We help couples, individuals, and families and individuals strengthen relationships in Encinitas and online throughout California.
Welcome to Integrative Couples Therapy
Hello, I’m Cristina Trette, I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the Founder of Integrative Couples Therapy. I created Integrative Couples Therapy because I saw the need for a therapy practice that truly specializes in relationships and because I believe that loving relationships are at the heart of a meaningful life.
If you are struggling to communicate well, feeling emotionally or sexually distant, facing the aftermath of betrayal, navigating complex family or parenting dynamics, or concerned about the future of your marriage, you are not alone. We are here to guide you.
We focus on helping couples, individuals, and families create fulfilling relationships and personal wellbeing. Our team is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy, an evidence-based approach for renewing bonds and cultivating lasting transformation.
We believe that relationships have the capacity to flourish with the right support. With the guidance of a skilled, direct, and compassionate therapist, you can learn to communicate clearly, connect deeply, and create the kind of love and life you have always wanted. Welcome.
Cristina Trette, Couples Therapist and Founder
Therapy Services
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Premarital Counseling
Premarital therapy helps couples establish a solid foundation based on shared values and connection while developing relationship skills .
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Couples Therapy
Couples therapy is designed for couples wanting to work as a team to improve communication, resolve conflict, and enhance intimacy.
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Individual Therapy
Individual therapy assists those wanting to address relationship patterns, attachment, mental health, and personal wellbeing on their own.
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Family Therapy
Family therapy supports family members to open communication, strengthen connection, bolster mental health, and create resilience.
Courses & Workshops
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Relationship Course ~ Online
January 26 to March 2, 2026
6:00pm to 7:00pm, Wednesdays
$195 full series, $40 session, per person
Zoom ~ Live Virtual
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Couples Workshop ~ Encinitas
February 28 and March 1, 2026
10:00am to 5:00pm, Friday & Saturday
$695 per couple
Encinitas, California ~ In Person
Our Therapists
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Cara McDowell
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Cara McDowell has over 20 years of experience supporting couples and individuals to heal and grow. She guides clients through challenges such as conflict, emotional distance, betrayal, and rebuilding intimacy. She has a special interest in counseling those needing support with parenting and family dynamics. In addition she is well versed in neurodiversity and ADHD.
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Cristina Trette
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Cristina Trette is the Founder of Integrative Couples Therapy. As a marriage friendly therapist she guides couples to renew emotional connection and sexual intimacy. With a background in parent education and family therapy she appreciates doing couples therapy with parents. She has a special interest in working with family business owners, high performers, and entrepreneurs.
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Marissa Massimini
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Marissa is passionate about helping couples and individuals create fulfilling relationships. She works with all couples and has a specialty in premarital counseling and helping create a strong foundation for the future. In addition, she is well versed in high conflict, trauma, anxiety, and depression. She has a special interest the military and veteran population.
Our Focus Areas
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We help couples communicate better by uncovering the deeper patterns that keep them stuck. You’ll learn to express yourself more clearly, listen more openly, and engage in conversations that bring you closer.
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We support couples that feel distant or disconnected in finding their way back to each other. Through guided reflection and dialogue, we help you reconnect with the love and emotional connection that brought you together in the first place, and redefine it so it becomes sustainable, deep, and long lasting.
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We help couples struggling with sexual disconnection or mismatched desire approach intimacy with honesty, curiosity, and care. Together, we create room for healing, comfort, and renewed physical connection.
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We help couples navigate the pressures of parenting and family life while staying connected as partners. Whether you are in the postpartum period and adjusting to a new baby, raising kids and teens, or launching young adults, we offer support throughout every stage of parenting.
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We support couples struggling with a range of mental health and behavioral concerns, including anxiety, depression, substance use, and attention. Our therapists provide a supportive space you and your partner to understand the root of these difficulties and build healthy coping strategies.
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We help couples move through the pain of betrayal by providing a clear process toward healing and recovery.
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When you feel lost or unsure about the future of your relationship, clarity becomes the first step toward peace. Therapy offers the space to help both partners understand what is happening in the relationship, what they both need and want, and where they want to go from here.
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We help couples and individuals transition from married partners to becoming co-parents. We also support co-parents that are already divorced work as a team in the best interest of their children.
Our Approach
At Integrative Couples Therapy, our entire practice is devoted to relationships. We work exclusively with couples, individuals, and families who are ready to heal, rebuild, and thrive in their most important relationships. Grounded in the science of attachment and the depth of Emotionally Focused Therapy, our approach is both practical and transformative. We help you uncover the patterns that block connection while creating a secure and connected bonds. We offer specialized, high-impact therapy for those who want their relationships to be strong and vibrant.
