Create a more loving and intimate relationship.

Couples Therapy and Relationship Therapy in Encinitas and Online Throughout California

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Loving relationships are at the heart of a meaningful life.

The relationships we have with the people we love have a profound impact on our happiness and well-being. But even strong relationships can become caught in patterns of conflict, disconnection, hurt, or distance.

I help couples understand what is happening beneath these patterns and create new ways of connecting—so both partners can feel more understood, secure, loved, and close.

Specialties

  • Emotional Connection

    I can help you build a close and connected bond that becomes a steady foundation for your relationship. Connection creates a buffer for conflict and instills resilience. I will guide your relationship become more secure with lasting love.

  • Communication and Conflict

    I can help you slow down and understand what is happening beneath the surface of your conversations. Rather than getting stuck in patterns of unproductive conflict and withdrawal, I can guide you to interact in ways that help you feel heard and understood.

  • Sexual Intimacy

    Sexual intimacy is an important part of many relationships, reflecting both physical closeness and emotional depth. It can be impacted by stress, disconnection, past hurts, or differences in desire. I help you approach intimacy through a relational lens with care and openness.

  • Infidelity and Betrayal

    Infidelity can shake the foundation of a relationship, leaving you unsure of what happened, what can be repaired, or what comes next. Therapy offers a place to have honest conversations, process the hurt and grief, and begin rebuilding trust while finding a path forward.

  • Parenting and Family

    Parenting and family are deeply rewarding, and can create stress and conflict within couples. I can support you navigate challenging parenting moments, individually and as a team, so you can respond to your child and partner with confidence and responsiveness.

  • Clarity and Commitment

    If you are on the brink of divorce, I offer Discernment Counseling to help you gain clarity. Together, we develop a deeper understanding of what has happened in your relationship so you can make a thoughtful decision about the direction of your marriage.

Meet Cristina Trette

I have dedicated my career to understanding relationships and helping couples create a stronger and more loving bond.

My approach is rooted in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy and attachment theory, which offer a powerful way of understanding not just what couples fight about, but what is happening underneath the conflict.

I believe couples therapy should be both deeply compassionate and highly engaged. I don't simply sit back and watch the conversation unfold. I help you slow down the patterns that keep taking over, understand each other's experience more clearly, and create new moments of connection in the room.

My goal is help you create a relationship in which you can turn toward one another, repair when things go wrong, feel secure in the bond you share, and continue choosing each other for the rest of your life.

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You have options when it comes to therapy. Here is why my approach is different.

I Specialize in Couples and Relationships

Helping couples and individuals heal and grow in relationships is the focus of my practice. I am well versed in the common challenges relationships sometimes face, such as communication struggles, loss of intimacy, and patterns of anxious pursuit and avoidant withdraw. I am also deeply experienced in relationship crisis such as infidelity and the brink of divorce. Whether you come with your partner, or on your own, your relationships and family remain central and strengthened through the therapy.

My Work is Grounded in Research and Ongoing Training

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and engage in ongoing training in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, one of the most researched and effective approaches to relationship healing. I continually pursue advanced training and consultation so the therapy you receive is thoughtful, current, and effective.

I Prioritize Confidentiality, Professionalism, and Maturity

I practice with care and consistency. I bring life experience, clinical depth, and direct guidance to help you understand the patterns that keep you stuck and guide you towards positive, meaningful, and lasting change.

I Offer Warm, Personal, and Engaged Care

As an independent provider, I aim to be accessible, responsive, and engaged. I am a partner and mother and practice what I teach within my own relationships and family. I am committed to helping my clients meet their goals. If indicated, I can coordinate care with your therapists and psychiatrists.

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There’s something powerful about revisiting where you started. It creates space to reflect on how you’ve grown, individually & together, & can bring back a sense of curiosity that often fades over time. #firstdate #datenight #da
Most conflict lives beneath the words being said. When we slow down and get curious about what is underneath, the conversation can shift from reactive to connecting. Try asking: “What’s coming up for you underneath this?” #communi
The health of a relationship is often found in the smallest interactions. Bids for connection happen every day, & how we respond to them matters more than we think. Over time, these moments either strengthen the relationship or create quiet disc
Sometimes relationships don’t fall apart, they just feel harder to reach. More distant. More quiet. More heavy than you want them to be. We believe connection is still possible. At Integrative Couples Therapy, we support couples & individ
Small moments matter more than we think. Showing up for your partner does not have to be big or elaborate. Often it is the quiet consistent gestures that build the most connection. Try one of these today and notice what shifts between you. #connecti
Sexual intimacy is deeply connected to emotional safety, trust, & connection. When things feel off, it’s often not just about sex. Stress, disconnection, life transitions, or past experiences can all impact how safe, open, or present we fe
The difference isn’t just in the words. It’s in the willingness to take ownership and truly understand your partner’s experience. That’s what turns conflict into connection. #therapy #couplestherapy #marriage #relationship #a
Escalation in conflict is often a signal, not the problem. When emotions rise, it’s usually because something meaningful is at stake feeling heard, valued, or emotionally safe. But the ways we try to get those needs met can sometimes push our p
Not all struggling relationships are loud. Some feel quiet, distant, or “off” in a way that’s hard to explain. Over time, small moments of missed connection can add up until partners feel more like roommates than a couple. The goal
In therapy, we help couples make room for complexity, slow down reactivity, & learn how to hold both their own experience & their partner’s with more curiosity & care. #therapy #couplestherapy #relationship #marriage