[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":497},["ShallowReactive",2],{"site-config":3,"service-\u002Fservices\u002Fcouples-counseling":159},{"id":4,"extension":5,"footer":6,"insurance":23,"meta":40,"navigation":41,"practice":128,"serviceAreas":146,"social":156,"stem":157,"__hash__":158},"site\u002Fsite.yml","yml",{"description":7,"copyright":8,"legalLinks":9,"trustBadges":16},"A nonprofit, faith-based counseling center in Santa Ana providing affordable, high-quality care for individuals, children, families, and couples — in person and virtually throughout California.","{name}. All rights reserved.",[10,13],{"label":11,"to":12},"Privacy Policy","\u002Fprivacy",{"label":14,"to":15},"Terms of Service","\u002Fterms",[17,20],{"label":18,"icon":19},"501(c)(3) Nonprofit","i-lucide-heart-handshake",{"label":21,"icon":22},"CAMFT Supervised Care","i-lucide-shield-check",{"sessionFee":24,"outOfNetwork":25,"fees":26,"accepting":33,"comingSoon":36,"reducedFee":39},"Starting at $80 per session",true,[27,30],{"label":28,"value":29},"MFT Trainee","$80 \u002F 50 min",{"label":31,"value":32},"Registered Associate","$150 \u002F 50 min",[34,35],"Aetna","Blue Shield of California",[37,38],"Medi-Cal","Kaiser","Reduced-fee applications available upon request and for those who qualify.",{},{"header":42,"headerButton":94,"footer":98},[43,46,49,82,85,88,91],{"label":44,"to":45},"About","\u002Fabout",{"label":47,"to":48},"Team","\u002Fabout#team",{"label":50,"to":51,"children":52},"Services","\u002Fservices",[53,58,63,68,73,77],{"label":54,"description":55,"icon":56,"to":57},"EMDR Therapy","Trauma-focused treatment for trauma, anxiety, and depression.","i-lucide-brain","\u002Fservices\u002Femdr",{"label":59,"description":60,"icon":61,"to":62},"Play Therapy (Theraplay®)","Attachment-based play therapy for children and families.","i-lucide-blocks","\u002Fservices\u002Fplay-therapy",{"label":64,"description":65,"icon":66,"to":67},"Family Systems Trauma","A structured, whole-family approach to healing.","i-lucide-users","\u002Fservices\u002Ffamily-systems-trauma",{"label":69,"description":70,"icon":71,"to":72},"Grief Recovery","A structured program for processing all forms of loss.","i-lucide-heart-crack","\u002Fservices\u002Fgrief-recovery",{"label":74,"description":75,"icon":19,"to":76},"Married & Premarital Counseling","Biblically grounded counseling for couples.","\u002Fservices\u002Fcouples-counseling",{"label":78,"description":79,"icon":80,"to":81},"Biblical Integration Counseling","Care for faith struggles, identity in Christ, and church hurt.","i-lucide-book-open","\u002Fservices\u002Fbiblical-integration",{"label":83,"to":84},"Fees & Insurance","\u002Ffees",{"label":86,"to":87},"FAQ","\u002Ffaq",{"label":89,"to":90},"Blog","\u002Fblog",{"label":92,"to":93},"Contact","\u002Fcontact",{"label":95,"to":96,"color":97},"Schedule an Appointment","booking","primary",[99,112,117],{"label":100,"children":101},"Navigation",[102,105,106,107,108,111],{"label":103,"to":104},"Home","\u002F",{"label":44,"to":45},{"label":50,"to":51},{"label":89,"to":90},{"label":109,"to":110},"Donate","\u002Fdonations",{"label":92,"to":93},{"label":113,"children":114},"Resources",[115,116],{"label":86,"to":87},{"label":83,"to":84},{"label":118,"children":119},"Specialties",[120,121,122,123,124,126],{"label":54,"to":57},{"label":59,"to":62},{"label":64,"to":67},{"label":69,"to":72},{"label":125,"to":76},"Married & Premarital",{"label":127,"to":81},"Biblical Integration",{"name":129,"tagline":130,"phone":131,"email":132,"address":133,"hours":138,"bookingUrl":145,"telehealth":25},"Abundant Life Affordable Counseling","Compassion Leads the Way to Healing","(714) 699-3367","abundantlifeaffordablecounseling@hushmail.com",{"street":134,"city":135,"state":136,"zip":137},"1633 E 4th Street, Suite 184","Santa Ana","CA","92701",[139,142],{"days":140,"hours":141},"Monday - Friday","By appointment",{"days":143,"hours":144},"Weekends","Limited availability","https:\u002F\u002Fkathleen-shanahan.clientsecure.me\u002Fcontact-widget",{"cities":147,"telehealth":155},[135,148,149,150,151,152,153,154],"Orange","Anaheim","Cypress","Los Alamitos","Garden Grove","Costa Mesa","Fountain Valley","Telehealth available throughout California",null,"site","mjdJMAq29V3Op1UfxkxSvs9DT6-5NkrhRQde_3RNwGI",{"id":160,"title":161,"body":162,"callouts":434,"description":438,"extension":439,"eyebrow":440,"faq":441,"faqEyebrow":156,"faqHeading":463,"featured":25,"finalCta":464,"footnote":156,"heroCta":156,"icon":19,"image":156,"meta":472,"modalities":156,"navigation":25,"overview":473,"path":76,"seo":484,"serviceArea":487,"specialties":492,"stem":495,"__hash__":496},"services\u002Fservices\u002Fcouples-counseling.md","Helping Couples Build Marriages That Last",{"type":163,"value":164,"toc":420},"minimark",[165,183,186,192,197,200,203,206,208,213,217,220,223,242,245,255,257,262,266,269,274,285,288,292,295,298,301,304,307,319,321,326,330,333,376,378,383,387,390,393,396,403,405,410,414,417],[166,167,168,177],"card-group",{},[169,170,173],"card",{"icon":171,"title":172},"i-lucide-gem","Preparing for Marriage",[174,175,176],"p",{},"A premarital program that builds real relational skills before your wedding day. Enter with understanding, not just enthusiasm.",[169,178,180],{"icon":19,"title":179},"Already Married",[174,181,182],{},"An honest look at where things stand now, with a structured, practical path toward where you both want to be.",[184,185],"hr",{},[174,187,188],{},[189,190,191],"strong",{},"Biblical Marriage Counseling in Santa Ana, CA",[193,194,196],"h2",{"id":195},"faith-has-a-foundation-here","Faith Has a Foundation Here",[174,198,199],{},"Abundant Life Affordable Counseling is rooted in Christian values, and that is especially present in how this practice approaches marriage. Biblical principles naturally shape the way communication, commitment, and connection are understood and worked through in sessions. For couples who want their counseling to carry that same foundation, you will find it in every part of how this work is approached.",[174,201,202],{},"At the beginning of your work together, your clinician will ask how you would like faith to be present in your sessions. Some couples want scripture, prayer, and spiritual reflection woven throughout the work. Others prefer a lighter touch, with faith informing the approach but not at the center of every conversation. How deeply faith enters your sessions is always yours to guide.",[174,204,205],{},"People of all faiths, backgrounds, and walks of life are welcome here.",[184,207],{},[174,209,210],{},[189,211,212],{},"Recognizing Yourself in This",[193,214,216],{"id":215},"for-couples-who-take-marriage-seriously","For Couples Who Take Marriage Seriously",[174,218,219],{},"This counseling is designed for couples preparing for marriage and for married couples who are ready to invest in theirs. The work here is grounded in Biblical values, and that foundation naturally shapes how sessions are approached and what they are built to create.",[174,221,222],{},"Common situations that bring couples in:",[224,225,226,230,233,236,239],"ul",{},[227,228,229],"li",{},"Communication has become circular, distant, or tense, and the same conversations keep ending in the same place.",[227,231,232],{},"Conflict follows familiar patterns that never seem to fully resolve, no matter how many times you have tried.",[227,234,235],{},"You and your partner hold different approaches to parenting, finances, or how to build a life together, and those differences have become a source of friction.",[227,237,238],{},"There is a quiet distance between you that has been building, and you are not quite sure how to close it.",[227,240,241],{},"You are engaged and want to enter marriage fully prepared, not just excited.",[174,243,244],{},"Some couples arrive in a difficult season. Others come because they want to invest in a marriage that already has a solid foundation. Both have a place here.",[246,247,248],"blockquote",{},[174,249,250,251,254],{},"🤝 ",[189,252,253],{},"Seeking counseling is an act of care, not a confession."," The couples who do this work are not failing at marriage. They are committed to it.",[184,256],{},[174,258,259],{},[189,260,261],{},"What to Expect",[193,263,265],{"id":264},"premarital-or-married-here-is-how-it-works","Premarital or Married. Here Is How It Works.",[174,267,268],{},"Whether you are stepping toward marriage or already in one, the counseling here is structured, intentional, and built around your specific relationship. Two distinct paths are available, and both are grounded in the same approach: honest assessment, practical tools, and care that takes your relationship seriously.",[270,271,273],"h3",{"id":272},"for-couples-preparing-for-marriage","For Couples Preparing for Marriage",[174,275,276,277,284],{},"Our premarital counseling is built around the PREPARE\u002FENRICH program, a structured, ",[278,279,283],"a",{"href":280,"rel":281},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.prepare-enrich.com\u002Fabout\u002Fresearch\u002F",[282],"nofollow","evidence-based"," assessment and counseling approach used with couples worldwide. Kathleen Shanahan is a certified PREPARE\u002FENRICH facilitator, which means the structured framework used here carries the same training behind this widely validated program.",[174,286,287],{},"Through guided assessment and conversation, you and your partner identify your relationship strengths and the areas that deserve more attention before you say your vows. We recommend starting at least six months before your wedding date, and beginning earlier means every area gets the attention it deserves.",[270,289,291],{"id":290},"for-married-couples","For Married Couples",[174,293,294],{},"For married couples, counseling begins with an honest picture of where things are right now, what patterns are showing up, and what you are both hoping to move toward. From there, sessions are shaped entirely around your specific relationship and goals.",[174,296,297],{},"This kind of counseling works whether you are in a genuinely difficult season or simply want to invest in a marriage that already has a strong foundation. Many of the same areas covered in premarital counseling become relevant here, addressed through the lens of what your relationship needs now.",[174,299,300],{},"Across both paths, a central part of this work is understanding how each person gives and receives love. Exploring love languages alongside love styles, the deeper relational patterns shaped by each person's background and early experience, helps couples see where they connect naturally and where they tend to miss each other.",[174,302,303],{},"It gives both people a shared vocabulary and practical tools to close those gaps with intention, rather than waiting and hoping they close on their own.",[174,305,306],{},"Have questions about how this would work for your relationship, or not sure where to start? We are happy to talk it through before you decide anything.",[308,309,313],"div",{"className":310},[311,312],"not-prose","mt-8",[314,315],"u-button",{"label":95,"size":316,"to":145,"trailing-icon":317,"target":318},"lg","i-lucide-arrow-right","_blank",[184,320],{},[174,322,323],{},[189,324,325],{},"Real Tools for Real Life Together",[193,327,329],{"id":328},"what-married-couplespremarital-counseling-sessions-cover","What Married Couples\u002FPremarital Counseling Sessions Cover",[174,331,332],{},"Whether you are preparing for marriage or strengthening the one you have, here are the key areas this counseling addresses.",[166,334,335,342,349,356,363,370],{},[169,336,339],{"icon":337,"title":338},"i-lucide-messages-square","Communication",[174,340,341],{},"How you talk, how you listen, and what tends to get in the way when the conversation matters most.",[169,343,346],{"icon":344,"title":345},"i-lucide-git-merge","Conflict Patterns",[174,347,348],{},"Most couples cycle through the same arguments. We help you understand why, and build a different way of moving through disagreement together.",[169,350,353],{"icon":351,"title":352},"i-lucide-heart","Love Languages",[174,354,355],{},"Understanding how each person gives and receives love helps couples stop missing each other in the moments that count most.",[169,357,360],{"icon":358,"title":359},"i-lucide-link","Love Styles",[174,361,362],{},"Attachment patterns formed early in life shape how each person pursues closeness, responds under stress, and pulls away when it gets hard. Understanding yours makes sense of things that otherwise feel impossible to explain.",[169,364,367],{"icon":365,"title":366},"i-lucide-home","Shared Values and Life Together",[174,368,369],{},"Parenting philosophies, financial approaches, faith, and the everyday questions of building a life together. These surface in every relationship and deserve real conversation.",[169,371,373],{"icon":66,"title":372},"Family Background",[174,374,375],{},"Every person brings the relationship they grew up watching into the one they are building now. Surfacing those inherited expectations is often where the most meaningful shifts begin.",[184,377],{},[174,379,380],{},[189,381,382],{},"The Model Behind Your Care",[193,384,386],{"id":385},"supervised-by-an-expert-accessible-by-design","Supervised by an Expert. Accessible by Design.",[174,388,389],{},"Married couples and premarital counseling is provided by clinicians working under the direct, individualized supervision of Kathleen Shanahan, a CAMFT Certified Clinical Supervisor. Every clinician is carefully selected and held to the same values and standards that define this practice, so the quality of care carries through at every step.",[174,391,392],{},"This model also makes skilled relational counseling more accessible. As clinicians build their hours toward full licensure under Kathleen's oversight, couples gain access to attentive, high-quality care at a significantly lower cost than what this kind of support typically runs.",[174,394,395],{},"Sessions are available in person at our Santa Ana office and virtually throughout California. Virtual care begins with a brief telehealth assessment to confirm that online sessions are the right and safest fit for your situation. If in-person sessions are a better match, we will walk you through what that looks like.",[308,397,399],{"className":398},[311,312],[314,400],{"label":401,"size":316,"to":45,"trailing-icon":317,"variant":402},"Learn More About Us","soft",[184,404],{},[174,406,407],{},[189,408,409],{},"What Sets This Practice Apart",[193,411,413],{"id":412},"a-biblical-foundation-paired-with-a-proven-approach","A Biblical Foundation Paired With a Proven Approach",[174,415,416],{},"Many therapists work with couples. Fewer bring a Biblical foundation to that work, and fewer still pair it with a structured, evidence-based program like PREPARE\u002FENRICH and the individualized care that makes a real difference for couples who are serious about their relationship.",[174,418,419],{},"This practice was built with the belief that the people who walk through the door are not just another appointment. From the moment you reach out, every part of this process is designed to make both of you feel welcomed, heard, and genuinely cared for. Your marriage matters here, and the work reflects that at every step.",{"title":421,"searchDepth":422,"depth":422,"links":423},"",2,[424,425,426,431,432,433],{"id":195,"depth":422,"text":196},{"id":215,"depth":422,"text":216},{"id":264,"depth":422,"text":265,"children":427},[428,430],{"id":272,"depth":429,"text":273},3,{"id":290,"depth":429,"text":291},{"id":328,"depth":422,"text":329},{"id":385,"depth":422,"text":386},{"id":412,"depth":422,"text":413},[435,436,437],"Biblical Foundation","Premarital and Married","In Person and Online","Biblically grounded counseling for engaged and married couples, offered in person in Santa Ana and virtually throughout California.","md","Married Couples and Premarital Counseling in Santa Ana, CA",[442,445,448,451,454,457,460],{"label":443,"content":444},"Is this counseling specifically for married or engaged couples?","Yes. This specialty is designed for couples preparing for marriage and for married couples who are ready to invest in theirs. The work here is grounded in Biblical values around marriage, and the approaches used, including the PREPARE\u002FENRICH program, are specifically built for that context. If you are still figuring out whether this is right for you, reach out to Abundant Life Affordable Counseling in Santa Ana and we will help you find the right path forward.",{"label":446,"content":447},"How much do sessions cost, and do you accept insurance?","As a nonprofit, Abundant Life Affordable Counseling sets fees intentionally below the standard market rate. Sessions are $80 with a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee and $150 with a Registered Associate, each 50 minutes. We are currently in-network with Aetna and Blue Shield of California, with Medi-Cal and Kaiser coming soon. Superbills are available for out-of-network reimbursement, and reduced-fee applications are available for those who qualify.",{"label":449,"content":450},"When should we start premarital counseling?","The minimum we recommend is six months before your wedding, and beginning earlier is always the better move. The PREPARE\u002FENRICH program used at Abundant Life Affordable Counseling in Santa Ana is structured to move through key areas of your relationship at a thoughtful, unhurried pace. The more time you give it, the more prepared you will both feel walking into your commitment.",{"label":452,"content":453},"What if one of us is more hesitant than the other?","That is one of the most common things couples bring up before their first session. The work here is not about convincing anyone of anything or proving one partner right. It is about helping both people understand each other more clearly and move in the same direction. Many couples find that the hesitant partner becomes the more engaged one once the process actually begins.",{"label":455,"content":456},"Do we have to incorporate faith into our sessions?","At Abundant Life Affordable Counseling, faith integration is always your choice. Some clients want scripture, prayer, and spiritual reflection woven into their care. Others prefer a lighter touch, or to keep faith out of the room entirely. Your clinician will talk with you about your preference at the very start, and it is respected from the first conversation. People of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome here.",{"label":458,"content":459},"Can we do couples counseling online?","Yes. Both premarital and married couples counseling are available virtually for couples throughout California. Couples in Orange County, including those in Anaheim, Cypress, Garden Grove, Costa Mesa, and surrounding areas, are also welcome to come see us in person at our Santa Ana office. At Abundant Life Affordable Counseling, virtual care begins with a brief telehealth assessment to confirm that online sessions are the right and safest option for you. If in-person sessions are a better fit, we can talk through that as well.",{"label":461,"content":462},"What is the difference between premarital counseling and married couples counseling?","Premarital counseling is proactive. The PREPARE\u002FENRICH framework used here helps couples build skills, identify strengths, and address potential growth areas before they are married. Married couples counseling responds to where a couple is right now, working through the specific patterns, dynamics, or challenges that have developed over time. Both paths are structured and intentional. The entry point is simply different.","What Couples Often Ask",{"eyebrow":465,"heading":466,"body":467,"primary":468,"secondary":470},"Get Started Today","Your Marriage Is Worth the Work","Whether you are stepping toward a wedding or ready to invest in the marriage you are already in, we would love to hear from you. Reach out through our web portal, give us a call, or send us an email. We respond the same day, and we will make sure you feel heard from the very first conversation.",{"label":469,"to":96},"Request a Session",{"label":471,"to":93},"Contact Us",{},{"eyebrow":474,"title":475,"imagePosition":476,"imageAspect":477,"image":478,"body":481},"Two Paths, One Practice","Strong Marriages Are Built. This Is How.","right","square",{"src":479,"alt":480},"\u002Falac-couples-hands.jpg","A couple holding hands during a counseling session, with their therapist nearby",[482,483],"Strong marriages do not happen on their own. They are built through honest conversation, a genuine understanding of how each person loves and receives love, and the willingness to grow toward each other when it gets hard. That is what this counseling is designed to support.","At Abundant Life Affordable Counseling, couples work with clinicians grounded in Christian values and trained in structured, intentional approaches.",{"title":485,"description":486},"Married Couples and Premarital Counseling Santa Ana, CA | Abundant Life Affordable Counseling","Ready to strengthen your marriage or prepare for one? Faith-grounded counseling for engaged and married couples in Santa Ana, CA, in person and online throughout California.",{"heading":488,"tags":489},"Close to Home. Or From Home.",[490,148,149,150,151,152,153,154,491],"Orange County","Telehealth across California",[493,494,435,338],"Premarital Counseling","Married Couples","services\u002Fcouples-counseling","qcFFQDRObMHsIwbBgZ2jsNZakmb9MklkMFpqSQJnSHs",1786696099771]