Couples Counseling & Marriage Counseling

Invest in Your Love

What is Couples Counseling?

Couples counseling, also known as marriage counseling, is a powerful tool for helping you and your partner navigate the challenges of your relationship, foster deeper understanding, and cultivate a more loving, supportive connection. Whether you're facing communication breakdowns, unresolved conflicts, intimacy issues, or simply seeking to strengthen your marital bond, our experienced couples therapists provide a safe, non-judgmental space for you to explore your dynamic and develop the skills for lasting love.

How Couples Counseling Can Strengthen Your Relationship?

☑️ Improve communication and active listening skills

☑️ Identify and change negative interaction patterns

☑️ Resolve conflicts and heal from past hurts

☑️ Rebuild trust and foster emotional intimacy

☑️ Rekindle passion and romance

☑️ Align your goals, values, and visions for the future

☑️ Navigate life transitions and stressors as a united team

At Monika Breidenbach Counseling and Stress Management, our couples therapists draw from evidence-based approaches, including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method, to help you create the relationship you've always wanted. Through a collaborative, personalized process, we guide you to:

  1. Identify and express your needs, fears, and desires

  2. Develop empathy and understanding for each other's experiences

  3. Break free from negative cycles and create new, positive patterns of interaction

  4. Rebuild trust, safety, and emotional connection

  5. Cultivate shared meaning, rituals, and dreams for your relationship

With our compassionate guidance and practical tools, you'll rediscover the love that brought you together and build a stronger, more resilient bond to weather any storm.

Benefits of Couples Counseling

Effective couples therapy and marriage counseling can transform your relationship in meaningful ways.

Through our specialized couples therapy sessions, you can:

☑️ Improve communication and active listening skills

☑️ Identify and change negative interaction patterns

☑️ Resolve conflicts and heal from past hurts

☑️ Rebuild trust and foster emotional intimacy

☑️ Rekindle passion and romance

☑️ Align your goals, values, and visions for the future

☑️ Navigate life transitions and stressors as a united team

☑️ Develop strategies for managing differences constructively

What to Expect

Embarking on couples counseling is a commitment to your relationship's growth and future. Here's what you can expect when working with our experienced couples therapist:

Initial Consultation

Your journey begins with a free consultation where we'll discuss your relationship concerns, history, and goals. This session helps us understand your unique dynamic and how we can best support you as a couple. You'll learn about our therapeutic approach and have the opportunity to ask questions about the couples therapy process. This first step establishes whether we're the right fit for your relationship needs.

First Sessions

Early sessions focus on getting to know both partners and understanding your relationship patterns. We'll explore your attachment styles, communication habits, and the underlying causes of recurring conflicts. These foundational sessions help identify the core issues affecting your relationship satisfaction and create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs as a couple.

Ongoing Support

As therapy progresses, you'll learn and practice new communication tools and relationship skills during and between sessions. We'll work together to replace destructive patterns with positive interactions, deepen emotional connection, and cultivate greater intimacy. Regular sessions provide a structured environment to address challenges, celebrate progress, and continue strengthening your relationship foundation.

Begin Your Journey Together

With our compassionate guidance and practical tools, you'll rediscover the love that brought you together and build a stronger, more resilient bond to weather any storm. Whether you're in a crisis point or simply want to enhance an already good relationship, couples therapy provides valuable skills and insights for lasting connection.

Schedule your free consultation today and invest in the future of your relationship.

Frequently Asked Questions About Couples Therapy

  • I accept several major insurance plans for couples counseling services, including:

    • Aetna

    • BlueCross and BlueShield

    • Cigna and Evernorth

    • Optum

    • UnitedHealthcare UHC | UBH

    I also offer private pay options for couples who prefer not to use insurance. For those with out-of-network benefits, I provide superbills that you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. Please note that some insurance plans may have specific requirements for couples therapy coverage, so I recommend contacting me to verify your benefits before your first session.

  • No, couples therapy is beneficial at any stage of a relationship. While many couples seek help during difficult times or conflicts, others use therapy proactively to strengthen their connection, improve communication, prepare for major life transitions, or simply deepen their understanding of each other. Preventative couples counseling can help maintain relationship satisfaction and prevent small issues from becoming larger problems.

  • The duration varies based on your specific situation, goals, and the nature of your relationship challenges. Some couples experience significant improvements in 8-12 sessions, while others benefit from longer-term therapy. We'll regularly assess your progress together and adjust our approach accordingly. Most couples attend weekly sessions initially, potentially transitioning to less frequent sessions as progress is made.

  • It's common for one partner to be more hesitant about therapy than the other. I offer a no-pressure initial consultation where both partners can ask questions and express concerns. Sometimes, understanding that couples therapy is about creating positive change—not assigning blame—can help ease reluctance. In some cases, beginning with individual sessions for the willing partner can also create a pathway to eventual couples work.

  • While couples therapy has helped many relationships improve substantially, success depends on various factors, including both partners' commitment to the process, willingness to examine their contributions to relationship patterns, and dedication to practicing new skills. Sometimes, therapy helps couples recognize that separation may be healthier. In these cases, therapy can facilitate a more compassionate and constructive transition. My goal is to help you create a relationship that supports both partners' wellbeing.

  • Yes, I welcome couples of all backgrounds, orientations, and relationship structures. My practice is inclusive and affirming of LGBTQ+ relationships, polyamorous partnerships, and other non-traditional relationship models. The fundamental principles of healthy relationships—respect, communication, trust, and emotional connection—apply across all relationship types, while I remain sensitive to the unique challenges different couples may face.

  • The terms are often used interchangeably, as they both involve working with romantic partners to improve their relationship. Marriage counseling specifically refers to therapy for married couples, while couples therapy is broader, encompassing married couples, engaged couples, dating partners, and other committed relationships regardless of legal status. The therapeutic approaches and goals are similar for both services.