CHRIS THE COUNSELOR
CHRIS A. MATTHEWS, LMFT-S, LCAS
Marriage, Addiction, & Faith Based Counselor
Marriage Counseling for Couples Who Are Ready to Fix It
This is not traditional therapy. This is structured relationship repair built on leadership, accountability, and clear direction. Chris works with couples who are serious about rebuilding their marriage, not talking in circles, venting week after week, or stretching unresolved problems out for years. If you’re looking for open-ended counseling, this is not the right fit. If you’re looking for results, a clear plan, and a proven process for restoring trust and stability, you’re in the right place. Chris will help you both feel:
SAFE
Foster security through conflict resolution and building connection with your partner.
HEARD
Strengthen your voice, listen actively, and rebuild trust with your each other.
UNDERSTOOD
Maximize a deeper sense of understanding and connection in your relationship.
CARE
Experience feeling cherished, loved, and supported by your significant other.
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HOW CHRIS WORKS WITH COUPLES
With a track record of assisting countless couples through myriad circumstances, Chris possesses the expertise to address a wide array of concerns. Here is a glimpse of the many issues he can effectively assist you with.
Marriage Counseling
When communication breaks down, conflict increases, or intimacy fades, I help couples reconnect and stabilize their relationship.
FOCUS
Communication • Conflict • Trust • Intimacy • Disconnection • Resentment • Parenting stress • Emotional safety
Premarital Counseling
I help couples start strong by building clarity, skills, and aligned expectations before marriage begins.
FOCUS
Expectations • Communication • Conflict styles • Values • Boundaries • Finances • Family-of-origin • Commitment
Infidelity Counseling
When trust has been broken, I help couples stabilize the crisis, repair emotional safety, and decide next steps with intention.
FOCUS
Betrayal trauma • Trust repair • Accountability • Transparency • Triggers • Shame • Forgiveness • Emotional safety
THE DIFFERENCE WITH CHRIS
Most marriage counseling focuses on processing.
My work focuses on change.
Couples who work with me experience:
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Clear direction instead of confusion
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Reduced conflict and emotional shutdown
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Rebuilt trust, safety, and connection
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Stronger leadership inside the relationship
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A defined path forward—together or apart
Over 90% of couples who fully engage in this process report meaningful improvement or resolution. That’s not because I’m magic. It’s because the work is structured, honest, and accountability-driven.
GETTING STARTED WITH CHRIS
All couples begin with a required 2-hour Initial Marriage Assessment Session ($375). This is not a trial or intake session, but a focused evaluation designed to determine whether meaningful repair is possible and what it would realistically require. If he feels you are a good fit for ongoing work, Chris will recommend a structured counseling package, as ongoing couples work is offered exclusively through his proven curriculums, not open-ended sessions. Couples who move forward should expect to invest a minimum of $4,000, with most programs averaging around $6,500, with complex concerns such as infidelity or severe trust breakdowns falling in the higher range. Keep in mind, the most expensive plan is still far cheaper than a divorce lawyer!
$375 | Up to 2 Hours
This is not a “get-to-know-you” session. In this first meeting, we:
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Clarify what’s actually broken (not just what you argue about)
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Identify destructive cycles and leadership gaps
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Assess commitment, honesty, and readiness for change
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Determine whether repair is realistic or if discernment is needed
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Build a clear treatment plan, not guesswork
At the end of this session, you will know:
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What it will take to fix the relationship
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Whether we should move forward together
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Which path is appropriate for your situation
Important: Ongoing work is done through structured packages ONLY. I do not offer open-ended couples counseling.
Initial Marriage Assessment Session
Chris has found the strongest outcomes when working with couples who are:
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Male and female partners
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Committed to honesty, even when it’s uncomfortable
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Willing to show up consistently
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Open to individual counseling alongside couples work when needed
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Prepared to invest time, effort, and money into real change
This work requires leadership.
It requires humility.
It requires follow-through.
This list reflects the couples Chris has most often worked with and where his approach tends to be most effective. If you don’t see yourself fully reflected here, you’re still encouraged to reach out. Fit is determined through conversation, not a checklist.
Who This Work Is For
ABOUT CHRIS
LOCATIONS
AVAILABILITY
INVESTMENT
In-Person & Telehealth
M-F 8am-8pm
$375 + Selected Package Rate
Chris A. Matthews is one of the most trusted and transformational marriage counselors in the country. With a 90% success rate helping couples heal from infidelity, rebuild emotional safety, and reignite their connection, he has earned a reputation as the go-to expert for relationships in crisis. As the founder and owner of both Behavioral Health Intervention Center, LLC and Relationship Counseling Group, PLLC, Chris leads two of North Carolina’s premier mental health and relationship wellness organizations, serving thousands of individuals, couples, and families each year. Chris’s expertise is backed not only by his clinical training but also by nearly two decades of personal experience. He has been happily married for 19 years and is a dedicated father of three, which gives him a deep, firsthand understanding of the joys and challenges that come with long-term commitment, parenting, and navigating real-life relationship dynamics. His groundbreaking work has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Certified Minority Business Enterprise of the Year (2024) and the Presidential Merit Award from Pfeiffer University (2021). Chris holds multiple professional credentials: he is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS), Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS), Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP®), and an Approved Supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Chris’s insight and expertise have been featured in national outlets such as The New York Times, NPR Radio, and ABC News. He is also the best-selling author of Marriage Underdogs and Finding Your Relationship Fix. Known for his bold, compassionate, and results-driven style, Chris travels the world speaking, training, and leading international marriage retreats for couples who want more than just surface-level solutions. When your marriage is at a crossroads, you need more than advice—you need a proven guide with the heart and skill to walk you through the hard stuff. Investing in counseling with Chris A. Matthews means giving your relationship the best chance at real, lasting transformation. Because your love is worth fighting for—and with Chris, you’ll have a seasoned expert in your corner every step of the way.
THE MODEL CHRIS USES
Relational Leadership Therapy™ (RLT)
Relational Leadership Therapy is built on the core belief that when one or both partners learn to lead themselves differently, the entire relationship changes. RLT integrates:
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Attachment theory
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Structural and Bowenian family systems
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Narrative therapy
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Accountability-based leadership principles
This is not about blame. It’s about ownership, direction, and repair.
