417.872.8403
Relationship Counseling
Something between you has changed, and you both know it.
It might be a pattern that keeps repeating no matter how many times you talk about it. It might be a silence that has grown so familiar it's stopped feeling temporary. It might be something specific that happened, something that broke trust and left you both wondering whether repair is actually possible. Whatever brought you here, the fact that you're looking means something hasn't been given up on yet. Relationship counseling at Courage to Be Counseling and Consultation is for couples who aren't ready to walk away but need something to genuinely shift.
What you might be carrying
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Conversations about real things almost always end the same way, with someone shut down, someone escalated, and nothing actually resolved
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You've started measuring what you say before you say it, tiptoeing around topics that used to feel safe
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The same argument has happened so many times you've started wondering whether the problem is the relationship itself
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Something happened that broke trust, and neither of you is sure whether it's possible to get back to solid ground
What starts to shift
One of the first things that tends to change in relationship work is the ability to slow down. Not to stop feeling things, but to create a little more space between what triggers you and how you respond. That space sounds small. In practice, it changes almost everything about how conflict moves.
Over time, partners start to understand each other at a level that goes beyond behavior. The person who pursues starts to understand what the person who withdraws is actually managing. The person who withdraws starts to understand what the pursuit is really asking for underneath the frustration. That shift in understanding doesn't resolve every issue, but it tends to change the texture of conflict in a lasting way.
For couples working through infidelity or a significant breach of trust, the timeline is longer and the process looks different. Recovery is possible, and it requires both partners to be genuinely present in the work. What's realistic in your specific situation is a conversation that happens early, not something glossed over.
How we work with you
Relationship counseling at Courage to Be Counseling and Consultation draws primarily from Emotionally Focused Therapy, an evidence-based approach focused on the emotional bond between partners and the patterns that have formed around it. The goal isn't to referee disagreements or assign fault. It's to help you both understand what's driving the cycle you're in and build a different way of reaching each other.
Sessions are 50 minutes. Early sessions tend to focus on understanding each partner's experience and mapping the pattern that's causing the most damage. From there, the work moves into the emotional material underneath the pattern and, over time, into building new ways of connecting. Both partners are expected to be present and engaged. The pace is yours.
What to expect
The first session is about getting the full picture. Both partners will have space to share what's been happening and what they're hoping for. There's no assumption about whose perspective is right. Treatment goals are developed together as a couple, with both partners having a say in what the work is aimed at. Progress is revisited as you go.
Sessions are typically weekly or biweekly. Between sessions, you're reachable by email or text with any questions or concerns that come up.
Who this is a good fit for
Relationship counseling at Courage to Be Counseling and Consultation is available for couples and partners at any stage, including those in long-term relationships, marriages, and partnerships navigating major transitions like new parenthood, career changes, or loss. This practice is LGBTQ+ affirming and works with couples of all relationship structures and backgrounds.
A good fit is two people who are both willing to show up and look honestly at their part in the pattern, even when that's uncomfortable. You don't need to be in crisis. You also don't need to have everything figured out. If one or both of you has tried couples counseling before without it helping, that's worth naming early so the approach can account for it.
Fees
Relationship counseling sessions start at $100-$150. Courage to Be Counseling and Consultation does not accept insurance. A free consultation is available before your first session.
Policies
Cancellations should be made in advance by both partners. Confidentiality applies to everything shared in session, within standard legal limits. Both partners are expected to attend sessions together unless a different arrangement has been discussed and agreed upon in advance.
FAQs
Does couples counseling actually work, or does it just delay the inevitable?
Yes, it works, when both partners are genuinely engaged in the process. Research on Emotionally Focused Therapy specifically shows strong outcomes for couples who complete the work. It isn't a guarantee, and it isn't the right path for every situation. The consultation is where that honest conversation starts.
What if my partner is hesitant or doesn't think therapy will help?
That's common, and it doesn't have to be a barrier to starting. A hesitant partner who shows up is often more open than they expected once they're in the room. If your partner is resistant to the idea entirely, that's worth discussing in a consultation before assuming couples work isn't possible.
Can we use couples counseling to decide whether to stay together?
Yes. Some couples come in already uncertain about the future of the relationship. That's a legitimate reason to be here. The work looks somewhat different than it does for couples committed to staying together, and that distinction gets named early so everyone is working toward the same thing.
What if there has been infidelity?
Infidelity is something this practice works with directly. Recovery is possible, but it takes time and requires both partners to be present and honest in the work. The first session will help clarify what's realistic given where things stand.