Couples Therapy vs Marriage Counseling: What's the Difference?
Couples Therapy vs Marriage Counseling: What's the Difference?
If you're researching help for your relationship, you've probably encountered both the terms couples therapy and marriage counseling and wondered whether there's a meaningful difference between couples therapy vs marriage counseling. The short answer is that in practice, these terms are largely interchangeable. Most professionals use them to describe the same thing: therapy that focuses on the relationship between two people rather than on individuals separately. But there are some nuances worth understanding, and more importantly, there are questions that matter far more than what you call it.
Couples therapy at Sagebrush Counseling. Whether you call it couples therapy or marriage counseling, we provide support for relationships. Telehealth throughout Maine, Montana, and Texas.
Schedule a Complimentary Consult →Are They Really the Same Thing?
For most practical purposes, yes. Both couples therapy and marriage counseling refer to a therapeutic process in which two people in a relationship meet with a trained professional to address problems, improve communication, or work through specific issues. The therapist's role is the same regardless of which term is used: to help both partners understand what's happening between them and to build the skills needed to navigate difficulty more effectively.
That said, there are some subtle differences in how the terms are used, though these differences are more about language and tradition than about the substance of the work.
Marriage counseling
The term marriage counseling tends to be used more by people looking for help with their marriage specifically. It implies that the two people are married, though many therapists who use this term work with unmarried couples as well. Historically, marriage counseling was associated with clergy or community counselors who provided guidance to married couples, often from a particular religious or cultural framework.
Today, marriage counseling is still widely used, particularly by people searching for help online, but the work itself is generally indistinguishable from what happens in couples therapy. Some therapists use the term marriage counseling because it's what people are searching for, not because the approach is different.
Couples therapy
Couples therapy is a broader term that includes married couples, unmarried couples, same-sex couples, and any two people in a committed romantic relationship. It's become the more common term in professional contexts because it's more inclusive. A therapist who describes their work as couples therapy is signaling that they work with all kinds of partnerships, not just marriages.
Research by Christensen and colleagues (2004) on couple therapy outcomes uses the term couple therapy rather than marriage counseling, reflecting the shift in professional language over the past few decades. The substance of the work, however, remains focused on relational dynamics, communication, attachment, and conflict resolution regardless of what it's called.
What Matters More Than the Name
The question of whether to search for couples therapy or marriage counseling is far less important than understanding what you're looking for and whether the therapist you find is trained to provide it. Here are the things that matter more than the terminology.
Is the therapist trained in relationship work? Not all therapists are trained to work with couples. Many therapists specialize in individual therapy and don't have the specific training required to navigate the dynamics between two people. When searching for help, look for someone who explicitly lists couples or relationship therapy as a specialty.
What approach does the therapist use? Different therapists use different models of couples therapy. Emotionally focused therapy (EFT), the Gottman method, and integrative behavioral couple therapy (IBCT) are three of the most researched and widely used approaches. Understanding what approach a therapist uses can help you know what to expect.
Does the therapist understand your specific situation? If you're dealing with infidelity, considering separation, navigating an open marriage, or addressing trauma, you want a therapist who has experience with those issues specifically. The best couples therapist is not necessarily the one with the most credentials but the one who understands what you're facing.
Do both partners feel the therapist is neutral? A good couples therapist does not take sides. If one partner feels the therapist is biased toward the other, the work will not be effective. This is one of the most important factors in whether couples therapy succeeds or fails.
If you're not sure where to start in finding the right therapist, our guide on how to find a couples therapist covers what to look for and what questions to ask.
The name you call it matters far less than whether the therapist is trained in relationship work, understands your situation, and can create a space where both partners feel heard.
Experienced couples therapy for all kinds of relationships. Telehealth in Maine, Montana, and Texas.
Schedule a Complimentary Consult →When You Might Need Individual Therapy Instead
Sometimes what looks like a relationship problem is better addressed through individual therapy, at least initially. If the issues in your relationship are being driven primarily by your own unresolved trauma, mental health struggles, or patterns from past relationships, individual therapy may be a better starting point than couples work.
This doesn't mean the relationship problems aren't real or that your partner doesn't play a role in them. It means that addressing your own internal work first can make couples therapy more productive when you do engage in it. Some therapists recommend a combination of individual and couples therapy, particularly when one or both partners are dealing with significant mental health issues alongside relational difficulties.
If you're not sure whether your situation calls for couples therapy or individual work, our post on individual therapy for relationship issues can help you think through which makes more sense for where you are.
How to Know If You're Ready
Whether you call it couples therapy or marriage counseling, the question of whether you're ready to start is more important than the terminology. Many couples wait too long before seeking help, hoping things will improve on their own. Research by the Gottman Institute suggests that couples wait an average of six years after problems begin before getting professional support, by which time patterns have often become deeply entrenched.
If you're noticing signs that your relationship is struggling, like recurring conflicts, emotional distance, or difficulty communicating about important things, those are reasons to consider therapy sooner rather than later. Waiting until things are in crisis makes the work harder and the outcomes less certain. Our post on 10 signs it's time for couples therapy can help you assess where things stand.
Some people wonder whether they can fix things on their own without professional support. That's a valid question, and for some couples, sustained effort and better communication are enough to turn things around. But for others, the issues are too complex or too entrenched to address without guidance. If you're weighing whether to try working through things on your own first, our post on how to fix a broken marriage without counseling offers an honest look at what you can do on your own and when professional support becomes necessary.
What to Expect
If you're new to the idea of therapy for your relationship, it's normal to have questions about what the process looks like. What happens in the first session? How long does it take? Will you have to talk about your feelings in front of your partner? These are common concerns, and understanding what couples therapy involves can make the decision to start feel less intimidating.
The first session is typically focused on assessment and goal-setting. The therapist will ask about the history of your relationship, what's brought you in, and what each of you hopes will change. Ongoing sessions involve working on communication patterns, addressing specific issues, and building skills that help both partners navigate difficulty more effectively. The length of therapy varies depending on the issues you're addressing and how engaged both partners are in the work.
If you want a detailed walkthrough of what couples therapy involves, our guide on what to expect in couples therapy covers everything from the first session to how long the process typically takes.
Getting Started at Sagebrush
Whether you're looking for couples therapy, marriage counseling, or just support for your relationship, we'd be glad to connect. The complimentary consultation is a low-pressure way to talk about what's happening in your relationship and whether Sagebrush is the right fit.
All sessions are via telehealth, so there's no commute and no waiting room. You join from wherever is most private and comfortable. To understand more about the online format, you can read about how online therapy works at Sagebrush.
We serve couples throughout the state of Maine (including Brunswick and beyond), the whole of Montana, and anywhere in Texas, including Austin, Houston, Dallas, and Midland.
All sessions via telehealth. Join from anywhere in your state.
Couples Therapy at Sagebrush
Call it couples therapy or marriage counseling. What matters is finding support that fits your relationship. Join from anywhere in Maine, Montana, or Texas. All sessions are virtual.
Schedule a Complimentary ConsultationThe terminology matters less than finding a therapist who understands relationship dynamics, can remain neutral, and has the training to help you address what's difficult. Whether you search for couples therapy or marriage counseling, focus on finding someone who can meet you where you are.
— Sagebrush Counseling
1. Christensen, A., Atkins, D.C., Berns, S., Wheeler, J., Baucom, D.H., & Simpson, L.E. (2004). Traditional versus integrative behavioral couple therapy for significantly and chronically distressed married couples. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72(2), 176–191. View on PubMed
2. Johnson, S.M. (2004). The practice of emotionally focused couple therapy: Creating connection (2nd ed.). New York: Brunner-Routledge.
3. Snyder, D.K., Castellani, A.M., & Whisman, M.A. (2006). Current status and future directions in couple therapy. Annual Review of Psychology, 57, 317–344. View on PubMed
This post is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for professional couples therapy or mental health care.
