Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How many sessions will it take to solve our problems?

While each couple is unique and there is no average number of sessions, we ask that couples make a commitment of doing at least 16 weekly sessions. All sessions are 75 minutes long. When working with couples, the session should be long enough for each person to be able to express themselves and listen to the other partner. Couples therapy sessions are typically longer than individual sessions. We find that 50 minutes is long enough to open “Pandora’s Box” but not long enough to close it. You will be amazed at how much more can be accomplished with an extra 25 minutes in a session.

What does the process involve?
The therapy begins with a 3-step assessment process where the clinician completes an individual assessment of each partner, and an assessment of the couple. This assessment provides the foundation or road map for your therapeutic journey. The goal of our work is not to make couples “therapy-dependent.” Rather, we attempt to provide couples with the skills and tools they will need to become competent and connected in their daily lives, and we offer the clinical intervention necessary to assist couples toward achieving that goal.
Is there anything we can do before seeing you?
Yes. There are several excellent tools in both book and digital format that we strongly encourage people look into as part the treatment. It isn’t required that you use these materials, but many of our clients find them helpful, especially as a supplement to the work done in couples therapy.
What if one of us has a lot of personal issues to work on?
Sometimes individual therapy is indicated for one or both parties involved in couples therapy. If that should happen, your therapist will assist you in getting matched with an appropriate therapist for the individual treatment. For clients of Marathon Therapy who do not live in Western Massachusetts, we can assist in providing more general guidance for locating an appropriate individual therapist in your local area.
Can couples therapy still be helpful if my partner is reluctant to attend?
It is not uncommon for one partner to be more hesitant to participate in couples therapy then the other. Partners often begin treatment in very different places emotionally. While it is not required that you bring an equal level of motivation to the process, it is important that your partner make the decision to come themselves. Research shows that the level of crisis a couple is in when the begin couples therapy is not predictive of whether or not the relationship will dissolve. It is not uncommon for couples to find that the distrust and ambivalence that currently exists between them changes and heals as the work progresses.
Our relationship is not in crisis and we are just looking for some tools to enhance it; are your services still appropriate for us?
Absolutely! Couples therapy is not just for relationships in distress, and it is unfortunate that our culture often views it as such. Working with a couples therapist is a way to promote a healthy relationship, and to learn to be proactive in cultivating relational skills that will allow you to thrive as a couple. This is a fantastic way to embark on a lifetime of relational health that will not only benefit you but your family and society at large.
Do you provide individual therapy?

In a perfect world, everyone would get support with individual challenges and relationship problems. But sometimes circumstances are such that one person is being more difficult, refusing to accept influence or attend couples therapy. Couples Therapy for One, is often the best and only option in situations like this. With an unreasonable partner, the ability to stand up for yourself without putting your partner down is not optional. Couples Therapy for One can also be a fantastic option if you are in couples therapy and want to do some fine-tuning and address personal difficulties that impact your relationship(s).

When can we begin sessions?

Our availability varies, and we recommend scheduling a free 15-minute phone consultation with one of our intake coordinators to learn more about our current availability for sessions. Please complete the form on this page to receive a link to our online calendar where you can schedule your consultation. 

Do you keep a waiting list?

We do not keep a waiting list. Please schedule a consultation with an intake coordinator to learn more about our process.

Do you accept insurance?
Couples counseling can be demanding work and requires a unique skill set. Couples therapists must protect both parties’ well-being, continually check their biases, and draw upon complex research in numerous fields. Health Insurance companies are notorious for limiting and curtailing the length and type of counseling clients deserve, which impacts the caliber of care a couples therapist can provide you. For this reason, NCCT is not contracted in-network with any health insurance panels.

Alternatively, we offer sliding fees and superbills for you to submit for reimbursement, plus scholarships to qualifying couples and students attending our groups and classes.

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