What is Couples Counseling?

Couples counseling is a process through which a couple (who may be engaged, dating, married, partnered—or sometimes even parent and child or other pairings) works with a trained therapist to identify specific areas of conflict and/or aspects of their relationship they would like to change, and then develops a plan of action to improve each individual’s satisfaction and contentment.

Working with a therapist in a safe and confidential setting, couples are able to explore how their individual backgrounds, beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors may be impacting their relationship in both positive and negative ways. The therapist may assist the couple with addressing any immediate and pressing problems, as well as developing strategies for protecting and enhancing the long-term health and happiness of their relationship.

How do I get started?

The first step is to call us to schedule your initial appointment with one of our graduate-level therapists. At your first session (which generally lasts approximately two hours) you and your partner will have the opportunity to build rapport with the therapist and provide her/him with some background about your relationship and the reasons you are seeking counseling.

At the end of that first session, if you decide that you would like to move forward working with the assigned therapist, you will discuss fees and then decide on a mutually-agreeable time slot for your counseling sessions (typically, the couple will meet with the therapist once a week, and each session will last approximately one hour). At your second appointment, you will begin working with your therapist to set goals for your counseling experience and then begin working together toward achieving them.

To schedule a free consultation, call (310) 208-3120 3120 for Westwood or (949) 737-5460 for Irvine.