You're having the same argument you've had a hundred times. Or you've stopped having it, and the quiet is worse. Maybe something happened — an affair, a betrayal, a line that got crossed — and you don't know whether this survives it. Maybe nothing happened at all, and that's the problem: you've drifted into being roommates who coordinate logistics.
I'm David Karlson, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I've worked with couples since 2008, and I'm trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy and the Gottman Method.
Couples therapy in St. Paul and across Minnesota.
Most couples arrive wanting me to settle who's right. That isn't the work. The pattern you're stuck in isn't either of your faults — it's something the two of you built together without meaning to, and it moves faster than either of you can think.
My job is to slow it down enough that you can both see it while it's happening, and then help you do something different in the moment it counts. As a marriage and family therapist, I'm trained to watch what happens between you rather than take sides.
Online: No commute, and no coordinating two schedules around a drive across the Twin Cities. If you're living apart for a deployment, a work assignment or a separation, you can join from two locations.
Private pay: I'm out-of-network with all insurers, so your insurance company doesn't decide how many sessions you get or how we work. If you have out-of-network benefits, I provide superbills you can submit for possible reimbursement. A limited number of sliding-scale spots are available.
What couples work on
Couples come to me for the same fight on repeat, disconnection and drift, infidelity and broken trust, conflict about parenting, sex and intimacy, and big transitions — a new baby, a blended family, a move, a deployment, an empty nest.
I use Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method to help you both see the pattern you're caught in and get back to working as a team.
How it works: a free 15-minute call to see whether I'm the right fit. Then a first session together to get clear on what keeps happening and what you both want. Then ongoing sessions, weekly or every other week, for as long as it's useful.
INVESTMENT
contact
15-min video consult: Free
$185 per 50-minute session
I also valued and appreciated his straightforward approach and willingness to call attention to specific issues, even when they may have been uncomfortable. For example, I recall clearly the conversation we had... it was one of those "swallow hard" moments, but ultimately was a good example of the kind of realities I needed to frame more clearly for myself. I'm grateful for David guiding me toward them and calling attention to them
David was most effective in helping me reframe some of my perspectives on challenges I was facing.
I thought opening up to another person would feel uncomfortable, and I worried that my problems wouldn’t matter to someone else. Over time I felt more open and realized that talking about my problems actually helped me move forward. I’m now less harsh towards my own thoughts and feelings, and I was able to let go of a lot of guilt.
I had much progress when it comes to relationships, and I feel like I have more awareness of myself
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We have seen so much growth in [our son]. He has more confidence and is more willing to put himself out there. His ability to acknowledge and express his needs has been tremendous for him and our family. While he was hesitant to start working with David and struggled at times, there is no doubt by the end of their time together, he understood that it helped, and I dare say he even looked forward to it every week
Working with David was the absolute best decision we could have made for our son.
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David really helped me during a time when I was feeling lots of anxiety. I'm now much more equipped to understand and take care of myself. David was a great listener, empathetic, and did a great job of asking the right questions that got me to analyze so many parts of my life/thoughts
Our work laid the groundwork for skills/tools/understanding that I'll carry with me the rest of my life.
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Our work together was really helpful for me to grow as a person and help me better understand myself and how to interact with my own emotions. The most helpful aspects of our work together were 100% the tools that David either shared with me or we created together to match me specifically. I use them as my go-to for handling difficult situations and will continue to do so in the future
I can't thank David enough. his support and insights created a safe space for me to express how I was feeling and the things I was dealing with
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David's skill in finding a common language with our son has been remarkable. It's noteworthy that he consistently came away in good spirits even after challenging conversations. It is a testament to David's skill in navigating difficult topics.
David’s support through the highs and lows has been spot on, creating a space where our son felt understood and empowered
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