Marriage counseling is a process that aims to give couples the tools they need to understand each other and resolve conflicts. It can be helpful at any stage in a relationship, including pre-marital counseling. The goals of the first marriage therapy session are to give the couples therapist a decent understanding of the problems the couple is facing in their relationship and to get to know the therapist. During the session, the therapist may ask questions to understand the couples reasons for seeking therapy, their relationship history, and their goals for therapy. Sessions typically last 50 to 60 minutes, and the couple usually meets together with the therapist. The therapist may take different approaches, either working with a couple on current issues or working backward from where those issues began.

Couples counseling can help address a variety of relationship problems, including conflict, communication problems, intimacy problems and infidelity, forgiveness and reconciliation for past hurts, falling out of love or growing apart, depression, anxiety, and individual psychological problems, addiction or serious mental health issues being experienced by a family member, and major life adjustments.

Its important to note that attending couples therapy requires the consent and agreement of both individuals in a relationship. While the success rate of marital therapy is high, some couples may not improve their relationship after working with a marriage counselor. In some cases, counseling may reveal to both members of the couple that the relationship is irreconcilable, and that is a good thing, albeit a harrowing realization.