Business Details
Expert Marriage Counseling in South Orange County
Marriage Made Better was founded on the belief that every couple deserves a fulfilling, lasting relationship. With over a decade of experience in marriage and family therapy, our practice combines evidence-based methodologies like Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method to address communication breakdowns, infidelity, and post-trauma relationship challenges. Our founder, Carly Ketchum, brings academic expertise from Pepperdine University and hands-on clinical experience, including work with domestic violence survivors, to create personalized counseling plans.We prioritize compassionate, research-backed strategies to help couples rebuild trust, navigate parenthood stressors, and develop conflict-resolution skills. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our tailored approach, which includes in-person, phone, and video sessions to accommodate diverse client needs. As active contributors to relationship education through public speaking and community programs like Dating After Abuse, we strive to empower individuals and couples with tools for lifelong relational success.
Services
Couples Counseling
Individual Counseling
Marriage Accelerator Program
Online Therapy Sessions
Public Speaking Engagements
Dating After Abuse Workshops
Highlights and features
- We utilize proven therapies like Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) and Gottman Method Couple Therapy
- Our founder has specialized experience working with domestic violence survivors and trauma recovery
- We offer flexible counseling options including in-person, phone, and video sessions
- Our programs address specific challenges like post-infidelity healing and parenting stressors
- We combine academic expertise with real-world relationship counseling experience
Associations and certifications
- California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
Services
Couples Counseling
Our couples counseling combines Emotionally-Focused Therapy and Gottman Method techniques to help partners improve communication and resolve conflicts. We address issues like infidelity, parenting stress, and emotional disconnection through structured sessions that build stronger emotional bonds and practical relationship skills.
Individual Counseling
Individual counseling focuses on self-discovery and relationship clarity through personalized therapeutic approaches. Clients explore personal patterns affecting relationships, develop self-awareness, and learn strategies to improve interpersonal dynamics while working toward personal fulfillment and relationship goals.
Marriage Accelerator Program
This intensive program uses Gottman Institute assessments to identify relationship patterns and create targeted development plans. The three-phase process includes targeted assessments, in-depth analysis, and personalized roadmaps to address specific relationship challenges and accelerate therapeutic progress.
Online Therapy Sessions
Flexible video and phone counseling options provide accessible therapy for California residents. These sessions maintain the same therapeutic quality as in-person meetings, offering convenience for clients with scheduling challenges or geographic limitations within the state.
Public Speaking Engagements
Educational presentations cover topics like conflict resolution, post-infidelity healing, and preventing toxic relationship patterns. These sessions combine clinical expertise with practical tools, offering audiences actionable strategies to improve communication and strengthen romantic connections through interactive learning experiences.
People
Carly Ketchum
Founder & Licensed Therapist
Carly Ketchum is a licensed marriage and family therapist with two master's degrees from Pepperdine University. She specializes in relationship counseling, trauma recovery, and domestic violence support. With experience in both clinical and academic settings, she founded Marriage Made Better to help couples develop stronger, more fulfilling relationships through evidence-based therapeutic approaches.
Questions
What types of relationship issues do you specialize in?
We specialize in communication breakdowns, infidelity recovery, parenting stressors, and post-trauma relationship challenges using evidence-based therapeutic approaches.
Do you offer online counseling options?
Yes, we provide secure video conferencing and phone sessions for California residents seeking flexible counseling arrangements.
What makes your counseling approach unique?
Our combination of Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Gottman Method techniques, and personalized treatment plans addresses both immediate concerns and underlying relationship patterns.
How do you handle cases involving past trauma?
We employ specialized trauma-informed approaches, including our Dating After Abuse program, to help clients heal from past experiences while building healthier relationship patterns.
What qualifications do your therapists hold?
Our lead therapist holds two master's degrees in psychology and is a licensed marriage and family therapist with California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists certification.
