Marnie Breecker, LMFT, CSAT, CPS

Our CEO

 Marnie Breecker is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) and Certified Clinical Partners Specialist (CCPS). Since 2008, Marnie has worked with sex addicts, partners of sex addicts and couples impacted by betrayal trauma in both private practice and intensive outpatient settings including The Sexual Recovery Institute (SRI) and The Institute for Sexual Health (ISH) in Los Angeles.

Marnie completed her sex addiction training under Dr. Patrick Carnes and has been a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) since 2010. She has completed extensive training with Pia Mellody, level 1 Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT) training with Stan Tatkin and level 1 training in Deceptive Sexuality and Trauma Treatment (DSTT) with Dr. Omar Minwalla. Marnie was also a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists (APSATS).

Marnie founded the Center for Relational Healing (CRH) in 2011. Over the past thirteen years, CRH has grown into a highly regarded outpatient treatment center, providing personalized intensive programs as well as individual, couple and group therapy for clients struggling primarily with sex and love addiction and betrayal trauma.

Marnie is the host of the Helping Couples Heal podcast and the co-founder and CEO of Helping Couples Heal, a global coaching organization dedicated to helping couples heal after betrayal.

Marnie’s greatest professional passion is educating others on the complexity of betrayal and its traumatic impact on intimate partners and relationships and helping people heal. Her greatest personal passion is her 5 year old son and finding reasons every day to laugh.

Consultation Services Available In: English

ONGOING COACHING NOT AVAILABLE

Chris Jones, CPC, MBACP

Gundolf Strehl, DSTT

Gundolf Strehl has received his Diploma in Psychology at the Technical University of Berlin, Germany. He is trained in the Virginia Satir Model.  He is also a certified Master Trainer with the Enriching Your Relationship With Yourself & Others Program and a certified Trainer with the Coaching and Mentoring Program.

He recently finished the training with Dr. Minwalla on his model of Deceptive Sexual Trauma Therapy (level 1, 2, & 3). He works with the three parts within Helping Couples Heal: the victim, the abuser, and the relationship.

Coaching Services Available In: English, German, Spanish

Jaclyn Schwartz, LMFT

Jaclyn works with clients on an individual level as well as facilitates workshops for couples to introduce the healing process for addicts and loved ones using a trauma-based model.
Jaclyn has many years of experience working with chemical and behavioral addictions in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She completed her training through APSATS (The Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists).

Jaclyn has created and facilitated process and intimacy groups for both men and women, sex-addiction groups, partners of addicts groups, and is planning on bringing these groups to the San Diego area.

Coaching Services Available In: English (Disclosure Prep Only)

Mary Ellen Brown, CAPPS, APSATS, BRE/C, DSTP, PSAP-Candidate

Mary Ellen is a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and Energy Leadership Index-Master Practitioner (ELI-MP) through iPEC– the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in religious education and counseling and is a member of the International Coaching Federation. Mary Ellen is a Certified Partner Coach with APSATS, the Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists. She has completed additional training in betrayal trauma, therapeutic disclosures, nouthetic counseling and couple-centered recovery coach training. She is A Door of Hope trained Peer Group Facilitator and has facilitated weekly groups for partners dealing with betrayal trauma for the last four years. Mary Ellen is passionate about providing safety throughout the recovery process so clients can experience healing and growth in their personal lives. She encourages those she works with to embrace their core values, principles and beliefs so they can make the best decisions for their own recovery.

Coaching Services Available In: English

Michellene Burke, CPC, HCDC, PPNE, AASECT-Candidate

Michellene is a betrayal trauma specialist with a background and experience in prenatal & perinatal psychology and health (PPNE) and is credentialed in guiding and helping to heal relationships that have experienced high-conflict and betrayal trauma. As an Associate Member specializing in the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association, Michellene joins our team with a Bachelor’s degree in Global Leadership and Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of Oklahoma.  Michellene brings a wealth of experience and training in betrayal trauma, birth trauma, trauma-informed care, non-violent communication, effective parenting, sexual reintegration/intimacy (AASECT), and the betrayal trauma process and recovery.

Michellene uses the Minwalla Model approach with clients and understands firsthand that oftentimes we are thrown into situations we would never have chosen for ourselves. Michellene’s hope is that by serving as a resource for you while you regain your strength, she will help you to forge your path to peace, healing, and understanding. Regardless of where you are in the healing process and journey, Michellene will help you become informed, educated, and empowered and realize the courage and confidence you have within.

Coaching Services Available In: English

Susan Rankin, ICF ACC, APSATS-CPC

Susan is a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) through iPEC- the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching.  She has years of experience working with betrayed partners and couples dealing with infidelity and is ERCEM trained.

She has completed betrayal trauma training through APSATS (The Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists) and uses their Multidimensional Partner Trauma Model with her clients.   Susan uses her own unique experience as a Marine Corps veteran, healthcare worker, and betrayed partner to empower others to heal, grow and thrive after trust has been broken in their relationship.

Coaching Services Available In: English

Luke Katuin, MSW

Luke integrates a variety of modalities into his coaching practice including mindfulness, loving-kindness meditation, Internal Family Systems and cognitive behavioral strategies.

After working through the effects of trauma, PTSD, and addiction firsthand, Luke realized that helping others in this process was a great way to give back to those who helped him.  Luke believes each situation calls for different methods, and all start from being accepted, validated, and empathized with.  Life is tough, and Luke is on your team.  Luke wants to help empower people to overcome their challenges and live the lives they deserve.

Coaching Services Available In: English

Iman Sadeghi, PhD, DSTE

Iman is a dually certified Relationship Coach and Life Coach. He has also been trained in navigating betrayal trauma in Dr. Omar Minwalla’s DST Professional Education Course.

He has a diverse background and passion for travel, art, and science from which he utilizes various skills in his coaching practices. Having experienced different cultures in over 30 countries around the globe, he is able to analyze interpersonal disharmony from unique perspectives. Being an artist at heart, he incorporates empathy and compassion in his creative solutions. And having obtained a doctorate in computer science, he offers structured problem-solving approaches to conflict resolution.

Iman’s goal while working with couples is to hold a sacred space to help them rebuild trust, restore harmony, and reopen the gateway for honesty, respect, and love.

Coaching Services Available In: English, Persian

Zoë Kors, CPCC, ABSCS, CISTT

Zoë is a sought-after sex and intimacy expert. She is a Certified Co-active Coach, Certified Sexologist, and Certified Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapist. In addition, she is a Certified Death Doula and hospice volunteer. Zoë is the author of Radical Intimacy: Cultivate the Deeply Connected Relationships You Desire and Deserve. She is a  resident sex and intimacy coach and contributor at Coral, the sexual wellness app. As our resident sex and intimacy coach, Zoë works with clients to reintroduce healthy sexuality and intimacy after the trauma of betrayal.

Coaching Services Available In: English

Gemini Adams, CF, C-TREP, E-RYT

British Trauma Recovery Specialist, educator, and award-winning author, Gemini has over 25 years experience in the fields of social change, mental healthcare, and wellness, working and volunteering with international charities, NGO’s, governments, the Center of Relational Healing and UNION.

She is passionate about helping individuals recover from the painful legacy of childhood and relational trauma — emotional and relational neglect, abandonment, bullying, shaming, betrayal, and all forms of abuse.

Drawing on decades of trauma-informed education, personal development, and certifications in somatic therapies, Gemini has joyfully transformed countless lives, both in clinical setting, her own private practice, and in the 100’s of programs she’s led around the globe — helping individuals and families to heal the fractured parts that are causing self-destructive patterns and toxic behaviours, bringing resolution to the painful events of the past.

Coaching Services Available In: English

Richard Butler, CPC, APSATS-CPC, NLP Practitioner

In Memoriam

Richard used his first-hand experience of the challenges of healing from problematic sexual behaviours, professional knowledge and skills to support men seeking sobriety, recovery, healing and freedom. Richard had a BA in Science and a Post Graduate Certification in Education. He was a Certified Professional Coach through the International Coaching Federation and an APSATS Certified Partner Coach. He was trained in Sex Addiction, Intimacy Anorexia and was working toward his level 4 Counseling Diploma.

Ana Gonzalez

Human Resources Manager

Ana Gonzalez has been working as the administrative assistant to Marnie Breecker at The Center for Relational Healing for the past two years. At the beginning of 2024, she joined Helping Couples Heal as the Human Resources Manager where she is responsible for a wide range of tasks, including payroll administration, onboarding new employees, and handling staff questions and concerns. By providing efficient operations and support to both employees and management, Ana plays a key role in ensuring the best possible care for all of our clients.

Courtney

Operations Manager

Courtney graduated in 2018 with a BA in Psychology. As a medical intern and EMT, she gained a wealth of experience working with patients. She has worked at HCH as the Client Services and Operations Coordinator for the past two years, ensuring the best possible care and experience for our clients. She transitioned to Operations Manager in 2024, where she oversees the day-to-day operations for the company.

Courtney is currently working towards a Master’s of Social Work, specializing in trauma-informed care.