About SC Couples Therapist Kenny Levine
The most important tool I bring to work every day is my empathy.
I'm a counselor with more than 25 years of experience specializing in Gottman Method Couples Therapy. Now serving Greenville and all of SC via telehealth.
You’ve probably been trying to solve these issues for awhile…
You may have promised to communicate better. Tried giving each other more space. Read relationship books. Decided not to bring difficult topics up after 9:00 p.m.
For a few days, things improve.
Then one of you says something the other takes the wrong way. Someone gets defensive. Someone stops listening. Before long, you’re having a conversation that feels strangely familiar.
Not because either of you wanted another fight.
Because neither of you could see where the conversation first started to go wrong.
That’s where couples therapy can help.
What Working with Me is Like
Our work will be structured, focused… and more fun than you think.
I don’t just sit quietly and listen while the two of you argue for 50 minutes.
When a conversation in session starts sounding like the conversations you’ve been having all along I’ll usually stop it. Those moments often reveal the communication habits that keep pulling the two of you farther apart, and they’re the best opportunities to practice a different approach.
We’ll back up a few seconds and look closely at what just happened. What were you trying to communicate? What did your partner hear? If I hear criticism, contempt, defensiveness, or another response that’s likely to make the conversation worse, I’ll point it out right then and help you try a different approach.
Then we’ll rewind the conversation and practice it again. This time, you’ll have the opportunity to respond differently while we’re together, with coaching and feedback in real time.
Most couples have never had someone interrupt a difficult conversation, explain why it started going off track, and help them practice a better way forward. That’s where new communication skills develop, and it’s one of the reasons the work we do in session carries over into everyday life.
Over time, those new ways of communicating become habits you can use long after therapy has ended.
My approach
Successful relationships aren’t built on luck or compatibility alone. They’re built on skills that help two people navigate conflict, repair misunderstandings, and stay connected during difficult conversations. These four principles guide the way I work with every couple.
Understanding
Change starts with understanding the interaction, not just the argument. Once you can see what’s happening between you, you have somewhere to intervene.
Structure
Real therapy isn’t just an update on what’s going on. Each session has a clear purpose, practical guidance, and opportunities to practice new skills.
Practice
Insight is valuable, but relationships change through repetition. New communication skills become lasting habits only when you practice them consistently.
Curiosity
Assumptions keep couples stuck. Curiosity helps you understand your partner’s experience instead of reacting to what you think they meant.
My Background & Training
Education and Licensure
Approved by the South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners as an Independent Social Worker Telehealth Provider
Independently licensed in North Carolina since 2003 | NC LCSW# C004409 | Verify my NC License
Independently licensed in Utah since 2018 | UT LCSW# 11015346-3501 | Verify my Utah License
In private practice since 2003; more than 25 years of experience across community mental health, school systems, university counseling, and child protection
Trainings and Certifications
Completed Level 3 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Completed Treating Affairs and Trauma, the Gottman Institute’s advanced training in affair recovery and relational trauma
Certificate in TeleMental Health and Digital Ethics
Trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Completed two-semester PhD clinical practicum (audit) in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Couples, UNC Chapel Hill Department of Psychology
Member, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), with extensive experience in high-conflict relationship dynamics
Ready to get Started?
Let’s get to work on strengthening your relationship!