3 Best Couples Counselors in Denver

Therapy for couples and partners.

You and your partner(s) have made the decision to seek out professional help. Now what? You have plenty of options when it comes to choosing a couples therapist in Denver. Here, we share some of the best local couples counselors so you can get a sense of who might be the best fit for you and your partner’s needs.

Our couples therapist

Meet Lindsay Cade, our couples counseling and relationship therapist at Rooted Acorn Counseling!

We specialize in relationship therapy for couples and partners experiencing relationship stress and interpersonal conflict. Sessions are focused to help you and your partner build connection and respond with empathy when things get tough.

Lindsay Cade, MA, LPC

she/her/hers

Hi, I’m Lindsay! I am a licensed trauma and relationship therapist located in Denver, CO. Whether you are interested in help for your marriage or dyad in your polycule, I support the healing of both individuals and couples, through couples counseling and individual therapy. Yes, I provide marriage counseling and premarital counseling too! For Colorado couples outside of Denver, CO such as Edgewater, Greenwood Village, Cherry Creek or anywhere across Colorado, I can support you through online telehealth, an effective and convenient way to get help.

In my work, the therapy process is equal parts psychotherapy and partnership coaching. We start by understanding your unique relationship and intimacy cycle that gets you stuck. My role is to slow down those moments between you and your partner when things speed up and escalate quickly. Throughout the process, I walk alongside you as you learn how to deepen intimacy and build healthy connection. In sessions, you will learn and develop skills for effective listening and communication, tools needed to sense what your partner needs and deepen connection. These new skills are rooted in compassion and understanding, in order to create deeper, more meaningful connection, necessities for healthy relationships.

As a couples therapist, I support partners who want better relationships. I can help decrease relationship stress, address intimacy issues, navigate divorce, or other challenges. My focus is to help you and your person deepen your connection. Many couples find their therapy experience with me decreases their relationship issues, increase effective communication of needs and emotions, which leaves them feeling connected long after the work has finished.

Relationships matter a whole heck of a lot which is why I am dedicated to continually growing and deepening my skills as a relationship therapist. I only utilize evidence-based relationship therapy models, like Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, that have been shown to increase intimacy and decrease relationship distress. At the end of the day, you and your partner deserve the best, and I am dedicated to providing the best couples and marriage counseling in Denver. I am also actively engaged in the EFT community in Colorado, including Boulder, CO, as well as a member of the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT). I regularly volunteer at trainings and participate in local peer consultation groups to stay up-to-date and relevant in my practice.

I know it is hard to find the right therapist, whether you search "couples therapy denver" or wade through all the therapist directories, it's hard to decipher who is skilled and who is not, who might be the best Denver relationship therapist and who might not. Sometimes, after all that hard work, you might find the logistics don't match your needs, like a therapist's availability might not align with you or your partner's schedule. You might be feeling overwhelmed or notice your anxiety increase at the thought of trying to find the best professional again. That is why I am sharing a list of some of my most trusted colleagues, highly trained therapists whom I know professionally and trust. I hope you find this helpful in your future search for the best person to support you in your relationship and life!

3 best Denver relationship therapists

couples counseling denver

1. Lauren Lottino, MA, LMFT

  • Couples Therapy

  • Providing therapy since 2018.

  • Lauren is a warm and accessible marriage and family therapist who provides values-driven family therapy services to couples feeling stuck in their relationship and wanting to build their communication skills. Her thoughtful and caring presence paired with her skill and experience helps effect change in her client's lives and relationships.

  • In my experience, Lauren's warm presence creates a safe space for clients to explore and talk about what matters most in their relationships. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist in the Denver area who is at the top of my list of referrals.

denver marriage counseling

2. Lisa K. Sydow, PhD, LPC

  • Specialty areas: EFT, EFIT, Brainspotting

  • Providing therapy for the last 30+ years.

  • Lisa is a highly experienced and trained mental health therapist specializing in trauma and relationship therapy. She is actively engaged in the Boulder and Denver Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) community and is a Certified EFT Supervisor.

  • I have worked alongside Lisa during EFT trainings, peer consultations, as well as received EFT consultation from her. I regard her as a highly knowledgeable and experienced therapist adept at utilizing the EFT model to support couples, individuals, and families.

denver relationship therapist

3. Robert Allan, PhD, LMFT, LPC, AAMFT Supervisor

  • EFCT (Couples Counseling), EFIT (Individual Counseling), EFFT (Family Therapy), Sex Therapy

  • Providing therapy since 2004.

  • Robert Allan is a trainer and educator with a passion for helping people learn EFT. He is also a skilled marriage and family therapist who supports individuals, couples, and families struggling in life and with relationship challenges. His relationship therapy center, Lumen Therapy Services, also has other skilled family therapists to support families and individuals with life transitions, self esteem, and personal growth.

  • In my experience, Robert's warmth and gentle presence creates a safe space for couples and individuals to work through some of the hardest challenges in healing their relationships. I have worked as a helper at several of his trainings and know him to be highly knowledgeable yet very approachable in his work.

Frequently asked questions about couples counseling

couples counseling denver
couples therapist denver

  • Couples therapy is for you and your partner if you're experiencing relationship stress or conflict. It is for couples wanting to improve their relationship, whether that is healing past relationship injuries or doing relationship maintenance to ensure wellbeing and strength in the relationship.

  • Couples therapy is counseling focused on resolving relationship stress and interpersonal conflict. Couples therapy is also called relationship therapy, partners counseling, and marriage counseling. We use these terms interchangeably to acknowledge the diverse ways in which we relate and identify within relationships. In our work with folks identifying as LGBTQ+, we also explore and acknowledge how outside influences from society impact the relationship and/or inform roles and expectations.

  • A gold standard of couples therapy is Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). This model of treatment goes beyond practicing skills and goes to the heart of relationship stress—attachment, belonging, and connection. Studies have shown, that after completing EFT therapy, couples show excellent follow-up results and that progress for the couple continues long after sessions have concluded. That means that EFT not only works while doing the work in sessions, it continues to work after you end therapy.

  • In relationship therapy, we explore attachment styles, attachment needs, emotions, and expectations. We really get to know how those different aspects play out in your relationship. We work on skills to improve your communication with one another and how to turn to your partner with empathy, compassion, and understanding. Improved communication and empathic relating helps you stay connected in healthy ways when the situation or the conversation gets heated.

    When emotions become more intense, for example when you become more angry during an argument, everything speeds up. It is easy to feel lost or say and do things that you wouldn’t normally say or do. If you’ve ever found yourself in the middle of an argument wondering how you got there, you know this feeling. My job as a couples counselor is to slow down those moments in session in order to understand them better. We look at what emotions come up inside of each person from moment to moment and how your attachment styles are being activated. Building that understanding of what is happening on an emotional level and an attachment level is crucial for relationships. Through this practice you’ll learn skills you can use outside of sessions.

    Another part of couples therapy is exploring how past experiences inform and impact the present. Using my training as a trauma therapist, I help partners understand triggering events in their current relationships and how to navigate those moments.

    Finally, in my work with queer couples, we also take time to explore how identity intersects with the relationship. It’s all connected and my passion is in providing a safe space to explore these important aspects of identity that impact the relationship.

  • Wondering what to expect during couples therapy? Get ready to chat about your relationship journey and the areas where you're feeling stuck. You'll have the opportunity to reflect on how past experiences might be affecting your current dynamic. Emotions will come up, but don't worry, I'll be by your side every step of the way. Let's get started!

  • Emotions are tricky! I get it. But they are also incredibly informative. Emotions help us understand our needs. They help us know when we might be unsafe. Emotions are teachers, and when we are curious about our them, that is when we start to see healing. Research shows that healing comes through corrective emotional experiences. It is my joy to walk with you through emotions, through joy, through sadness, and through fear and uncertainty. Throughout the therapy process, I will be right there with you.

  • Most of our work will be together! It’s “couples” therapy after all. However, at the beginning, after we’ve met together for the first intake appointment, I will schedule a one-on-one meeting with each partner. These meetings are a great time to get to know you individually. You can expect me to ask some questions about your past experiences in relationships and about ways you relate with yourself as well as others. I will also ask questions and be curious about what you hope to get out of therapy.

  • If you have a secret, something you’ve not shared with your partner, it may be helpful for me to know that. However, in general, I am not a secret keeper. If you share a secret with me, I’ll work with you to support you in sharing that with your partner.

  • Yes, I do! I love supporting couples preparing to getting married. What a beautiful time in the relationship to grow together and set a strong foundation for the relationship.

  • Of course! I’m here to support relationships in their various beautiful forms. You get to define what your relationship is and deserve the support regardless of your paperwork status.

  • Yes, I am extensively trained in a model of therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the gold standard for relationship therapy. It is a therapy model developed for relationships, partnerships, and marriages. Even though I already have extensive experience and training supporting relationships, I am also committed to continually growing and building my expertise. Currently, I am completing EFT Core Skills training, an advanced level training in EFT and am in consultation working toward certification.

  • To get started with couples counseling, send Lindsay a message to schedule your free initial consultation. Consultations can either be by phone or video, your choice! After you message Lindsay, you should expect to hear back from her within 1 to 2 business days with available dates and times for the consultation. You can expect the conversation to be about 20 to 30-minutes. Both you and your partner need to be a part of the call or video meeting in order to start the process together. During the initial consultation, you can expect Lindsay to ask a few "get to know you" questions like, "What brings y'all to therapy?" or invitations like, "Tell me a little bit about your relationship and what you hope to work on in therapy." Because this is an initial conversation, we will not be diving in deep or be able to hear all the details. This initial consultation will be a time for Lindsay to get to know you and your partner a bit, hearing about what feels stuck in your relationship, and for you to get to know Lindsay and ask her questions about what to expect in therapy. There is no better time than today to start fighting for your relationship. Message Lindsay today to get started!

"Being present is not just putting your phone down for a few minutes. It is a way of being, from interaction to interaction, where you consciously inhabit your own body and show up with the best of your attention, offering your presence as a gift."

— JESSICA FERN

Rooted Acorn Counseling can help you and your partner navigate life’s ups and downs.   

At Rooted Acorn Counseling, we specialize in providing skilled and compassionate therapy for queer and trans individuals and couples. We also support loved ones of queer folks, allies and queer adjacent. We are passionate in our work to support you on your path to heal, decrease stress and anxiety, and strengthen your self-esteem.

If you decide we might be a good fit for you, send us a message today to schedule a free consultation. We hope to hear from you soon!