Couples Therapy

As couples therapists, our job is not to tell you and your partner whether you should stay together or split up—that is your decision and we will never tell you what to do. Our job is to help you manage conflict, learn communication skills, and break unhealthy cycles of behavior. We want to support your goals, period.

This is one of the most common concerns we hear, and you’re definitely not alone in facing resistance from a reluctant partner. Common reasons for hesitation include fear that the therapist will take sides, worry about being blamed for problems, or feeling uncomfortable sharing personal information.

If your partner is hesitant, we’d be happy to speak with them directly about their specific concerns. Sometimes a brief conversation with one of our therapists can help address fears and clarify what couples therapy actually involves. There’s no pressure to commit – they’re welcome to attend one session to see how it feels.

We can also start with individual sessions to work on your own relationship patterns and communication skills. Often, when one partner begins making positive changes, it inspires the other to participate.

Our therapists are completely neutral and unbiased – we understand that relationship challenges involve both partners, and we’re never here to assign blame or take sides.

It’s okay if you don’t know what you want. Many couples come to therapy without really knowing where their difficulties stem from or what they want to focus on. Sometimes they need help working out through the stickiest parts of their relationship before they can define what they want. As long as you’re showing up with the willingness to be vulnerable and learn new skills, we can help you figure the rest out.

A great alternative to weekly sessions is to do a couples weekend intensive. In one weekend, (approximately 12 hours of therapy), you can experience several months of progress. Click here to learn more about our couples intensives.

We offer Philadelphia couples therapy at four convenient locations throughout the region. Our Old City office serves couples in Center City and downtown Philadelphia, while our Center City location near Logan Square is ideal for professionals working in the area. Our Bala Cynwyd office on the Main Line serves couples from communities like Bryn Mawr, Ardmore, and Wayne. We also have a Collingswood, New Jersey location for South Jersey couples who want quality Philadelphia couples therapy close to home.

Couples therapy sessions range from $50 to $200, depending on the therapist’s experience level and specialty areas. Our pricing includes an additional $25 fee per session compared to individual therapy, as couples sessions require more complex therapeutic skills and often run longer than individual appointments.

We also offer sliding scale slots for couples who need financial assistance, because we believe that relationship support shouldn’t be limited by financial constraints. These reduced-rate appointments are available on a limited basis for qualifying couples.

Yes, everything you share in couples therapy is strictly confidential and protected by the same privacy laws that apply to all mental health treatment. However, confidentiality in couples therapy works a bit differently than in individual therapy since there are multiple people involved.

Generally, what you share together in joint sessions remains confidential to the therapy room. Information shared during individual sessions is typically kept private from your partner unless you give explicit permission to share it, though policies can vary depending on the specific situation and therapeutic approach.

At the beginning of treatment, your therapist will clearly explain our confidentiality policies and how we handle information shared in both joint and individual sessions. We want both partners to feel safe and comfortable sharing openly, which is essential for effective couples work.

The only exceptions to confidentiality are the same as in all therapy: if there’s immediate danger of harm to yourself, your partner, or others, or if there’s suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult. These situations are rare, but we’re legally obligated to ensure safety when necessary.

Your first couples therapy session is designed to help us understand your relationship dynamics and create a safe space for both partners. Following the Gottman Method approach, we’ll meet with both of you together for this initial session to hear your perspectives on the challenges you’re facing and your goals for therapy.

During this first meeting, we’ll discuss your relationship history, current concerns, and what brought you to seek couples therapy. We’ll also explain our therapeutic approach and answer any questions you have about the process. This session helps us get to know you as a couple and allows you to get comfortable with your therapist.

After the first joint session, we typically schedule individual sessions with each partner. These private meetings allow us to understand each person’s perspective more deeply and explore any sensitive topics that might be difficult to discuss together initially.

Following the individual sessions, we’ll resume meeting with both partners together for the remainder of therapy, focusing on building the skills and connection you need for a stronger relationship.

Absolutely! We are proud to provide affirming, inclusive therapy for LGBTQ+ couples and have extensive experience working with diverse relationships. Our therapists understand the unique challenges that LGBTQ+ couples may face, including family acceptance issues, discrimination, coming out processes, and navigating a world that doesn’t always recognize or support your relationship.

We’re also supportive and well-versed in working with ethical non-monogamy, polyamorous relationships, and kink communities. We understand that healthy relationships come in many different forms, and we create a safe, non-judgmental space where you can discuss your relationship challenges without having to explain or justify your identity or relationship structure.

All couples deserve access to quality relationship therapy, and we’re honored to serve the diverse community throughout the Philadelphia area with respect, understanding, and expertise.