Relationship Therapy for Individuals and Couples
About Denise Galt, LCSW
Relationship Therapist in Petaluma, California
I am a licensed clinical social worker and relationship therapist who has worked in the mental health field since 1994 and in private practice since 2002. I provide relationship therapy for individuals and couples in Petaluma, California, and offer online therapy sessions for clients throughout California.
My Path to Becoming a Relationship Therapist
My path to becoming a therapist was not a straight line. After working in a variety of other professions, I returned to school later in life to complete my education and clinical training. I was deeply influenced by the professional support I received during my own personal development, and that experience shaped not only my decision to become a therapist, but also how I approach my work today.
My specialty in relationships grew out of my own lived experience—particularly the challenges I faced in my relationships with my husband and within my family of origin. Those experiences taught me that relationship struggles are rarely about one person being “wrong” and the other being “right.” More often, they are about differences that have not yet been understood, emotional needs that go unspoken, and patterns that quietly repeat until someone is willing to slow down and look more closely.
How I Approach Relationship Therapy
I am a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist and have trained in a variety of additional clinical approaches. Rather than relying on a single method, I draw from multiple frameworks to meet each individual or couple where they are. I approach every therapeutic relationship with curiosity, respect, and an understanding that no two relational systems are exactly the same.
In my work with couples, I hold the relationship itself as the client. I do not take sides, assign blame, or align with one person over another. I also don’t believe that difference automatically means dysfunction. Instead, I help people understand what is happening beneath the surface—how past experiences, emotional defenses, cultural expectations, and unspoken assumptions shape the way they relate to one another. When people begin to feel understood, real change becomes possible.
Clinical Experience and Professional Training
My clinical experience includes working in an intensive outpatient program for substance abuse, a rehabilitation hospital, community counseling centers, and private practice settings. I also provided services at Five Sisters Ranch, a residential treatment facility for women addressing love
addiction, love avoidance, and codependency.
Working in these varied environments has given me a deep appreciation for the complexity of the problems people face and the many ways relationships are impacted by stress, trauma, illness, and major life transitions.
Experience Working With Diverse Individuals and Relationships
In addition, I have considerable training and experience working with issues of ethnicity, culture, and identity, and how these factors influence relationships and emotional wellbeing. I have worked with clients ranging in age from their early twenties to their eighties, and I value the perspective that comes from supporting people across many stages of life.
Who I Tend to Work Best With
I work best with individuals and couples who want to understand themselves and their relationships more deeply—not to “fix” one person, but to make sense of what keeps happening and why. Many of the people I work with feel stuck in repeating patterns, experience emotional distance or recurring conflict, or long for relationships that feel more connected and mutual. Whether you come on your own or with a partner, the work is thoughtful, relational, and paced to support genuine understanding.
What You Can Expect When We Work Together
I approach my clients with warmth, compassion, and a direct, thoughtful style. I help people identify what gets in the way of feeling more at ease in their lives and relationships, and I work in a way that is honest, respectful, and practical. I care deeply about this work and the trust it requires.
Therapy Services in Petaluma and Online Throughout California
I offer in-person relationship therapy in Petaluma, California, and online relationship therapy for individuals and couples throughout California.
If you’re considering our working together, I invite you to schedule an initial session. This gives us an opportunity to talk, for you to ask questions, and for us to see whether my approach feels like a good fit for you.
