Couples Counseling & Therapy in Seattle

Issues We Work on in Couples Therapy

Couples who attend or are thinking about counseling in Seattle are experiencing any of the following in their relationship:

1. Trust has been broken
2. Arguments are getting more frequent
3. Communication breakdown
4. Something just feels “off”
5. Trouble communication needs/fear of communicating needs
6. One or both of you becomes dysfunctional during a conflict
7. You have gone through something devastating together
8. You feel stuck in bad relationship habits and patterns
9. Emotional connection is lacking
10. Physical intimacy, sex or passion is gone
11. Clash of Attachment Styles
12. Clash or misccomunication of love languages

Who Is Couples Counseling For?

Couples Counseling is for any couple! It doesn’t matter if you’re married (specifically marriage counseling), living together, single, gay, bi-sexual, polyarmoirs or straight. Couples often head to counseling in Seattle when they are unsure how to improve and repair the relationship. People often come to marriage counseling when things get “bad enough” that they are thinking about ending the relationship. But counseling services also work for partners who want to “tune-up” their relationship and remain on a healthy path – before a major relationship breakdown.

What Is Couples Counseling?

Going into your first session of couples counseling can feel intimidating at first. Couples therapy differs from individual therapy in that your therapist is treating you and your partner as a couple. Therapy is focused on the best interest of the couple, it is not focused on the interest of one or the partners.

However, couples therapy does include individual therapy at times so that your therapist can get to know you and learn your history and perspective as an individual as it pertains to your relationship. You do not need to be married to go to couples therapy, any type of relationship or partnership can benefit from doing couples counseling.

Licensed Couples Counselors in Seattle, WA

Our marriage counselors are experienced in working with young adults, individuals, couples, and families. A licensed marriage and family therapist has the skills to coach you through both challenges and life transitions. Choose a certified mental health professional in Seattle, WA.

Why Should You Consider Couples Therapy?

There are several reasons that couples choose to engage in therapy. High conflict couples may need to work towards getting to the root cause of their problems and learn strategies for effective conflict resolution. Other couples may need assistance working towards a specific goal or getting through a major life transition such as the birth of a child or loss of a job. 

Some couples may desire a deeper connection with one another or the opportunity to address issues with intimacy. Every couple’s goals are different, you and your therapist will partner with you to reach the goals that you have outlined for you and your relationship. Your goals may change and evolve during therapy as you gain more insight and understanding into yourself and your relationship.

Counseling Can Improve Your Relationship

Sometimes the goal of couple’s therapy is to end the relationship on a good note or learn to work together as co-parents outside of a romantic relationship. Therapy can also help you gain clarity and reveal that your relationship is not sustainable and help you let go of the relationship in a healthy way. No matter what your goals are, couples counseling will help you to learn new skills to help improve your relationship.

LGBTQ+ Couples Counseling

The therapists at Anchor Light Therapy support the Sex Positive community in Seattle, WA. We are Poly and Kink friendly, LGBTQ+ friendly. We offer an inclusive and safe space for those that may have felt judged or misunderstood in other therapeutic relationships. Learn more about Seattle LGBTQ+ Couples Counseling. 

Premarital Counseling

The greatest misconception about couples therapy is that it’s only for those who are in a relationship crisis or are currently struggling. Many people discover that working with a couples therapist early in their relationship is the key to gaining a better understanding of their partner, and of partnership in general. Couples therapy is a safe place to discuss difficult topics emotionally and to learn how you relate to each other as a couple; to understand each other’s reactions and behavior, and come together in a loving, rational, and respectful way.

Why The Gottman Method?

Anchor Light Therapy Collective therapists are trained in the Gottman Method of couples counseling in Seattle Washington. Through this approach, we apply proven assessment techniques and intervention strategies to support you in learning how to navigate conflict, improve communication, strengthen friendship, deepen intimacy, build trust, and share your life’s purpose and dreams with your partner.

Within the Gottman Method, the goals for marriage counseling include increased intimacy, affection, and respect, and a defused quality to any contentious verbal communication. Once we remove the barrier of contentious communication, you will experience a heightened sense of empathy and understanding of your partner, leading to more harmonious interactions.

There are many aspects and nuances of the work, but for couples who are successful, it opens up aspects of caring and commitment that may have previously been a barrier.

Why Anchor Light Therapy For Couples Counseling

Clients are more likely to have a good therapy experience when they are open and willing to explore issues in their relationship and committed to making positive changes. Couples who benefit from couples counseling are not there to change or blame their partner or to be right. Instead they desire to self-reflect and learn how to work together to resolve past conflict, as well as how to make changes that will lead to improved future outcomes. 

Is marriage counseling enough or will I need individual therapy?

That’s for your licensed mental health counselor to determine. Couples therapy is about working on issues together. Sometimes one or both partners in a relationship have individual issues that cannot be addressed in couples sessions. Issues involving anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and other disorders may require an individual approach to treatment. If this is the case, we often recommend you to continue marriage counseling so you can use tools, techniques, and learnings from individual therapy to improve your relationship.

Is it important to work with a Licensed Mental Health Counselor?

Yes, being licensed (LMHC) means that all of our Seattle counselors have multiple years of training and university education in mental health. This is a critical foundation that’s essential for all professional counseling. Anchor Light therapists are also trained in the Gottman method which is an evidence-based counseling intervention that teaches couples how to improve their friendship, manage and resolve conflict, and effectively communicate with one another. The Gottman method teaches couples strategies for improving their relationships that are well researched and proven to be highly effective.

How much does a couples therapist cost?

Therapy creates a space for you to experience healing and progress in a way that can change your life. But of course, it’s also an investment of both time and finances. When you’re ready to commit to healing and transformation, here is what you can expect.

First session
$215

All subsequent sessions
$175 (50 minutes)

Insurance

We do not participate with any insurance panels. Anchor Light Therapy Collective is considered an out-of-network provider. 

As a courtesy to any individual clients who wish to utilize their insurance benefits, We are happy to verify your out-of-network plan benefits to tell you what portion, if any, may be covered by your health insurance provider. 

Out of Nework Insurance Options