MARRIAGE COUNSELING IN RALEIGH & ONLINE ACROSS NC

Stay close when
everything
feels like it’s changing

For couples still choosing each other — even through the hard parts. Specializing in couples therapy intensives, marriage counseling after an affair, perinatal, premarital, and relationship communication counseling.

Watercolor ebbs and flow of couple relationship lightened for website background of marriage counseling private practice in Raleigh NC

AS FEATURED IN

Scary Mommy logo as featured on press page, styled to match site colors — quoting Lydia Filazzola, Marriage Counselor in Raleigh, NC, on how couples can argue well
Apartment Guide logo as featured on press page, styled to match site colors — quoting Lydia Filazzola, Marriage Counselor in Raleigh, NC, on how couples can build shared routines and create a sense of mutual space when moving in together

You’re here because

You’re not looking for a way out — you’re looking for a way through.

This relationship holds the memories and moments that first brought you together — the shared history you cherish and the commitment you still hold. But something’s shifted, and the ease you once shared now feels out of reach.

You’ve tried to make it better, but it feels like you’re going in circles.

You’ve had the conversations — maybe more times than you can count. Some go okay; others fizzle or stall.

Maybe it looks like:

  • Repeating the same disagreements — even when neither of you meant to

  • Trying to rebuild trust in your marriage, but unsure how to truly move past what happened

  • Moving through the day side by side — barely making eye contact between dishes, diapers, and laundry

  • Facing conversations you didn’t imagine having before the wedding

  • Wondering how you went from finishing each other’s sentences to struggling just to feel understood

You’re not failing. It’s okay to need support to find your way through.

HI. I’m Lydia.

I take a no-nonsense approach to couples therapy — helping you work through what’s hard with structure, not fluff.

You’re not looking for quick fixes or surface-level solutions. You need a clear, flexible framework — a big-picture plan to guide the process, paired with support that adapts as things unfold in and between sessions.

With nearly a decade of experience, my work is grounded in evidence-based Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy and the research-backed Gottman Method, along with PREPARE/ENRICH for premarital couples. I incorporate personalized metaphors with relatable imagery to deepen your understanding of each other’s perspectives and clarify complex interaction patterns. When appropriate, I add a touch of humor to lighten tough moments — never to minimize them.

THIS ISN’T A SPACE TO MERELY VENT, GET STUCK IN FRUSTRATION, OR CHECK A BOX. IT’S A PLACE WHERE WE GET TO THE HEART OF WHAT’S HAPPENING AND COLLABORATE TOWARD MEANINGFUL CHANGE.

Marriage counseling with me begins by identifying not only your goals as a couple but also your individual goals. We’ll agree on these together at the start and check in regularly, adjusting our plan as needed. My role is not to choose sides, but to help each of you take ownership of your part — in the challenges and in the change.

In sessions, we slow down how you communicate to uncover what’s really happening underneath. This space for deeper listening helps shift patterns that no longer serve your relationship. While there may be the occasional worksheet or exercise, the focus is always on purposeful, intentional work. Together, we explore new ways of connecting — not just in the therapy room, but in daily life — empowering you to keep practicing what you’ve learned and build a stronger, lasting bond.

Couple holding hands with clouds above for facing hard parts together through marriage counseling in Raleigh NC
Watercolor ebbs and flow of couple relationship for website background of marriage counseling private practice in Raleigh NC

Face what’s happening now and get equipped to handle whatever comes next as a team.

MY SPECIALTIES

I help couples overcome disconnection, broken trust, and big life changes.

  • Whether your relationship is going through some tough times or you want to feel closer, a Couples Therapy Intensive offers focused, uninterrupted time designed to deliver quicker, meaningful results — an accelerated approach that also works well for couples who can’t commit to weekly sessions. It’s a chance to break out of old patterns, talk through unmet needs, and handle disagreements with purpose. Together, we’ll find practical ways to build a stronger, more connected relationship.

  • Your world feels turned upside down, and it seems like every conversation circles back to the affair. Trust has been broken, and you’re unsure how to rebuild it. Both of you want to work through it, but it’s hard to know where to begin. I offer a steady, caring space to help you do just that—rebuilding trust, strengthening connection, and finding your way back to each other.

  • Whether you’re expecting or have recently welcomed a new child, it’s easy for your relationship to take a backseat amid the whirlwind of change. When differences arise, finding common ground can feel harder than you expected. This support guides you in navigating those moments, reaching compromises, and intentionally reconnecting as partners — not just as parents.

  • If you’re engaged or recently married, excitement—and maybe a bit of nervousness—comes with knowing there are important conversations ahead. Whether it’s navigating family expectations or aligning your values, these are the conversations you want to have before building your life together. Counseling provides a supportive space to explore these topics openly and strengthen your partnership from the beginning.

  • It’s exhausting when the same disagreements keep coming back.
    This counseling helps you understand what’s beneath the surface, have conversations that actually connect, and begin to work through what’s felt stuck for too long. You don’t need to have all the answers — just a willingness to show up and engage with each other in a new way. Together, we’ll build the kind of communication where you both feel seen, heard, and on the same team.

THE PROCESS

A customized marriage counseling framework…

Connect

We start with individual consultations to support your personal and shared goals, laying a foundation of trust and openness.

Collaborate

Together, we engage in deep and committed work to address challenges and discover new ways to relate and connect.

Create

This phase goes beyond insights and tools — it’s where new habits form to support lasting growth and a stronger, more fulfilling relationship.

Move through what’s hard toward what lasts.