Guidance for a Stronger, Healthier Relationship
Couples
Therapy
Are you and your partner feeling disconnected, stuck in cycles of conflict, or unsure how to move forward together?
Whether it’s miscommunication, lack of intimacy, or unresolved tension, relationship struggles can feel isolating, and exhausting. Couples therapy provides a supportive, nonjudgmental space to rebuild trust and strengthen your bond with intention.
How can couples therapy help?
Couples therapy helps partners improve communication, repair trust, and navigate challenges as a team.
With the guidance of a skilled therapist, you’ll gain tools to manage conflict, deepen emotional connection, and grow a stronger, more resilient relationship.
Whether you’re dating, married, or navigating a life transition together, therapy supports long-term growth, mutual respect, and clarity.
What to expect in couples therapy
Couples therapy at 3Elements creates a structured, compassionate space for both partners to feel heard.
Your therapist facilitates honest dialogue, teaches practical strategies for emotional regulation, and helps uncover the deeper patterns that drive recurring tension. Sessions may include:
Joint sessions and occasional individual check-ins
Conflict de-escalation tools and communication frameworks
Exercises to rebuild trust and connection
Our approach balances structure and flexibility—always adapted to your relationship’s unique history, dynamics, and goals.
When to Consider Couples Therapy
You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Couples often seek support for:
Frequent arguments or communication breakdowns
Emotional distance or disconnection
Rebuilding trust after infidelity
Life transitions (parenthood, relocation, caregiving)
Coping with grief, illness, or external stressors
Strengthening your connection as a preventive step
What We Treat
Relationships are complex, made of shared stories, emotions, and unmet needs. Couples therapy helps uncover what’s beneath the surface and empowers both partners to respond with care and accountability.
At 3Elements, we work with couples experiencing:
Communication issues
Intimacy struggles
Trust rupture
High conflict relationships / high reactivity
Codependency or enmeshment
Parenting conflicts
Together, we foster emotional safety and co-create meaningful change.
Our Rates
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Reduced fee/sliding fee scale services are available on a limited basis.
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If you do not show up for your scheduled appointment, and you have not notified us at least 24 hours in advance, you will be required to pay a portion of the session ($90 cancellation fee)
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We provide a superbill that clients can submit to their insurance for reimbursement, with the amount covered depending on their specific plan. Here are some questions you can ask your insurance carrier:
Do I have mental health benefits for marriage counseling?
What is my deductible and has it been met?
How many sessions per calendar year does my plan cover?
What is my deductible for out of network benefits?
How much does my plan cover for an out-of-network provider after I have met my deductible?
What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
Is approval required from my primary care physician?
Flexible Options for Your Journey
Online or In-Person
Get support where you feel most at ease—whether from home or in our Kensington office.
English or Spanish
Work with a bilingual therapist in the language that feels most natural to you.
Cash / Check / Credit Card
Simple and flexible payment options to keep therapy within reach.
FAQs
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Most sessions are joint, but at times your therapist may meet briefly with each partner to understand individual perspectives and needs. This helps create a more balanced and effective process.
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Finding a good therapist is an important step in your healing journey. Like in any profession, there are highly skilled and ethical therapists, but there are also those who may not be the right fit for you. The best way to start is by seeking recommendations from someone who has experienced meaningful healing with a therapist. Firsthand referrals from friends, family, or trusted professionals can help you find someone with a proven track record of effectiveness and integrity.
Beyond recommendations, here are key factors to consider when choosing a therapist:
Integrity & Ethical Standards – A good therapist operates with transparency, professionalism, and strong ethical boundaries. They should uphold confidentiality, avoid conflicts of interest, and prioritize your well-being over their personal or financial gain.
Experience & Specialization – Look for someone with substantial experience in the field and expertise in working with concerns similar to yours. Therapists with diverse experience can tailor their interventions to your specific needs.
Knowledge of Different Modalities – Therapy is not one-size-fits-all. A skilled therapist should be well-versed in multiple therapeutic approaches (e.g., psychodynamic, CBT, attachment-based therapy, psychodrama) and able to adapt their method to suit your personality, history, and goals.
Clinical Insight & Effective Interventions – A strong therapist doesn’t just listen passively but knows how to make thoughtful, strategic interventions that challenge unhelpful patterns, expand self-awareness, and foster healing. They should be able to assess when to offer support, when to encourage action, and when to gently push for deeper reflection.
A Strong Therapeutic Connection – Research consistently shows that the quality of the relationship between therapist and client is one of the biggest predictors of success in therapy. You should feel safe, understood, and respected. If you don’t feel a connection after a few sessions, it’s okay to seek someone else.
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Therapy is an individualized process, tailored to each person’s unique needs, history, and goals. The length of therapy depends on several factors, including:
Your starting point – Your emotional and mental state when beginning therapy influences the pace of progress.
Your goals – Short-term therapy may be effective for those seeking support through a life transition, while deeper, long-standing challenges—such as childhood trauma, attachment wounds, or complex relational patterns—often require longer-term work.
Family conflict & relational work – When therapy involves family dynamics, addressing conflicts, or repairing relationships, additional time may be needed. Preparing each family member through individual sessions before bringing them together in a family setting allows for more productive conversations and reduces reactivity.
Your level of engagement – Progress depends on how actively you participate, both in and outside of therapy. Applying insights, practicing new behaviors, and integrating changes into daily life accelerate growth.
Logistical considerations – Coordinating sessions for multiple family members, scheduling conflicts, and ensuring each person has space to process their emotions can add to the timeline.
The therapeutic approach – Some structured methods, like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), may provide symptom relief in a few months, while depth-oriented therapies, such as attachment-based or psychodynamic therapy, often require more time to address underlying patterns.
For some, therapy is a short-term intervention (a few months) offering tools for immediate concerns. For others, it is a longer journey, fostering deep healing and transformation. Progress is not always linear, but with the right therapist and a strong commitment to the process, meaningful change is possible.
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Yes, therapy is confidential, meaning that what you share in sessions is private and will not be disclosed without your consent. However, there are exceptions dictated by law where a therapist is required to break confidentiality, including:
Risk of Harm – If there is a credible threat of harm to yourself or others, the therapist is legally obligated to intervene to prevent harm.
Child or Elder Abuse – Therapists must report any suspected abuse or neglect of children, elderly individuals, or vulnerable adults.
Court Orders – If a court subpoenas records or requires testimony, a therapist may be compelled to release certain information.
Danger to the Community – If there is a threat to the safety of the community or a specific individual, a therapist may need to take action.
To ensure greater confidentiality, one step you can take is to opt out of using insurance for therapy. By not submitting superbills or claims through insurance, your therapy remains private and won’t be documented in insurance records, providing an extra layer of confidentiality.
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Our practice is out-of-network, meaning we do not bill insurance directly. However, many insurance plans offer out-of-network benefits, which can reimburse a portion of therapy costs. Clients should check with their insurance provider to determine their specific coverage.
Key Insurance Terms to Understand:
Out-of-Network Benefits – Some insurance plans will reimburse therapy with providers outside their network, but coverage varies.
Deductible – This is the amount you must pay out of pocket before your insurance begins reimbursing you. For example, if your out-of-network deductible is $2,000, you must cover that amount in medical expenses (including therapy) before your insurance contributes.
Coinsurance – Once your deductible is met, your insurance may cover a percentage of the session cost, while you are responsible for the rest. For example, if your plan covers 60% after the deductible, you would pay the remaining 40% per session.
Superbill Submission – After each paid session, we provide a superbill, an itemized receipt containing all necessary details for insurance claims. Clients can submit this document to their insurance company for potential reimbursement.
How to Check Your Coverage:
Call your insurance provider and ask about out-of-network mental health benefits.
Inquire about your deductible and whether it applies to mental health services.
Ask about coinsurance—what percentage of the cost will be covered after the deductible is met.
Find out how to submit a superbill for reimbursement.
While using out-of-network benefits requires some extra steps, it allows you to choose a therapist based on fit and expertise rather than insurance network restrictions.
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Yes. We offer a free 30-minute consultation to help you feel supported and see if your therapist is the right fit. Just take the first step.