Martha Bartlow, MS, LPC, NCC

Do you love each other but can't seem to stop having the same argument?

Relationships can be complicated. Sometimes you love each other deeply and still find yourselves having the same argument over and over.

I work with couples who are struggling with recurring conflict, communication problems, infidelity and betrayal, emotional disconnection, intimacy, and the changes that can come with parenting and major life transitions.

My approach is direct, honest, practical, and grounded in evidence-based couples therapy.

In-person in Oregon City • Telehealth throughout Oregon

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Maybe you’ve found yourselves here:

You love each other, but conversations seem to turn into arguments.

You keep having the same fight, even though you've promised each other it won't happen again.

One or both of you feels unheard, criticized, dismissed, or emotionally distant.

Trust has been damaged by infidelity or betrayal.

Having children, becoming parents, or the demands of family life have changed your relationship.

Your relationship has become more about managing life than enjoying each other.

Intimacy has become difficult or disconnected.

You've tried to work things out on your own, but you're not making the progress you hoped for.

You have tried other couples counselors and the fit seemed off or the counselor took one side more than the other.

Or maybe you simply know that something isn't working and you don't want to wait until things get worse.

You don't have to wait until your relationship is falling apart to ask for help.

My approach to couples therapy

I draw from approaches including the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).

These approaches focus on understanding the patterns that develop between partners, not simply identifying which person is causing the problem.

As a therapist, I'm interested in what happens between the two of you:

  • What happens right before the argument?

  • How does each person respond?

  • What are you each needing but struggling to communicate?

  • And how can you interrupt that cycle?

The goal isn't to create a perfect relationship. It's to help you build a relationship that works better for both of you.

A little about me

I'm Martha Bartlow, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oregon.

I'm also a mom of four, so I understand firsthand that love does not exist in a vacuum.

It exists alongside work, children, laundry, sleepless nights, schedules, finances, and a mental load you didn't necessarily see coming.

I believe therapy should be a place where you can be honest about what's actually happening. Not a place where you have to pretend everything is fine.

I'm warm, but I'm also direct. I'll listen carefully, challenge you when it's helpful, and work with both partners rather than taking sides.

My job isn't to tell you what you want to hear. It's to help you understand your relationship and make meaningful changes.

How I do therapy

  • Standard couples sessions are just under an hour and are generally scheduled weekly while the couple is working toward their goals. Some couples find a weekly 2 hour session to be more beneficial, that is something we can discuss in session. As things improve, we can begin spacing sessions farther apart.

  • Sometimes weekly therapy isn't enough, or simply isn't practical.

    I also offer marathon/intensive couples therapy, which allows us to dedicate a full day to working on significant relationship concerns (6-8 hours).

    These intensives can be particularly helpful for couples dealing with major relationship disruptions, including betrayal, or couples who want to make substantial progress in a concentrated period of time.

    We don’t start there. I schedule an initial one-hour intake with all couples and usually meet a few times before considering a marathon session.

  • Although couples therapy is a major focus of my practice, I work with individuals too.

    I work with adults experiencing concerns such as:

    • Anxiety and depression

    • Grief and loss

    • Life transitions

    • Parenthood and motherhood

    • Relationship concerns

    • Stress and overwhelm

    • Trauma and difficult past experiences

  • Couples therapy is $200 per one hour session and is offered on a private-pay basis.

    Relationship-focused couples therapy is generally not billed to insurance because insurance coverage is typically tied to medically necessary treatment of a mental health condition.

    If you have questions about fees or insurance, please reach out.

We deliver integrated solutions that translate complex challenges into measurable progress.

Recognizing that you could use some help is often the hardest part.

You don't have to know exactly what you need before you reach out. We can start with a conversation about what's happening, what you're hoping to change, and whether I might be a good fit.

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