Couples Therapy: What you need to know

Below is a quick description of what Couples/Marriage Therapy is, how it works, and what it costs.

Develop a better understanding of what Couples Therapy is before starting.  

Table of Contents

(click on a question below to be directed quickly)

What Is Couples Therapy?
Who conducts Couples Therapy?
What do you do in Couples Therapy?
What Does Couples Therapy Solve?
What is the success rate of couples therapy?
What do you do in Couples Therapy?
How Much Does Couples Counseling Cost?
Is Couples Therapy covered by my health insurance?
Is there a reason not to use my health insurance for therapy?
Do I need to go to Marriage Counseling?
When is the right time to begin Marriage Counseling?
How long does Marriage Counseling take?

What Is Couples Therapy?

Couples therapy can go by many names: marriage therapy, relationship counseling, couples counseling, couples therapy, family therapy, conjoint therapy, etc.. No matter what it is called, Couples Therapy is the process where two romantic partners work with a therapist to improve their relationship. This may involve working on relationship struggles, behaviors, patterns, and more. 

Who conducts Couples Therapy? 

Couples therapy is conducted by a licensed professional in the field of mental health. The bulk of couples therapists are:

• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists
• Licensed Psychologists
• Licensed Social Workers
• Licensed Professional Counselors

A couples counselor often practices in private practice and agency settings. Some offer online couples counseling. You can see the list of couples counseling specialists here.

What do you do in Couples Therapy?

Good couples therapy is much more than relationship advice. The couple meets with a licensed therapist regularly to work through a specific issue, or to improve the relationship overall. Sessions typically last 60-90 minutes, but can be longer depending on the issue at hand and the preferences of clients.

Couples therapists use a variety of methods and treatment approaches. Some popular approaches include

• Gottman Method
• Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy (EFT)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
• Sex Therapy.

Homework may be provided by couples therapists. This may include readings or exercises. Date nights are also commonly prescribed.

What Does Couples Therapy Solve?

A couple may seek therapy for many reasons. Some couples may be experiencing a lack of closeness or connection. Other couples are dealing with affairs and infidelity. Further, other partners have frequent conflict and arguing, and some couples are struggling with sex and intimacy.

Just like in Individual therapy, mental health issues are also addressed in couples therapy, such as anxiety, depression, addictions, or behavioral/emotional problems.

Couples that seek couples therapy are likely interested in bettering the relationship, increasing connection and intimacy, and overall achieving more satisfaction in their relationship. This forms of therapy has been proven to help with many of these issues.

What is the success rate of couples therapy?

Couples therapy has been shown to be a highly effective form of counseling. Thus, it is considered a very helpful way to make change happen in your relationship.

What do you do in Couples Therapy?

When a couple first meets with a therapist, they will likely fill out assessments. They may also answer a variety of questions about their past. This helps the therapist better understand the issue the couple is facing. Next, the therapist listens to the history of the problem, each partner’s strengths and background, and more.

The therapist and couple will create goals for therapy and what they are hoping to change and gain insight on. 

As therapy progresses, the therapist will introduce skills for the couple to make necessary changes and growth. A couple will be done with therapy when they want to be done, or when the therapist notes growth, or both.

Lastly, there is no required time limit to couples therapy.

How Much Does Couples Counseling Cost?

There are many therapists that provide couples counseling. Each has their own set price. Some offer a sliding scales where people can pay a lower price. Thus, the average cost varies. Once thing to consider when finding a couples therapist is the price of the service.

Many couples therapists have gone to college between 6-10 years to develop the professional and clinical skills to practice. Thus, their cost of the service should reflect that. 

“Finding a good couples therapist is similar to finding a good lawyer, though.” says Dr. Kyle Zrenchik, Couples and Sex Therapist at ALL IN®

“It’s important that you work with a therapist you like, and that really knows what they are doing. The good ones usually aren’t cheap, but they are well worth the investment. If a marriage counselor is cheap, you should ask yourself why.”

Is Couples Therapy covered by my health insurance?

The short-answer is: it depends. If either person meets certain criteria, couples therapy can be covered by health insurance companies. Most clients that come to ALL IN that want to use their health insurance do so successfully. 

Not everything may be covered, however (such as services provided outside of normal hours, Deep Dive programs, or relationship coaching).

Is there a reason not to use my health insurance for therapy?

Perhaps. When client’s elect to use their insurance, they sacrifice a certain level of confidentiality, as records can be requested by their health-insurance company, life insurance company, or other interested parties (such as divorce lawyers or parenting consultants).  

For clients wanting the highest-degree of confidentiality, discuss these concerns with your therapist to be provided alternative methods.