For the relationship you want to protect.

It can. Working through betrayal is one of the hardest things two people can do together, and it does not always lead to staying together. What couples therapy does is give you a structured, guided space to actually look at what happened, understand what was underneath it, and decide together what you want to do next. Many couples who come in after infidelity leave with a clearer picture of their relationship than they have had in years. Some rebuild. Some do not. Either way, having that clarity matters.

The Shift is a private-pay, out-of-network practice. We do not bill insurance directly. Couples therapy is often excluded from insurance coverage regardless of the practice, so this is a common question. If you have out-of-network benefits, we can provide a superbill you submit to your insurer for potential reimbursement. If staying in-network is a priority, we are happy to help connect you with a referral who accepts your plan.

Couples sessions are $250 per session. A 3-session bundle is $600 ($200 per session) for couples who are committed to a consistent run of sessions. We accept FSA and HSA payments. If cost is a barrier, bring it up during your consultation and we'll talk through what makes sense.

The first session is a 90-minute appointment. Your therapist will spend most of that time getting oriented with both of you, asking about your relationship history, what has brought you in, and what you are hoping to get out of the process. You do not have to agree on a single version of what is wrong before you come in. It is okay if you see things differently. The first session is about getting a clear picture, not solving everything at once.

In practice, the two terms mean the same thing. Both couples therapy and marriage counseling refer to a counselor working with two partners together to address conflict, communication, trust, or connection. At The Shift, both terms describe what we offer. Whether you searched for "couples therapy" or "marriage counseling," you are looking for the same kind of help, and we can provide it.

For couples who show up and do the work, the research is genuinely encouraging. Gottman Method couples therapy, which one of our therapists is Level 2 certified in, has one of the stronger evidence bases in the field. Outcomes depend on where a couple is starting from, how honest both people are willing to be, and whether both partners are truly invested. Therapy is not a guarantee. But if the two of you are willing to sit across from someone and be honest about what's going on, most couples walk away with something that lasts. Sometimes that honesty leads to a stronger relationship. Sometimes it leads two people to a healthier separation. Either outcome, arrived at with clarity instead of guesswork, is real progress.

It varies depending on what you are working through and how quickly things shift. Some couples make meaningful progress in eight to twelve sessions. Others choose to continue longer for deeper work or for the ongoing support of a regular touchpoint in a stressful season. After the first few sessions, you will have a clearer sense of the pace and what a realistic timeline looks like for your situation.

Yes. Premarital counseling is couples work at a different point in the relationship, hopefully before the patterns are set rather than after they have hardened. We help couples preparing for marriage or a long-term commitment build the communication habits, conflict skills, and shared understanding that give a relationship a strong start. It is some of the most worthwhile work we do, because the tools you build now are the ones you will lean on for years.