3 Best Los Angeles Couples Therapists

Couple therapy, also called couples counseling or marriage counseling, addresses issues in romantic relationships.  You and your loved one will meet with a mental health professional to explore your history, discuss concerns, and figure out how to move forward.

The purpose of couple therapy is not to erase the past or point fingers but to come together to talk, listen, and learn from each other as you work through your problems.  Your counselor will serve as a guide throughout the entire process, encouraging you to act as a team with a shared goal. Read more about what to expect from couples therapy here

Some of the benefits of couple therapy include:

• Getting to know yourself and your partner

• Having difficult but essential conversations

• Exploring each other’s needs and wants

• Discovering underlying issues and negative patterns

• Cultivating intimacy and affection

• Improving communication skills 

• Regaining trust and stability

• Aligning your purpose and life vision

Therapy offers a safe environment for both of you to meet in the middle and share what’s hurting you–without distractions or scrutiny.  You can come to the table with your thoughts, goals, and expectations, listen to each other, and lean on your therapist for support.

As treatment goes on, your counselor will gather your history, what your relationship was built upon, and your adopted behaviors.  This information will help identify ineffective and unhealthy habits and connect the dots to understand what shifts are needed to improve.

Ultimately, therapy provides practical strategies to promote healthy communication, regain emotional and physical intimacy, and solidify trust. 

Now, suppose that while in therapy, you realize the relationship cannot continue.  In that case, your therapist can also facilitate conversations on how to find closure and provide recommendations accordingly. 

If you and your partner are on the fence about starting couples therapy, here is a blog about some of the signs of when it could be time for you to start couples therapy.

Many couples hesitate to try therapy because they don’t want to air out their issues or prefer to deal with their relationship struggles on their own.  There could also be some disagreement between partners, where one is willing to seek help, yet the other remains on the fence.  

We respect that. Asking for help from a third person can be a scary and tough decision to make.  But keep in mind that licensed therapists are trained specialists who have the knowledge and expertise to listen without judgment, maintain confidentiality, and offer evidence-based advice to help you.

Therapy can also benefit you if you are not in a moment of crisis but want to strengthen your bond and grow.  A counselor can provide tools and exercises to develop a fulfilling long term relationship that promotes healthy boundaries and effective communication.

There are several different criteria that is helpful to consider when finding the right therapist for you including credentials, specialization, approach, and compatibility. Therapists that typically see couples are marriage and family therapist, licensed professional clinical counselors, psychologists, and social workers. However, credentials are only one aspect of finding the right fit for you. It's also important to consider specialization. There are a variety of different issues that you and your partner are needing support in such as infidelity, divorce counseling, premarital counseling, or sex therapy. You may even have a specific modality in mind like emotionally focused therapy or the Gottman Method. The best fit in relationship counseling will take into consideration the therapist's specialization and training in addition to having a strong rapport that makes you and your partner feel comfortable, safe, equally supported.

There are multiple different ways to find a couples therapy in Los Angles. One place to start is ask for referrals from any friends and family. Personal referrals can be valuable and provided an extra layer of trust or comfort because you have a point of reference. If you don't feel comfortable asking others, you can find a couples therapist in Los Angeles through therapy directories such as TherapyDen, Psychology Today, or Inclusive Therapists. You could also look for providers through your insurance network or search on professional therapist organizations, such as the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) or the American Psychological Association (APA) for couples therapists.

The success rate of couples therapy can be a difficult question to answer because there are a variety of different factors that can impact the outcomes of couples counseling such as commitment to attending therapy from both parties, proactive versus reactive marriage therapy, a history of trauma or other mental health diagnoses. However, the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) did conduct a study that reported three-fourths of couples who undergo couples counseling see an improvement in their relationship, and 90% of participants see an improvement in their physical or mental health. Additionally, The Journal of Marital & Family Therapy reports that 70% of couples in therapy experience positive results from marriage counseling. While different studies report different results due to the variability in how outcomes are measured, couples counseling is considered generally beneficial for couples seeking to improve their relationship.