Compassionate, Down-to-Earth Couples Therapy in Gainesville, Florida
**Currently accepting new couple clients
The same argument shows up again. Maybe it starts with dishes, or who's always “too tired,” or just that quiet tension neither of you can name.
You know the ending. One of you checks out. The other goes looking for a fight. No one wins. Just silence, space, and that awful feeling that you’re both alone in it.
Couples counseling helps you pause the old pattern. It gives you a space to say the hard things without going to war. To come back into connection, even when you don’t have it all figured out. Because love isn’t about getting it perfect. It’s about staying in it even when it’s messy, awkward, and real.
At Shameless Heart Therapy, I offer a space where all parts of you are welcome, and no topic is too big, too small, or too tender to bring into the room.
I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist. I offer sessions in person here in Gainesville and online for couples anywhere in Florida. Whether you’re sitting together on my couch or showing up from the comfort of your home, we can still do this work.
How Couples Counseling Helps
More than tools or scripts, this is a space to untangle what gets in the way of truly hearing each other. To slow down. To speak without defense. To stay when it feels easier to check out or lash out.
You’ll learn how to:
Stay grounded when emotions feel too big
Have hard conversations without spiralling
Share needs without blame or shutdown
Repair trust after hurt, betrayal, or silence
Handle parenting stress without losing each other
Rekindle closeness, emotionally and physically
Together, we build something more honest. More connected. Something that can actually hold the realness (and messiness) of your love.
You're Not the Only Ones Struggling
It might look like everyone else has it figured out, but most couples are carrying things they don’t openly talk about. Disconnection. Resentment. Moments they regret.
You’re not alone in feeling stuck, lost, or unsure how to move forward.
Many of the couples I work with:
Feel more like roommates than partners
Get stuck in the same fight again and again
Avoid hard conversations to keep the peace
Carry silent resentment, especially around parenting or roles
Want closeness but feel too shut down or hurt to reach for it
Have become emotionally and sexually disconnected
Argue over the same small things that somehow become big
Feel anxious or on edge around each other
Keep secrets, walk on eggshells, or drift into separate lives
Struggle to feel heard, respected, or safe being vulnerable
The truth? It’s not too late. You just need a space where both of you can be fully seen and heard.
My Approach to Couples Counseling
At Shameless Heart Therapy, I don’t pretend to do quick fixes.
I offer honest, deep, shame-free support rooted in presence, compassion, and realness.
What working together can look like:
We slow things down so you can actually hear each other
Anger, grief, silence, awkwardness, every part of you is welcome
We work with what’s happening in the room, not just old stories
I draw from Internal Family Systems (IFS), Nonviolent Communication (NVC), and PACT (the Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy)
I bring a justice-informed lens that honors your identities and lived experiences
This is couples therapy that makes room for the full truth of your relationship and rebuilds something that feels both more honest and alive as well as secure.
Couples Counseling in Gainesville and Across Florida
I’m Marina Smerling, a licensed marriage and family therapist and Certified Nonviolent Communication facilitator. I offer sessions in person here in Gainesville and online for couples anywhere in Florida. Whether you’re sitting together on my couch or showing up from the comfort of your home, we can still do this work.
I work with:
LGBTQ+ couples
Neurodivergent relationships
Non-monogamous and polyamorous partnerships
BIPOC and justice-rooted partners
Parents, co-parents, and couples figuring things out as they go
In couples therapy, I use the Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT). Among the various methods I’ve studied, PACT stands out as the most transformative for the couples I work with. This innovative approach combines attachment theory, developmental neuroscience, and arousal regulation to help couples build secure, lasting relationships—regardless of their past experiences or attachment styles. PACT is recognized for its success even with the most challenging couples.
In PACT therapy, we focus on creating — or re-building — safety and trust between the two of you. The most successful couples feel deeply secure with each other, and know how to protect their relationship from the stresses of work, parenting, and life as a whole. Working together, I will teach you how to do this, and how to listen to and care for each other so that your relationship becomes a source of refuge, rather than further stress.
Overall, my approach to couples therapy balances warmth, empathy, and emotional sensitivity with courage, honesty, and directness. I believe couples deserve both compassionate support and the essential challenges that help them grow and reach their full potential. I’m genuine, grounded—and dare I say funny—about the raw realities of intimate relationships. Above all, I’m committed to empowering couples to thrive together because life is too precious and too short for anything less.
I also work with women and do therapy for new moms navigating the weight of identity shifts, burnout, and the invisible labor that so often strains relationships.
You don’t need perfect answers or polished communication. Just the willingness to start where you are.
Ready for Couples Counseling in Gainesville?
If things have felt tense, distant, or stuck for a while, you’re not imagining it. And you don’t have to keep pretending everything’s fine just to get through the day. Let’s work together to untangle what’s happening and find a way forward that actually feels like you.
FAQs About Couples Counseling in Gainesville
What if my partner doesn’t want to come to therapy?
It’s common for one partner to be more hesitant. Sometimes, starting with a conversation about what feels hard or scary about therapy can help. You’re welcome to reach out alone first, and then we can talk through options.
Can we work on things even if we’re not sure we want to stay together?
Yes. You don’t need certainty to begin. Whether you’re deciding to stay, separate, or just want to understand each other better, therapy can help you sort through it honestly.
What kinds of couples do you work with?
I work with all kinds of partnerships in Gainesville, Florida, like LGBTQ+ couples, neurodivergent folks, non-monogamous relationships, long-term married pairs, and brand-new connections. If you’re both willing to show up, we can start.
Is it okay if we argue during sessions?
Totally. This space isn’t about being polite. It’s about getting real. We’ll slow things down so conflict becomes something you can actually learn from, instead of something that drives you further apart.
Do you offer virtual sessions if we’re not in Gainesville?
Yes. I offer online couples counselling for anyone living in Florida. Whether you’re in different cities or just prefer the flexibility, virtual sessions are available.
What is the Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT)?
Developed by Dr. Stan Tatkin, PACT is a fusion of attachment theory, developmental neuroscience, and arousal regulation. PACT has a reputation for effectively treating the most challenging couples.