How does it work?
There are three components to Couple’s therapy:
• Knowledge to help you understand what is happening between the two of you, and how relationships naturally grow and change over time.
• Skills specifically designed to change how you talk and listen to each other that will greatly increase the likelihood of successful conversations.
• Insight into yourself and your partner, allowing you to come to know each other in a deeper, more complete way, strengthening the bond between you.
All of this is accomplished in weekly sessions that last 45-90 minutes, depending on the plan we create together.
How long does couple’s therapy last?
Plan on a minimum of 12 sessions. However, like all forms of treatment, it is impossible to predict exactly how long it will take. While some couples are done in less than 12 sessions, most couples are in therapy for 6-12 months, depending on the difficulty of the challenges.
How much does it cost?
Sessions range from $160-$320 a session depending upon the length of our meeting.
When thinking about the financial investment of couple’s therapy, it maybe helpful to remember that the average divorce in California costs $90,000 (according to 360divorce.com). The average cost of a complete course of couple’s treatment is $7500.
Does it work?
Dr. Andrew Christensen, one of the world’s leading scientists in this field, led a team at UCLA and the University of Washington that looked at the effectiveness of marital therapy for 134 couples. The study found that after 26 sessions, 48% of couples in the study improved or completely recovered—even after 5 years.
(See http://www.pbs.org/thisemotionallife/blogs/does-couple-therapy-work for complete article.)
If you are facing the 100% certainty of separation/divorce or an almost 50% chance of recovery, couple’s therapy may be worth a try.
How do we start?
First, we’ll get together for 30 mins and talk about what’s going on between you and how I can help. If that goes well and you feel comfortable, we’ll talk about scheduling, fees, insurance, etc. Next, I will meet with each of you individually to discuss your history and concerns about the relationship. After that, the three of us will meet and I’ll let you in on my first ideas about what I think is going on between you and how I can help. After that, we’ll always all meet together.