Have You Tried These 25 Couples Therapy Techniques?

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While social media is an ongoing highlight reel, the reality is that having problems as a couple is common. Many couples face conflicts and find comfort in guidance from a licensed therapist. If you’re interested in trying couples therapy or wondering whether it’s a fit for you, we rounded up the best techniques and exercises to get started.

Every relationship has conflict. Learning how to handle your conflicts can not only patch up your issues, but it can also make your relationship much stronger. In couples therapy, a licensed counselor works with two people to improve their relationship. Certain types of counselors are also specifically trained to work with couples, including marriage and family therapists. Like any form of therapy, couples counseling requires a commitment and willingness to open up from both involved parties. According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, more than 98 percent of people surveyed reported marriage and family therapy services as good or excellent. Counseling doesn’t have to be a guarded practice reserved for any “type” of person. Couples therapy can help anyone in a relationship, regardless of demographics, like sexual orientation and age. “Couples can form a more secure bond with one another and be able to have vulnerable conversations without pushing the other person away,” says Dr. Annie Hsueh, PhD, of Hope and Sage Psychological Services. When committing to couples therapy, come with an open mind, and be ready to break down the barriers of communication.

“Reflective listening is a highly beneficial exercise where the couple take turns being active listeners,” says Laura Louis, a licensed psychologist at Atlanta Couple Therapy. Use “I” phrases instead of “you” statements. For example, say “I feel hurt when you do [X]” instead of “You’re wrong for doing [X].” “When couples take turns being active listeners, it healthy communication skills as well as conflict resolution skills for the couple,” Louis says. Many therapists use a method called emotionally focused therapy (EFT), which has been to facilitate long lasting behavior changes. The goal is for couples “to identify maladaptive patterns within the relationship that are interfering with secure bonds and attachments,” says Ansley Campbell, a clinical director at The Summit Wellness Group. People “learn and utilize techniques to heal or create safe and secure attachments within the relationship,” she explains. The practice of narrative therapy revolves around people describing their problems in narrative form and rewriting their stories. This can help them see that no single story can possibly encapsulate the totality of their experience. “There will always be inconsistencies and contradictions,” says Sam Nabil, the CEO and lead therapist at Naya Clinics. Narrative therapy may be helpful for couples who feel like their relationship is failing due to both of their faults. According to a 2016 study, it has even been shown to decrease conflict and increase cooperation among couples. “These couples often believe that they’re subject to this romantic pitfall and emotional trauma because they have been a ‘failure’ from the start and it is what they ‘deserve,’” Nabil says. The Gottman Method is a popular method practiced among couples therapists. The technique is designed to help couples deepen their understanding of one another while managing conflict in their relationship. It may also with other issues, such as intimacy and marital adjustment. The Gottman Institute has more than 40 years of research under its belt. It provides live workshops and take-home training materials for couples, but many therapists have also trained using the Gottman Institute’s methods. Imago relationship therapy, developed by Dr. Harville Hendrix and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt in 1980, emphasizes the connection between adult relationships and childhood experiences. By understanding childhood trauma, the therapy is aimed at making couples more empathetic and understanding of one another. If you’re dealing with a particular issue, experiencing burnout, or trying to work toward a specific goal, solution-focused therapy is a model to consider. According to the Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy, the practice is “a short-term goal-focused evidence-based therapeutic approach which helps clients change by constructing solutions rather than dwelling on problems.”

“Having a physically visible vision board can help remind you of your shared desires and goals for when you are having issues within the relationship,” Louis says. She advises couples to get crafty by writing down goals and collecting pictures that embody their relationship desires. “It’s a tangible reminder that a marriage is a work in progress, and that it takes hard work and time on both ends to create a strong, healthy, and long lasting relationship,” she says. Get over surface-level conversations and ask your partner questions other than “What’s for dinner?” Kelly Sinning, a Colorado-based licensed professional counselor, likes to give her clients the homework of simply talking with each other. “Oftentimes, we get so busy and caught up in the day-to-day needs, we don’t realize that we stop having conversations about anything else,” she explains. Expressing gratitude and communicating what works in your relationship can help strengthen your appreciation for one another. “Make it a habit of expressing appreciation daily through in-person conversations, texts, or a sticky note in a place your partner will find it,” suggests Meagan Prost, a licensed professional clinical counselor at Center for Heart Intelligence. Just because you’re in a relationship, it doesn’t mean you experience love in the same way. “The 5 Love Languages” by Dr. Gary Chapman helps couples identify what makes them feel loved, so they can show up for each other. The five love languages are based on the idea that each person has a preferred way of receiving love: Take this online quiz with your partner to discover your love language and better understand each other. Are you looking to have an important or difficult discussion with your partner? Take it from the experts: Serious talks are best when you have a plan. “We often engage in conflict because the timing is wrong, and we aren’t in a frame of mind where we can thoughtfully engage in conversation,” says Alisha Powell, PhD, LCSW, with Amethyst Counseling and Consulting. She recommends scheduling tough conversations in advance, so no one is caught off guard. While life can feel hectic, don’t let outside pressures override time with your partner. “Scheduling an hour of ‘couples time’ to get intimate is a great start. Scheduling an hour of time to focus on topics that will help improve the relationship can be done several times a week or once a week,” says Grazel Garcia, LMFT. As a couple and as individuals, understand that you both have intimacy needs. Garcia calls this the “intimacy bucket,” which includes the following types of intimacy: Spend time finding exercises in each bucket. For example, you can explore a new hobby together or socialize with mutual friends on a Zoom game night. Consider teaming up with your partner for couples yoga. Partner yoga allows you to balance together with your partner, establishing and strengthening trust as you flow through tandem moves. A 2016 study found an association between mindfulness and relationship satisfaction. By synchronizing your breathing, you’ll be one with your partner during your practice — and the benefits may even exceed your yoga class. Don’t knock this technique before you try it. Dr. John Gottman, the founder of the Gottman Institute, advocates for the 6-second kiss. It’s a way for couples to add a dash of romance seamlessly throughout the day. The kiss is just long enough to be passionate while also acting as a distraction from the busyness of the day. 16. Show interest in each other’s day When was the last time you asked your partner what they were most excited about for the day? Spending a few moments discussing your partner’s agenda and goals will help support them and make them feel cared for in your relationship. With her clients, Prost finds that “curiosity can help your partner feel connected to you.” 17. Share a list of things you want from your partner Write down three things your partner could do weekly that would make you happy. Share your list with one another while looking in each other’s eyes. The lists may not be something your partner can do every day, but a reminder of things they can manage to do once a week to help build trust and communication. “The point is that we all show and need affection in different ways, and honoring those differences is essential to feeling heard and understood,” says Nyro Murphy, LCPC. You might remember icebreakers from summer camp or work seminars, but this go-to conversation-starting game may help reinvigorate your relationship and teach you something new about your partner. Reintroduce yourself to your partner by setting time to discuss icebreaker questions that dig beneath the surface. Remember the days of making your school crush the ultimate mixtape? Feel the nostalgia and curate your own playlist of songs that remind you of your partner and the moments you’ve shared. Swap your playlists, and get a peek into each other’s romantic side. Reading can allow you to share an experience together at your own pace. Alternate the responsibility of choosing a book that’s grabbed your attention, and set a date to discuss it over dinner. Initiating long-held eye contact with your partner may help you two feel a stronger connection. Prolonged eye contact can help you recognize emotions, trust, and increase intimacy. A 2018 study associated eye gazing with “self-other merging,” reducing the boundary between yourself and the other person to feel unity. As the saying goes, the eyes are the window to the soul, so why not give it a try? Gratitude has many benefits, including boosting well-being for yourself and your relationship. A found that sharing gratitude with your partner increases oxytocin, a hormone that helps calm you and decrease stress. Researchers in the study found that gratitude led to a “greater experienced love.” At the end of each day, take time to share three things you’re grateful for with your partner. There’s a reason why cuddling with your partner feels so good: Cuddling causes your body to release oxytocin and reduces cortisol, the stress hormone. What’s more, according to , interpersonal touch from your partner could act as a stress buffer and may help lower resting blood pressure. This means that, if you’re feeling warm and fuzzy, your body is doing its job. Find a couples therapy workbook in a book store or online, and take time each week to go through assigned activities with your partner. Hsueh recommends her clients read and answer the question prompts in “Hold Me Tight” by Dr. Sue Johnson. Hsueh also recommends “The Couple Home Lasting Connection System,” a workbook filled with exercises designed to help couples connect in “deeper, more meaningful ways.” According to a 2014 report by the Pew Research Center, 25 percent of participants in a serious relationship say cellphones distract their partner when they’re alone together. Known as phone snubbing (or “phubbing”), focusing on your phone instead of your partner in a social setting could negatively your relationship over time. If distraction and a feeling of absenteeism is infiltrating your relationship, experiment with setting aside time to fully unplug and communicate with each other.

What are the benefits of couples therapy? If you’re in need of a relationship refresh, counseling may be a great option for you. No matter your situation, you can benefit from participating in couples therapy and acquiring a toolkit to deepen your connection with your loved one. “The benefits to couples therapy are endless. The mere act of seeking couples therapy can be a demonstration of the significance and importance you place on your relationship,” says Nikki Young, LMFT. “My goal in couples therapy is to teach couples how to navigate life together as a team, so that ultimately they say, ‘Hey, thanks for the support, but we got it from here,’” she adds. The perks of couples therapy can include: having a third-party mediator to help facilitate constructive conversations finding new ways to communicate with your partner decreasing distress and conflict within your relationship being intentional with your time and words setting time to dedicate to the improvement of your relationship identifying harmful or damaging patterns in your relationship and working around them rebuilding trust with one another having a therapist who can identify underlying issues and emotions you might not be aware exist finding common ground and learning to relate to each other in a loving, kind way feeling supported and listened to in your relationship building skills to identify your needs and wants in a relationship

Reasons you may need couples therapy When it comes to committing to couples therapy, partners can start therapy for any reason that’s causing conflict, distress, or mistrust. go through a transition together, like parenthood or a big move navigate conflicting views on how to parent help manage substance use disorder recovery for one or both partners learn more about the relationship gain stability when feeling lost in the busyness of life get support when grieving the loss of a loved one have fun within your relationship and reignite your spark define the significance and seriousness of a relationship with the help of a third party help with blended families and step-parenting “Oftentimes, couples wait to seek therapy until they have reached a point of crisis within their relationship. And while this is likely a fitting time to seek couples therapy, please consult with a provider to ensure couples counseling is the right avenue of support,” Young says. But in dangerous or dire situations, mental health professionals may advise another path. “There are times when couples therapy is not indicated, such as situations of characterological domestic violence or an ongoing affair. In situations such as these, the therapist will likely recommend individual counseling instead,” she says.

What to expect in couples therapy Before your first therapy session, your therapist may provide you with some paperwork regarding fees, office policies, and other ethical or legal considerations. You and your partner may also be asked to fill out an intake form to provide basic information like your name, address, insurance details, and medical history. The first few sessions of couples therapy generally involve discussing the details of your relationship, along with what you hope to work on during therapy. Your therapist will also likely help you identify areas of improvement, set goals for your relationship, and establish a personalized treatment plan to maximize your results from therapy.

It’s important to discuss with your partner which factors are most important to each of you when looking for a therapist and whether either of you have any preferences regarding the gender, cultural background, location, or specialty of your provider. Asking for a referral from friends, family members, or other medical professionals can be a great starting place to find a couples therapist. There are also many websites available that provide lists of mental health professionals in your area, including the Healthline FindCare tool. These tools typically allow you to filter providers based on gender, language, the forms of therapy offered, and the types of insurance they accept. You may also want to consider using an online couples therapy platform, which can be a convenient and affordable alternative to in-person therapy.