Couples Reconnect

How many couples therapy sessions does it take to rebuild connection and trust in a relationship?

Couples often wonder: How long does couples therapy take? This is a very valid and important question. You might also wonder: How many sessions are enough? How much more money do we have to put into therapy to feel connected? Will it ever work? Are we there yet?

There is no one right answer. The number of sessions that will be enough for you and your partner depends on many factors. For some couples I am working with, ten sessions is enough to spark the connection, and for some, it requires more time.

Schofield et al. (2012) found what matters in couple therapy is each partner’s own “readiness” to change, meaning that both partners need to be ready, as opposed to one spouse holding on to the belief that their partner must change, because they feel that they are themselves already a “perfect” partner.

Why do couples come to couples therapy?
Schofield et al. (2012) also looked at the reasons why couples come to therapy and found that the main reasons for accessing therapy are:

1. Major life transitions
Events such as getting married, having children, moving, or retiring can bring new dynamics into a relationship, creating stress that therapy can help navigate.

2. Crisis situations
Infidelity, financial struggles, or a partner’s mental health challenges frequently prompted couples to seek urgent help.

3. Avoiding separation or divorce
Therapy was often viewed as a last effort to save the relationship, with couples hoping to resolve issues before taking irreversible steps like separation or divorce.

In what ways does couples counselling improve a relationship?
Schofield et al. (2012) found significant improvements in relationship satisfaction, commitment, and mental health in both short-term (3 months) and long-term (12 months) post-intervention.

— Natalie Bergman, MA, RPsych

✨References
Schofield, M. J., Mumford, N., Jurkovic, D., Jurkovic, I., & Bickerdike, A. (2012). Short and long-term effectiveness of couple counselling: A study protocol. BMC Public Health, 12, 735. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-735