Janine Piernas LMFT couples therapist Temecula CA

15+ Years of Practice

About Janine Piernas, LMFT

I Ask the Hard Questions.
And I Go Where the Work Needs to Go.

I am Janine Piernas, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 15 years of experience providing couples therapy and marriage counseling in Temecula and Murrieta, CA.

I became a couples therapist because I believe the relationship between two people is one of the most powerful forces in a person's life. When I help a couple change a harmful pattern I am not just helping two people. I am impacting everyone they will ever love.

LMFT License #105849, Pepperdine University

Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy

Married, partnered since 2004, mother of three

In-person Temecula, CA · Telehealth throughout all of California

Meet Janine

PT

Verified on Psychology Today

Marriage Counseling Temecula CA

Struggling Does Not Mean Failing.
It Means Something Needs to Change.

Maybe you and your partner keep having the same argument and nothing ever resolves. Maybe the distance between you has grown so slowly you almost did not notice until one day you looked up and realized you feel like strangers.

Or maybe nothing dramatic happened at all. You just know that what you have right now is not what you wanted. And you are not ready to give up on it.

The same argument keeps happening and nothing ever resolves.

You feel more like roommates than partners.

Intimacy has faded and neither of you knows how to bring it back.

Trust was broken and you are not sure if repair is possible.

You love each other but cannot seem to find your way back.

Book Your Free Consultation

Couples therapy Temecula CA marriage counseling Murrieta

Ways to Work Together

Every Couple is Different.
Every Path Forward Is Too.

Couples therapy, intensives, affair recovery, and retreat options in Temecula, Murrieta, and throughout California.

Weekly Sessions Couples Therapy Ongoing support for the relationship that is ready to do something different. Evidence-based. Personalized to your dynamic. Private pay. Telehealth available throughout California. Learn More →

Four Hours Couples Intensive More progress in one afternoon than months of weekly sessions. Structured, deep, and designed to actually move things forward. Learn More →

Crisis Support Affair Recovery Intensive A concentrated program for couples navigating infidelity. Because waiting a week between sessions is too long right now. Learn More →

Relationship Reset Retreat→ Individual Therapy→ Therapy for Therapists→ Gottman Seven Principles Workshop→

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I became a couples therapist because I believe the relationship between two people is one of the most powerful forces in a person's life. When I help a couple change a harmful pattern I am not just helping two people. I am impacting everyone they will ever love.

Janine Piernas, LMFT, Couples Therapist in Temecula CA

Couples Intensive Temecula CA

One Afternoon Can Change the Entire Direction of Your Relationship.

This is not a shortcut. It is an accelerator. Four focused hours that take you further than months of weekly sessions. Available Saturdays in Temecula, CA.

01

Joint SessionSee your dynamic together clearly for the first time.

02

Individual SessionsSay what you cannot say when your partner is in the room.

03

Skill Building and RoadmapReal tools, a personalized plan, and a clear path forward.

Learn About the Intensive

Couples intensive Temecula CA Janine Piernas LMFT

5-Star Google Reviews

What Happens When People Do the Work.

★★★★★

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"From our very first session it was clear we had found someone truly special. Janine created a safe space for open communication and offered insights that genuinely helped us understand each other better. Our relationship has transformed for the better. Thank you Janine, our marriage whisperer." G.L. · Google Review

★★★★★

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"Janine's approach is remarkably balanced and effective. She has given us actionable lessons that enhance our communication and reshape our thought processes to overcome negative habits. Her approach has reignited the dynamic that originally brought us together." C.L. · Google Review

★★★★★

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"We are so thankful for Janine and all the support and guidance she has given our marriage. After every session we have felt so refreshed and powered to conquer obstacles with a much clearer direction and understanding for one another. She is such a great listener." Google Review

Read All Reviews on Google

Free Resources

Start Here.
Before the First Session.

Two free tools built from 15 years of clinical work with real couples.

Free Always Attachment Style Quiz 8 questions. 5 minutes. Find out your attachment style and understand the pattern underneath every fight you keep having. Take the Free Quiz →

Free Assessment Relationship Health Assessment 30 questions. Both partners. Six dimensions. A personalized report with your combined results and specific clinical recommendations. Take the Assessment →

Browse All Resources

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Honest answers before you book.

Do we have to be in crisis to come to couples therapy?+

Not at all. Some of the most productive work happens with couples who are not in crisis but can feel one coming. Waiting until things are broken means you are starting from a harder place. Coming in early means we have more to work with.

Do you accept insurance for couples therapy?+

Couples therapy is private pay. Individual therapy is available through IEHP with limited slots available. The free consultation is always the first step.

What happens in the first session?+

The first session is a joint intake where I get to know both of you, understand what brought you in, and begin to see your dynamic together. From there I schedule individual sessions with each partner so I can understand both of you fully, not just the version of yourselves you present when your partner is in the room. That depth of understanding is what allows the work to actually go somewhere.

What is the difference between weekly therapy and an intensive?+

Weekly therapy is ongoing support that builds momentum over time. An intensive is four focused hours in one day that covers more ground than months of weekly sessions. Intensives work especially well for couples in acute crisis, couples who have tried weekly therapy and feel stuck, or couples whose schedules make consistent weekly sessions difficult.

Can a marriage survive an affair?+

Yes. Not always, and not without real work. But more often than most people believe when they are sitting in the worst of it. I have worked with many couples who came to me after infidelity and went on to build relationships that were genuinely stronger than what they had before. The affair recovery intensive is specifically designed for the immediate aftermath when waiting a week between sessions is too long.

Do you offer telehealth sessions?+

Yes. In-person sessions are available at my office in Temecula, CA. Telehealth sessions are available to couples throughout all of California. Both formats deliver the same quality of clinical work.

How long does couples therapy take?+

It depends on what you are working through. Some couples make meaningful progress in 8 to 12 sessions. Others work with me for a year or more. I will always be honest with you about where you are and what I think would actually help. I do not keep couples in therapy longer than they need to be.

What if my partner is hesitant to come?+

This is one of the most common things I hear. A hesitant partner does not mean therapy will not work. It often means they are nervous, not unwilling. The free consultation is a great first step because it is low pressure and gives your partner a chance to meet me before committing to anything. Many skeptical partners become the most engaged people in the room once they feel safe.

Serving Southern California

Couples Therapy Near You.

In-person sessions in Temecula, CA. Telehealth available to couples throughout all of California.

TemeculaIn-Person and Telehealth

MurrietaTelehealth Available

Lake ElsinoreTelehealth Available

MenifeeTelehealth Available

Also serving San Diego, Riverside, Orange County, and all of California via telehealth.

Ready to Start?

You Have Already Done
the Hardest Part. Getting Here.

Free 30-minute consultation. No pressure. No commitment. Just an honest conversation about where you are and what would actually help. The relationship you want is closer than you think.

Book Your Free Consultation Free Relationship Assessment

Explore the Site

Couples Therapy Intensives Affair Recovery Retreat Individual Therapy About Janine Resources Free Assessment Fees FAQs Reviews Contact

You Love Each Other.
So Why Has It
Gotten So Hard?

A Message From Janine

I Ask the Hard Questions.
And I Go Where the Work Needs to Go.

Struggling Does Not Mean Failing.
It Means Something Needs to Change.

Every Couple is Different.
Every Path Forward Is Too.

One Afternoon Can Change the Entire Direction of Your Relationship.

What Happens When People Do the Work.

Start Here.
Before the First Session.

Frequently Asked Questions

Couples Therapy Near You.

You Have Already Done
the Hardest Part. Getting Here.

You Do Not Have to Keep
Feeling This Alone,
Together.

You Love Each Other.
That Has Never Really
Been the Question.

You Are Not the Only Couple
Who Has Felt This Way.

Couples Therapy That
Actually Goes Somewhere.

What Happens When You
Work With Janine.

Nobody Prepares You for What a Baby
Does to a Relationship.

What Couples Therapy
Costs with Janine.

Real Words from Real Couples.

Questions About Couples Therapy.

If Weekly Therapy Feels Too Slow
or You Need More.

Most Couples Wait Six Years.
You Are Already Ahead.

You Love Each Other.So Why Has ItGotten So Hard?

A Message From Janine

I Ask the Hard Questions.And I Go Where the Work Needs to Go.

Struggling Does Not Mean Failing.It Means Something Needs to Change.

Every Couple is Different.Every Path Forward Is Too.

One Afternoon Can Change the Entire Direction of Your Relationship.

What Happens When People Do the Work.

Start Here.Before the First Session.

Frequently Asked Questions

Couples Therapy Near You.

You Have Already Donethe Hardest Part. Getting Here.

You Do Not Have to KeepFeeling This Alone,Together.

You Love Each Other.That Has Never ReallyBeen the Question.

You Are Not the Only CoupleWho Has Felt This Way.

Couples Therapy ThatActually Goes Somewhere.

What Happens When YouWork With Janine.

Nobody Prepares You for What a BabyDoes to a Relationship.

What Couples TherapyCosts with Janine.

Real Words from Real Couples.

Questions About Couples Therapy.

If Weekly Therapy Feels Too Slowor You Need More.

Most Couples Wait Six Years.You Are Already Ahead.

You Love Each Other.
So Why Has It
Gotten So Hard?

I Ask the Hard Questions.
And I Go Where the Work Needs to Go.

Struggling Does Not Mean Failing.
It Means Something Needs to Change.

Every Couple is Different.
Every Path Forward Is Too.

Start Here.
Before the First Session.

You Have Already Done
the Hardest Part. Getting Here.

You Do Not Have to Keep
Feeling This Alone,
Together.

You Love Each Other.
That Has Never Really
Been the Question.

You Are Not the Only Couple
Who Has Felt This Way.

Couples Therapy That
Actually Goes Somewhere.

What Happens When You
Work With Janine.

Nobody Prepares You for What a Baby
Does to a Relationship.

What Couples Therapy
Costs with Janine.

If Weekly Therapy Feels Too Slow
or You Need More.

Most Couples Wait Six Years.
You Are Already Ahead.