How It's Complicated works
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Start therapyReach out to your therapist and book your first session within 24 hours. Online or in person, in 60+ languages.
Learn more about couples therapy
Couples therapy is a form of talking therapy that helps two people in a relationship understand recurring problems, communicate better, and decide how they want to move forward together. Sometimes called marriage counselling or relationship counselling, it treats the relationship itself as the focus, rather than either partner individually, and works with the patterns that build up between people over time. Couples therapy suits relationships at any stage, whether dating, long-term, married, or separating, and it works equally well in person or online, including from separate locations.
It is used both to repair relationships in difficulty and to strengthen ones that are basically working, and does not require a crisis to be worthwhile.
Couples therapy usually involves both partners meeting with one therapist together, though individual sessions within the same work are common. The therapist stays even-handed, working for the relationship rather than taking sides, and helps each person feel heard while surfacing the patterns that keep causing difficulty.
In practice, the work often involves:
- Understanding the pattern. Rather than deciding who is right, the therapist helps you see the recurring cycle you both get caught in, such as criticism met with withdrawal.
- Improving communication. You practise expressing needs and listening in ways that reduce defensiveness and conflict.
- Working on specific issues. Sessions can focus on concrete areas such as trust, intimacy, parenting, or a decision about the future.
Couples therapy helps with the full range of difficulties that arise between partners, from specific ruptures to a general sense that something is not working. It is used across relationship stages and structures.
- Relationships: Couples therapy addresses recurring conflict, distance, and communication breakdown, helping you understand the patterns between you and change them. Expect work on how you relate as a pair rather than on either partner alone.
- Divorce & break up: Whether you are deciding whether to separate or navigating an ending, couples therapy can make the process clearer and less destructive. Expect support with difficult conversations, and where children are involved, with co-parenting.
- Parenthood: The transition to parenting and the strain it places on a couple are common reasons to seek therapy. Expect work on sharing the load, staying connected, and handling disagreements about raising children.
- Co-Dependency: Where one partner's needs consistently override their own, couples therapy can help rebalance the relationship. Expect work on boundaries, individual needs, and healthier ways of supporting each other.
It's Complicated is a therapist-founded mental health platform connecting clients with verified practitioners across Europe and globally, in over 60 languages. The platform is free to use, with over 2,500 vetted therapists offering in-person sessions in cities including Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Lisbon, and Vienna, alongside online sessions worldwide, including couples sessions you can join from separate locations.
Choosing a therapist together when you are already struggling to talk can feel like one more hurdle. Our matching service is built to remove that friction. You complete a short survey, our psychologists combine data-driven insights with human judgement to identify the right therapists for your situation, and you choose from a shortlist of strong candidates. You can also browse our directory directly if you'd prefer to choose yourself, including practitioners who work online.
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