Couples & Marriage Counseling
When the connection feels off, therapy can help you find your way back to each other.
Most people don't come to relationship therapy because everything is terrible. They come because something that used to feel easy has gotten hard. The conversations that go in circles. The distance that crept in. The feeling of being in the same house but not really together.
If that resonates, you're not failing at your relationship. You're paying attention to it. And that's actually the first step.
Sound like your relationship?
Couples therapy isn't just for relationships in crisis (though we help with that too). You might be ready if:
The same argument keeps showing up in different outfits
You feel more like roommates than partners
One or both of you has stopped bringing up what's really going on
Trust has been broken and you're trying to figure out if repair is possible
A big life change is testing your foundation (new baby, job loss, move, blending families)
You love each other but you've lost the thread of connection
Intimacy has dropped off and neither of you knows how to talk about it
You're considering separation and want clarity before making that decision
You're great co-parents but struggling as partners
Premarital: you want to build a strong foundation before the wedding, not after things get hard
If even one of these landed, couples therapy could help.
How we work with couples at DCA
We're not here to pick sides. We're here for the relationship.
Our couples therapists are trained to hold space for both of you. That means nobody gets ganged up on, nobody gets labeled the "problem," and both people's experiences are treated as valid.
We know that under most relationship conflicts, there are deeper needs that aren't getting met: to feel heard, to feel chosen, to feel safe. Our job is to help you see what's really going on underneath the surface arguments and build new ways of reaching each other.
Some couples come in knowing exactly what's wrong. Others just know something is off. Both are fine. We'll figure it out together.
Depending on what your relationship needs, your therapist may draw from:
Gottman Method: research-backed framework for building trust, managing conflict, and deepening friendship in your relationship
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): helps couples identify the emotional patterns driving disconnection and build more secure attachment
Client-centered approaches: following your lead on what matters most and working at your pace
Mindfulness-based approaches: building awareness of your own triggers and reactions so you can show up differently
Solution-focused approaches: practical tools you can use between sessions to shift daily patterns
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): reconnecting with shared values and building a relationship that reflects what actually matters to you both
Most of our couples therapists integrate multiple approaches based on what's happening in the room. There's no rigid playbook.
What to expect when you start couples therapy
The first session is usually about getting the lay of the land. Your therapist will want to hear from both of you: what brought you in, what you're hoping for, and what the relationship looks like day-to-day. Nobody has to have a speech prepared.
In the early sessions, your therapist may also meet with each of you individually for one session. This gives each partner a chance to share things they might not feel comfortable saying in front of the other yet. It's not about secrets. It's about safety.
From there, sessions are typically together. You'll work on communication patterns, conflict cycles, emotional responsiveness, and whatever specific issues are showing up. Your therapist will give you things to practice between sessions (not homework exactly, more like experiments you try together).
Most couples come weekly or every other week. Sessions are typically 50-60 minutes, though some couples benefit from extended 80-minute sessions, especially early on.
Sessions are available both in person at our Austin office and virtually across Texas.
The right therapist makes all the difference
Couples therapy is only as good as the fit between you, your partner, and your therapist. You both need to feel heard, and that takes a specific kind of skill and presence.
Our intake manager will match you with a therapist trained in couples work whose style fits what your relationship needs. If the fit isn't right, we'll help you find someone who is. No awkwardness, just the next right person.
Common questions about couples therapy
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This is really common. Sometimes one partner is ready and the other isn't sure. A few options: you can start individual therapy to work on your side of the dynamic (which often shifts things at home). Or we can help you have the conversation with your partner about why you'd like to try. Sometimes just hearing "we're not going to get blamed" is enough to lower the wall.
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No. Our couples therapists are trained to hold space for both partners. You'll each feel challenged at times (that's part of the work), but nobody gets labeled the villain. The relationship is the client.
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It depends on what you're working through. Some couples feel significant shifts in 8-12 sessions. Others stay longer for deeper work, especially around trust repair or communication overhauls. We'll set goals together and check in regularly.
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Yes. Discernment counseling is specifically designed for couples who aren't sure if they want to work on the relationship or end it. We can help you get clarity without pressure in either direction. Whatever you decide, we want you to feel confident in the decision.
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Absolutely. Our practice is deeply affirming of all relationship structures. Many of our therapists specialize in working with LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. You'll be welcomed exactly as you are.
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Both work well for couples work. Some couples prefer the structure of coming to the office together (it becomes "your time"). Others find virtual more practical, especially with busy schedules or kids at home. We offer both, and your therapist can help you figure out what works best for your situation.
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Yes, we're in-network with several major insurance plans. Sessions range from $75 to $190 depending on your clinician. Note that insurance typically covers couples therapy when billed under one partner's plan. We can walk you through how that works. Learn more on our Cost & Coverage page.
Ready to start reaching for each other again?
The fact that you're reading this page says something. It says you still care. It says the relationship still matters to you, even if it doesn't feel the way it used to.
That caring is the foundation we build on.
Our matching process makes it easy to take the first step together. Answer a few questions, and we'll pair you with a couples therapist who fits what your relationship needs right now.