Couples therapy versus individual therapy

As both an individual therapist and couples therapist, I get questions from clients frequently about “what is a couple’s issue or what can I do in individual therapy?” Often someone will come in to couples therapy and really need their own individual work before they’re able to tackle their relationship. Alternatively, sometimes someone is in individual therapy and spending all their sessions discussing what isn’t going well in their relationship and what they want their partner to change or know.

As with much of therapy, there is not ONE answer, but here are some ways you might know if you should explore individual or couples therapy.

Things you may navigate in Individual Therapy:

• working on how you communicate

• people pleasing

• discovering or empowering your feelings

• navigating vulnerability

• processing trauma, childhood trauma, or specific diagnosis (eating disorder, OCD, ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, etc.)

• sexual dysfunction or pain

Things you may navigate in Couples Therapy:

• sex and intimacy

• how your diagnosis may impact the relationship and/or compassion building with your partner around diagnosis (ADHD, ASD, OCD, Depression, Anxiety)

• communication

• learning to practice vulnerability with your partner

• wanting to build connection

• process betrayal or trust ruptures

There are many times where both are beneficial, but we recognize that sometimes, cost is prohibitive for doing both congruently. If you are curious which may benefit you, reach out to us and we can conduct a consultation and help you decide what may be the focus of your work.