Relationships in the new millennium can be both joyous and frustrating. The rules are constantly changing about the roles we play and how we define a “healthy” relationship. Examining the choices that we make that directly impact those we love and care about is crucial to achieving satisfaction.

Couples sessions generally involve a minimum of 1 hour. This time will be exclusively set for the two of you and it would be important that you are both always available to attend the session. Unless it is mutually agreed upon, and a specific issue is identified with both individuals present, it would be inappropriate for me to meet with either person separately. This includes phone conversations other than scheduling of appointments.

We would enter into an initial contract that would secure the safety, dignity and respect of both individuals in the therapy session. Often couples enter into treatment due to verbal and sometimes physical conflicts. Either of these behaviors would be inappropriate in the therapy session. We would spend the time identifying what areas are of concern to both of you, explore options to resolve those areas in the quickest manner possible, and most likely request that you work on assignments given to you during the course of the week to be discussed at the next session. Both parties would be required to participate in the treatment. Couples treatment is relationship focused. It may explore the positive and negative relationships that you experience with each other, your children, and your extended families.

The number of sessions will vary depending on the severity of the relationship problems. We will continually review the progress we have made and determine if additional sessions are needed. There may be times that we meet more than once a week, and there may be times when we allow several weeks in between sessions in order to allow you to work on particularly important assignments.

As the session is exclusively yours, it is important for you to do some research prior to your first appointment. I do not bill insurance companies; you should know exactly what your coverage is and what you will be reimbursed for. I will provide monthly invoices for you to submit to your insurance company. The couples therapy session costs $110 an hour. You are responsible to pay that fee at the beginning of each session. It is important that we end the therapy hour with you thinking about what we have discussed and what the plan for the upcoming week will be. We generally will meet on a once a week basis, but there may be occasion when additional sessions are necessary. This will also be mutually agreed upon.

It is important that you provide notice if you must cancel a session. 72 hours is generally a considerate amount of time. If we can reschedule the appointment for that week, you will not be charged. If we are not able to reschedule and you provide less than 72 hours notice, that session must be paid for at the start of the next therapy hour. I will always notify you at least a week in advance if I am going to be unavailable for the next scheduled session.