Before the first step
Picking a counselor is a joint decision, and that alone can feel hard when you are already struggling to agree. This guide splits the process into small steps that two people in Reno can work through together over a week or two. The directory introduces you to independent counselors; it does not hold sessions, check credentials, or make promises about any counselor.
Step 1: Agree that you are looking
It sounds obvious, but many searches stall because one partner is ready and the other has not said yes. Have a short, calm conversation about whether you both want to try counseling now. If one of you is unsure, agree to make a few calls together and decide after that. Starting with shared curiosity tends to go better than starting with an ultimatum.
Step 2: Write down what you each hope for
Separately, write two or three sentences about what you would like to be different in six months. Then swap. You may find more overlap than you expected, or you may see clearly where you differ. Either way, these notes are useful in a first call because they let a counselor hear both voices from the start.
Step 3: Sort out practical limits
List the things that will shape your choice:
- Days and times you can both attend, including late shifts and weekends.
- Whether you want to meet in person, by video, or a mix.
- How far either of you is willing to drive across Reno or Sparks.
- Your budget per session and whether you plan to use insurance.
- Childcare during sessions.
Being clear about these limits saves you from falling for a counselor whose schedule never matches yours.
Step 4: Contact a few counselors
Use the request form on this page to reach counselors who see couples in the Reno area. Ask each one the same handful of questions: how they usually structure couples sessions, whether they meet with partners individually at any point, how they handle it when one partner wants to stop, and what fees and cancellation rules apply. Take notes on how each counselor responds to both of you, not only to the partner who placed the call.
Step 5: Look up the counselor yourself
Nevada's Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists & Clinical Professional Counselors oversees marriage and family therapists (MFT) and clinical professional counselors (CPC), as well as MFT and CPC interns. The board's site links to an online Primary Source License Verification. Ask the counselor for the exact name and credential they practice under, then look it up there before the first appointment. If the counselor is an intern, ask who supervises them.
Step 6: Be clear about counseling versus mediation
If you are parents and separation is already underway, you may need a different service alongside or instead of counseling. The Second Judicial District Court in Washoe County offers a Family Services mediation program meant to assist parents with resolving conflicts during and after separation or divorce. Agreements reached in mediation are written up by the mediator and shared with each party and the court, and the court's page says mediation discussions are confidential. Counseling focuses on your relationship; mediation focuses on reaching written agreements. Ask a counselor whether they work with couples in that situation, and contact Family Services at the court with mediation questions.
Step 7: Know where to find forms and general information
If you need legal forms or general information, the Washoe County Law Library is at the Second Judicial District Court, 75 Court Street, Room 101 in Reno. Its page links to Lawyer in the Library, Ask a Law Librarian, legal forms, and tutorials and seminars. Keep that kind of research separate from your sessions so counseling time stays focused on the two of you.
Step 8: Review after a few sessions
After three or four meetings, sit down together and look back at the notes you wrote in Step 2. Is the counselor hearing both of you? Do sessions feel balanced? Are you trying anything new at home between meetings? If the answer is mostly yes, keep going. If not, raise it with the counselor first, and if it still does not fit, try someone else. Changing counselors is common and not a sign that counseling cannot help.