E37: Building Better Bonds: Christina Neri's Approach to Couples Counseling

Good Neighbor Podcast: Cobb County

When was the last time someone taught you how to build a healthy relationship? For most of us, the answer is never. Christina Neri, founder of Maverick Marriage Therapy, joins the Good Neighbor Podcast to explain why relationship education is so critical and how her practice fills this crucial gap.
Christina dispels common misconceptions about couples therapy, emphasizing that most relationship struggles occur between two fundamentally good people who simply lack the necessary tools. "The truth is, more often than not, we've got two really good people who have histories of trauma," she explains. Unlike popular social media narratives that label challenging relationships as "toxic," Christina offers a more compassionate perspective, comparing many couples to two people in protective bubbles – desperately wanting connection but unable to break through their defensive barriers.
What sets Maverick Marriage Therapy apart is their innovative approach, including two-day intensive therapy sessions that accomplish what might otherwise take months. Christina describes how couples therapy differs from individual work, being more directive and hands-on. "People are genuinely coming in saying if I had the answer, I'd be doing it. Hold my hand, teach me the skills," she notes. Her team responds by providing concrete guidance and sometimes difficult truths delivered with compassion.
Christina's path to becoming a relationship specialist began with her own childhood experiences in a family with good intentions but limited relational skills. Rather than being defined by these challenges, she transformed them into a gift – developing profound empathy that allows her clients to feel truly seen and understood. Today, she leads a carefully selected team of therapists who embody the very relational qualities they teach, creating a practice where healing begins with the culture itself.
Curious about how relationship therapy could transform your connections? Visit maverickmarriagetherapy.com to learn more about their approach and meet their team of specialists dedicated to helping couples thrive.

Chapters

1. Welcome to Good Neighbor Podcast (00:00:00)

2. Introducing Maverick Marriage Therapy (00:00:31)

3. Christina's Path to Relationship Therapy (00:02:07)

4. Misconceptions About Couples Therapy (00:04:26)

5. Target Clients and Therapy Intensives (00:06:27)

6. Life Outside Therapy Work (00:09:00)

7. Overcoming Personal Trauma (00:09:50)

8. Creating a Healthy Therapy Environment (00:11:54)

9. Contact Information and Closing (00:14:07)