Inclusive Premarital & Marriage Counseling in NYC
Having a successful, fulfilling marriage takes work, and sometimes couples want some additional support. Pursuing premarital and marriage therapy is not necessarily a sign of a struggling relationship, as it can also be indicative of partners who desire a strong, healthy relationship and who are ready to put in the work to become their best selves.
Whether a couple is engaged and seeking premarital counseling, or they are already married and looking to improve their relationship, premarital and marriage therapy can help. It can be challenging to find a therapist who feels like a good fit for each member of a relationship, and for nontraditional couples and those in the LGBTQIA+ community, it can be especially difficult. Our inclusive therapists are here to help.
Common Marriage Issues We Treat
In the same way that regular doctor’s visits help protect physical health, marriage therapy can help protect the health of a relationship. Below are some of the common topics that our experienced marriage and premarital therapists can help you explore in your therapy sessions.
Managing External Stressors
Sometimes, stressors outside the relationship can become more pronounced in marriage. Stressors such as family dynamics, financial pressures, physical or mental health issues, or job demands can strain a marriage and require joint problem-solving.
Adapting to Change
Married life can be a huge change for each spouse. Building a life together requires a great deal of adjustment, such as changing relationship dynamics that include shifts in power, roles, and responsibilities. Additionally, integrating two individual lives with their routines and expectations can cause stress.
Sustaining Emotional Connection & Commitment
During the dating phase of a relationship, it may feel effortless to remain emotionally connected, and some couples are surprised when this feels more difficult in marriage. They may need to actively work on nurturing intimacy and preventing emotional distance. Our therapists can also support couples in maintaining connection and fidelity over time and navigating evolving needs in the relationship. They can also help partners to navigate polyamory, open relationships, and consensual non-monogamy throughout various phases of relationships.
Communication & Conflict Resolution
Effective communication is crucial in both premarital and marital stages, but it is a skill that takes time and practice to develop. Since conflict is inevitable in relationships, we can help couples learn and implement healthy conflict resolution strategies to resolve disagreements and prevent ongoing issues through active listening and clear communication.
Life Transitions
Some challenges in marriage can be triggered by a wide variety of life transitions: ongoing personal growth among member(s) of the relationship, the birth of children, moving, new jobs, and more. These transitions can impact the dynamics of the relationship and cause stress and conflict if not addressed. With the help of an experienced therapist, partners can learn how to support one another during periods of life changes.
How Does Marriage Therapy Work
When you and your partner start your sessions, your therapist will create a safe, nonjudgmental, and confidential space wherein each of you will have the opportunity to express yourselves, hear and learn from each other, and gain insight into yourselves and each other. The therapist will actively support and guide the conversation, ensuring that each partner feels heard and encouraged. Together, you will work to identify patterns and establish new ways of communicating with and relating to one another.
Our Premarital Therapy Services
Marriage therapy is a perfect fit for those who are engaged, and our therapists help these clients lay the groundwork for a healthy, mutually fulfilling relationship. We offer premarital counseling in NYC that can assist with a broad range of issues.
Clarifying Expectations
A marriage therapist can help an engaged couple explore and clarify their expectations, hopes, and fears about marriage. As a result, couples experience enhanced mutual understanding and aligned goals for their relationship.
Developing Communication & Conflict Resolution
It is crucial to develop healthy communication and conflict resolution techniques before a disagreement emerges, especially if a couple has had a relatively low-drama relationship. Although marriage is a beautiful life change, it is also a stressful one, and engaged or newly married people need effective communication and conflict resolution skills to have a resilient, joyful marriage.
Exploring Compatibility
Compatibility includes more than how partners feel about each other, and preparing to integrate their lives requires an exploration of deeper issues. Marriage therapy provides a structured, nonjudgmental environment for couples to explore their compatibility across various areas of life, including values, parenting styles, and life goals.
Identifying Potential Challenges
Through therapy, couples can proactively identify and address potential future challenges such as extended family dynamics, the effects of past trauma, and other situations that couples may not otherwise anticipate. Couples can then develop strategies for handling these scenarios while protecting their relationship.
Building a Strong Foundation
Couples preparing for marriage can benefit from a neutral third party helping set the tone for their future. The therapist will guide them in building a foundation based on trust, intimacy, and a shared vision for the future.
Our Marriage Therapy Services
Most people think of marriage counseling or couples’ therapy as being the last resort for a failing marriage, but that isn’t true! Although our NYC marriage counseling does help couples navigate challenging situations, you can think of marriage therapy as maintenance rather than exclusively emergency support. Here’s how we can help.
Improving Communication & Conflict Resolution
Our therapists are skilled in helping couples improve existing communication patterns and develop and implement effective strategies for conflict resolution. We focus on strategies to prevent conflict escalation, ensuring each partner feels confident to address conflict in a healthy, safe manner.
Rebuilding Trust
If there has been a compromise of trust in the marriage, we will assist couples in rebuilding it. Our approach focuses on open, honest communication, seeking and giving forgiveness, and committing to positive change.
Deepening Intimacy & Emotional Connection
Issues related to sexuality, intimacy, and emotional connection can be painful and become sources of resentment if not addressed. We help couples navigate these issues to enhance the overall quality of the relationship.
Preventing & Addressing Infidelity
When infidelity has occurred, we help couples rebuild their relationship. We will address underlying issues contributing to infidelity as the couple works to move forward with enhanced communication and trust.
Navigating Diverse Relationship Configurations
Couples at any stage of their relationships sometimes choose to explore new configurations, such as open marriages, polyamory, and consensual non-monogamy. We can help couples learn about different options, navigate complex feelings, and establish effective boundaries and communication.
Maintaining Long-Term Commitment
Marriage requires care and attention, and a qualified marriage therapist can help couples renew and maintain their long-term commitment by addressing expectations, priorities, and evolving needs over the length of the relationship.
Coping with External Stressors
No matter how long a couple has been together, sometimes outside stressors are more than they can handle alone, or past coping strategies are no longer effective. Therapists assist by identifying new strategies to handle stress from external sources.
Individual Growth & Support
Sometimes, couples feel they are growing apart as each partner develops individually over time. In therapy, each partner will be supported in individual growth and self-discovery while learning to maintain a strong connection in the marriage.
Benefits of Marriage Therapy
No matter the length or configuration of your relationship, marriage therapy has a wealth of benefits.
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Emotional well-being: Therapy can foster resilience, positive outlooks, and the emotional wellness of individuals and couples.
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Neutral mediation: Marriage therapists provide a neutral and nonjudgmental space for couples to discuss sensitive issues.
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Tools for continued growth: Couples gain skills and strategies that are useful beyond therapy sessions, which leads to continuous growth in the relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Seeking premarital or marital counseling can be intimidating, but we’re here to help.
Is Marriage Therapy Covered by Insurance?
This will depend on your plan and coverage. We will check your benefits for you and then will submit claims to your insurance plan as an out-of-network provider. The experience with our practice is similar to one with an in-network provider in that we will submit claims on your behalf so you do not have to file your own claims and wait for reimbursement.
Rebuilding Trust
To access marriage therapy in NYC, you can book sessions directly on our website, by emailing info@insightandactiontherapy.com, or by calling 347-327-3698. Our staff will work with you to find a therapist that fits your schedule and budget.
What Types of Sessions Do You Offer?
We offer HIPAA-compliant online sessions as well as in-person sessions at our office near Grand Central. Additionally, if you would like to have a complimentary 15- to 20-minute consultation with one of our therapists before scheduling an initial session, we would be happy to coordinate that for you.
Is Marriage Therapy Right for Me?
A marriage therapist can help those who are engaged and those who are already married. Our inclusive therapists also specialize in helping nontraditional couples and those in the LGBTQIA+ community. Seeking marriage therapy is a sign of people wanting their relationship to be the best it can be, not an immediate sign that something is “wrong.” In short, yes, marriage therapy could be for you!
Schedule Marriage Therapy Near You
The goal of premarital and marital therapy is to enhance understanding, strengthen the relationship, and equip couples and individuals with the skills they need to handle challenges and enjoy a fulfilling relationship. If you’re ready to speak with a marriage therapist in NYC, book your first session online, email info@insightandactiontherapy.com, or call 347-327-3698 today!