Couples Therapy

To make an appointment, please call (212) 305-6001 or submit our online form.


Facts to Know:

  • Couples therapy can help couples develop more loving and more secure relationships.
  • Couples therapy aims to improve communication and decrease conflict between partners.
  • Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy is an evidence-based approach that has been shown to help 3 out 4 couples move from distress to healthy relationship functioning.

What is couples therapy?

Couples therapy is a form of talk therapy which helps people in romantic relationships improve communication and develop more satisfying connections. Couples therapy treats relationship distress, chronic arguments, and broken trust from emotional or sexual affairs.  Couples therapy may be delivered in combination with other treatments such as individual psychotherapy or medication management or it may be delivered independent of other interventions.  

What is Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy?

Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy is a specific type of couples psychotherapy that has been shown to help 3 out of 4 couples improve their relationship through fostering a more secure and loving attachment to each other.   In the initial sessions, the therapist works with the couple to assess how they interact with one another and to de-escalate patterns of conflict in their relationship. The next phase of therapy focuses on improving communication and developing new bonds to deepen and strengthen the relationship. In the final phase of treatment, improved communication skills and new ways of relating are consolidated and practiced outside of the therapy room.

How does couples therapy work?

Couples typically meet with a therapist once per week for a number of months depending upon the needs of the couple.  Couples therapy helps partners realize the value of love, comfort, and support that comes with a secure relationship. 

How can I receive couples therapy at Columbia?

At Columbia Psychiatry, we work with couples utilizing evidence-based approaches such as Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy in order to help couples develop the relationship they long for. We offer therapy tailored to the unique needs of each couple.   

Search our providers for a therapist or psychiatrist with expertise in couples therapy.

To make an appointment, please call 212-305-6001 or submit our online form.