will help with, which shapes how future sessions are structured.
- An introduction to your therapist’s approach. Our therapists draw on Emotionally Focused Therapy, the Gottman Method, and Internal Family Systems, and your first session is a good time to ask how these approaches might apply to your specific situation.
Most couples attend weekly sessions after the initial appointment, though your therapist may recommend a different pace depending on what you’re working through.
Meet some of our couples-focused therapists
At our Kaysville location, therapists working with couples include Stephanie Carbajal, LMFT, our clinical director, along with Travis Spencer, LCSW, James Wadman, LCSW, Emily Rich, AMFT, and Casey Bowles, AMFT. At our Syracuse location, Addie Ferreira, LCSW, works with couples alongside her focus on divorce, separation, and blended family issues. You can view full bios for our entire team, including specialties and approach, on our therapists page.
Rates, insurance, and scheduling
We accept a range of major insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Select Health, TRICARE and TriWest, United Healthcare, PEHP, and several others. Not every therapist accepts every plan, so our front desk can help match you with a provider covered under your specific benefits. We also offer private pay rates, a clergy-assisted pay option for clients working with an ecclesiastical leader, and HSA payment. Full details are available on our rates and insurance page, and we recommend calling ahead so we can verify your benefits before your first appointment.
In-person or telehealth
Both our Kaysville and Syracuse locations offer in-person marriage counseling, and telehealth sessions are available for couples who need more flexibility, whether that’s due to a busy schedule, one partner traveling, or a preference for meeting from home. Many couples use a mix of both over the course of their work together.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need a referral to start marriage counseling? No referral is needed. You can call our office directly or reach out through our contact page to schedule an initial appointment.
Can we choose which therapist we see? Yes. We encourage you to review therapist bios and reach out with any questions about approach or specialty before your first session, since finding the right fit matters for how effective counseling will be.
What if only one of us wants to attend the first session? That’s alright. Many people start with an individual session to talk through their concerns before bringing their partner in, and your therapist can help you think through how to invite your partner into the process when you’re ready.
Schedule your first appointment
If you’re ready to take the first step, our team at the Kaysville and Syracuse offices, along with our Ogden location, is here to help. Call (801) 989-3488 or reach out through our contact page to get started with marriage counseling today.