What is couples therapy?
Couples therapy or marriage therapy allows intimate partners to meet together with me for therapeutic assistance to improve their relationship. Unlike individual therapy, couples therapy focuses on a balanced assessment of the needs, interests, desires, and concerns of both partners regarding the relationship.
I am a licensed psychologist, Certified Gottman Therapist (CGT), and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) who specializes in helping intimate partners address the concerns of their relationship. Concerns can vary from sexual intimacy issues, processing resentments or betrayals, improving communication, improving partnership in parenting, co-managing stress more productively, and many other issues. It is common to have one partner more eager to participate in therapy than the other. This difference in readiness for therapy can be addressed skillfully by me during consultation and the rapport building phase (where we learn each other and get comfortable with each other).
I work hard to establish good rapport with both partners to avoid biased assessment and treatment. It is important to me that my couples have a “good” experience in therapy and find it beneficial to their relationship. Couples therapy can feel fun and pleasant, but at times can feel exhausting and stressful as well. This is often a sign that you are doing the work of having hard but beneficial conversations and learning important skills in a safe therapeutic environment. I endeavor to help both partners feel safe and heard, all while holding both partners accountable to truth, transparency, ownership of wrongdoing, and being their most skillful self.
I primarily utilize The Gottman Method for marital therapy due to the decades of research showing their method to be effective for improving even the worst relationships. Their method is practical, skills based or behavioral, and easy to use for those who may struggle with knowing how to change. I also integrate mindfulness-based, emotion focused, and cognitive-behavioral approaches to couples therapy as needed.
Assessment
Assessment is a critical component to couples therapy, especially from a Gottman framework. I conduct a thorough interview with the couple jointly and meet with each partner individually to learn their background and perspective on the relationship. I then administer assessments or questionnaires to gather data from each partner. Following that, I meet with the couple to provide feedback on their key issues and recommended targets for treatment. I understand that couples are often eager to begin therapeutic work. HOWEVER, the assessment phase of treatment cannot be bypassed with me; it is required to move forward in therapy with me.
Couples therapy is not recommended for couples where one or both partners are…
-engaged in characterological abuse towards their partner
-engaged in affairs that they are unwilling to admit and end
-have individual mental health issues that are severe and poorly regulated
-engaged in compulsive and poorly controlled addictive processes
-not committed to the relationship or invested in making real change
-have filed for divorce and are moving forward with divorce proceedings
If these issues are discovered during the assessment phase, or the therapeutic process, I will refer you out to relevant providers to address those concerns; couples therapy would not continue with me.
Treatment
Weekly Therapy
Couples meet with me weekly, or every other week, for sessions that last 75-minutes long. Length of treatment can vary for each couple. I have worked with some couples for only a few sessions and other couples for years. The amount of time you spend in couples therapy all depends on the treatment goals we establish at the outset of therapy. Please know that I am only offering tele-health services for weekly/bi-weekly therapy at this time.
Intensives
Intensives are reserved for couples with acute or time sensitive issues that need to be resolved through dedicated blocks of time. This is also known as “marathon therapy” because it lasts for several hours and requires great financial, time, and emotional commitment. Intensives are also offered for those seeking pre-marital therapy and is often chosen due to the usefulness of setting aside blocks of time versus an hour every week to work towards marital preparation and skill acquisition.
You are a candidate for intensives if you:
1- Desire to deep dive into therapeutic work to see quicker improvements in your relationship
2-Have acute or time sensitive issues that need to be sorted out with your partner
3- Have scheduling limitations that make weekly or bi-weekly therapy difficult to attend
4- Can allocate financial resources towards therapy upfront for the long-term benefit of your relationship
Please know that you are guaranteed private, set aside, therapeutic time with your partner and me to work through the issues of your choosing. That said, the actual outcomes derived from a therapeutic intensive are not guaranteed and cannot be predicted. This is serious, emotional, and vulnerable work. This work invites both partners to share deeply and work towards meeting their individual needs and the relational needs simultaneously. While I endeavor to have partners be skillful and collaborative, I cannot ensure that specific relational agreements (e.g., agreement to have a baby or agreement to an open marriage) will be obtained.
I’m only offering in-person intensives on Fridays (9 am to 4 pm, with lunch from 12-1 pm). Intensives can be scheduled as needed and include the required assessment. Intensives are done via tele-health as the most convenient method and allows greater flexibility for scheduling purposes. I host intensives in my Southfield (MI) office but can also meet with you in your home if you live in the metro-Detroit area (40-mile radius) at no extra cost. For out-of-state clients, I can travel to your location and work with you in your home for an additional fee of $500.00, but you must reside in one of my licensure states for this to be an option.
services offered
Pre-marital therapy
Betrayal-focused couples therapy
General couples therapy to address intimacy, communication, and life stressors or transitions
Therapy Intensives
cost
Weekly therapy Cost: $210 per 75-minute session + the standing assessment fee ($150)
Intensives: $1550 per DAY (assessment fees included)
My practice is self-pay, meaning that clients pay out-of-pocket to see me. I DO NOT bill insurance. Additionally, I am not paneled with any insurance company for a variety of business and clinical reasons (e.g., time spent waiting for reimbursement and they limit the number of sessions you can have). There is a possibility for you to use your HSA card if those funds can be used towards therapy, but you’d need to verify this ahead of time to avoid penalties from your insurance company. Please contact your insurance provider if you are curious about “out-of-network” benefits that may be used to recoup some of the therapy costs you pay upfront for couples therapy.
Payment method: A credit card is kept on file and will be charged at the time of your session. The full session fee will be charged for no-shows or last-minute cancellations. Follow up sessions are scheduled pending received payment for the prior session.
Good Faith Estimate: I’m required to give you an estimate of your treatment costs. Your costs can vary from the examples listed below. While couples therapy is a significant investment, it is one worth making and pays dividends in your relational health and overall quality of life. Below are sample costs for weekly therapy at 12, 24, and 36 session intervals.
12 sessions (3 months): $2,400
24 sessions (6 months): $4,800
36 sessions (9 months): $7,200