Image of a therapist and client in a counseling session.

1,446 people sought couples & marriage counseling help at Media in the last year

Discover how starting couples & marriage counseling can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

Meet with a provider as soon as this week

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Aetna, Carelon, Cigna | Evernorth, +21 more
Domestic Abuse, Behavioral Issues, Women’s Issues, Sexual Abuse, Anxiety, +2 more

As an Asian-American Christian woman, I understand the unique issues of identity exploration and intersectionality from a minority perspective.

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Aetna, Cigna | Evernorth, United Healthcare | Optum, +2 more
LGBTQIA+, Anger, Coping Skills, Self Esteem, Stress, +10 more

Congratulations on the decision to find a therapist to walk with you through one of the more difficult parts of being human.

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Aetna, Amerihealth Pennsylvania, Carelon, +20 more
Coping Skills, Self Esteem, Stress, Sexual Abuse, Bipolar Disorder, +7 more

Are you experiencing sadness, grief or anxiety? Do you experience emotional pain from the traumatic events in your life? If so, I can help.

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Aetna, Carelon, Cigna | Evernorth, +25 more
Coping Skills, Stress, Women’s Issues, Bipolar Disorder, Postpartum / Pregnancy, +6 more

With compassion and empathy, I partner with you to tap into your inner strength, overcome obstacles, and create the life you desire.

Barbara Thomas

Hear from Barbara Thomas, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT)

View Barbara Thomas's profile

What is your go-to approach for couples & marriage counseling?

My go-to approach for helping people in couples counseling is emotionally focused therapy (EFT). I prefer EFT because it focuses on the process and underlying emotions for communication and conflict. It provides a relational focus and communication enhancement skills that help each individual grow in their self-awareness and relational awareness.

What tools do you teach in couples & marriage counseling?

I teach the following tools in couples/marriage counseling:

  • active listening (listening to listen and not respond)
  • I statements (ownership and communication skills)
  • challenging assumptions (challenge negative perspective)
  • reduce polarized language (reduce the use of always, never, you statements)
  • safe words (pause in argument to revisit when not triggered)

How do you know when a client is making meaningful progress in couples & marriage counseling?

I know a couple is making meaningful progress in couples/marriage counseling when they begin to talk more openly with I-statements and utilizing active listening without escalated arguments. Couples may even begin to notice their perspective shift and highlight their own empowerment, have increased awareness of their triggers, and acknowledge their part in the communication cycle. Additionally, we will set goals for the relationship and work towards a concrete amount, for example increasing communication skills or decreasing escalated interactions. I always like to preface that progress is not linear and will be an ongoing tool during treatment to challenge assumptions and relational triggers.

What can clients do in their personal time to supplement couples & marriage counseling?

Clients can supplement their time in couples/marriage counseling with daily check-ins and reflections with their partner, scheduling bonding time for each week, and practice communication skills outside of session. Clients can always seek individual counseling as an additional resource to target individual needs that may arise during couples counseling.

What should someone do to prepare for starting couples & marriage counseling?

To prepare for your first couples/marriage counseling session, you can gain a clear idea about the goals for your relationship and a timeline of your relationship. Also it helps to create a space in your home that feels comfortable and private for couples sessions.

Starting Couples & marriage counseling

What is couples & marriage counseling?

Couples therapy and marriage counseling, also known as relationship counseling, helps couples work through their specific relationship issues. Some examples of common focuses within couples therapy and marriage counseling include:

  • Jealousy
  • Trust issues
  • Infidelity
  • Opposing values
  • Different visions for the future
  • Disagreements in parenting
  • Lack of trust
  • Financial distress
  • Sex issues

What type of therapy is used in couples therapy?

The types of therapy used in couples and marriage counseling include:

  • The Gottman Method
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Emotionally-focused therapy (EFT)
  • Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT)
  • Strength-based therapy

What kind of therapist is best for couples?

At Thriveworks, Couples & marriage counseling is led by licensed professionals — often licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) — who are experts in their field and best-equipped to help couples.

What is the Gottman Method of couples therapy?

The Gottman Method of couples therapy is a research-supported approach designed to enhance relationships by bolstering the bond between partners, resolving conflicts, and fostering shared meaning in their relationship through comprehensive assessments and tailored interventions that improve communication, trust, and the overall health of the partnership.

How to tell if I need couples therapy?

If you’re facing persistent relationship problems, communication breakdowns, or unresolved conflicts that are impacting your emotional well-being and happiness, Couples & marriage counseling may be beneficial for you.

Should every couple go to couples therapy?

While marriage and couple’s counseling is typically recommended for couples who are experiencing persistent or severe relationship issues, any relationship can benefit from attending these sessions.

Is couples & marriage counseling conducted in person or online?

Marriage and couples counseling at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you and your partner.

How long does couples & marriage counseling last?

On average, couples attend marriage and couples counseling for 12 weeks. However, couples & marriage counseling may last longer or shorter, dependent on the couples’ needs, the challenges they’d like to work through, and the pace of their progress.

How much does couples & marriage counseling cost?

At Thriveworks, we take most major forms of insurance, which means that many of our clients only pay $0-$50 co-pay per session. However, there are also self-pay options that sit around $200 per session, depending on the service and location, for those who are out-of-network.

Need more help deciding?

Marriage Counseling & Couples Counseling – Counselors and Therapists in Delaware County, Media, PA

When you decide to get married, you believe that you have found your life partner, someone who you can build a future with. But marriages can and will be affected by numerous issues. Everything from work, children, finances, and family can add stress to the relationship and affect the marriage.

When breakdowns happen, that’s when couples counseling can help. Call Thriveworks Media, PA to get started with a marriage and couples counseling therapist who can help both partners find a greater sense of security and balance in their relationship.

When Should I Seek Marriage or Couples Counseling?

First and foremost, you should seek couples counseling as soon as possible to prevent breakdowns that can occur when bad habits form leading to hurt feelings that are hard to overcome and can often leading to a breaking point. If you are concerned about repeating past mistakes, you could benefit from couples counseling. If you are concerned about the role your families may be playing on your life, you may benefit from couples counseling. If communication, trust, or infidelity have become an issue and you are feeling stuck in your relationship, then you could benefit from couples counseling. At Thriveworks Counseling, in Delaware County, Media, PA, we have experienced couples counselors who can help.

Does Couples Counseling Work?

Couples counseling is very effective, particularly when both partners are ready and committed to working on the relationship. At Thriveworks Counseling, we will help you identify what your other needs are, any past hurts or fears that are affecting you or your partner individually, any behavioral patterns that are damaging your relationship, and help you to improve your communication skills and conflict resolution skills. We will help you decide how you define a successful and happy marriage or relationship, and help you to improve trust, affection, openness, and communication.

Some of the following are evidence-based couples and marriage counseling approaches that the providers at Thriveworks Media are likely to use:

  • Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): EFT focuses on improving communication and emotional connection between partners by identifying and addressing underlying emotions and attachment needs.
  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy: Based on research by Drs. John and Julie Gottman, this approach helps couples build friendship, manage conflict constructively, and create shared meaning in their relationship.
  • Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT): BCT focuses on changing specific behaviors that contribute to relationship distress, such as communication patterns, conflict resolution strategies, and reinforcement of positive interactions.
  • Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT): IBCT combines elements of traditional behavioral therapy with acceptance-based strategies to help couples accept and change aspects of themselves and their relationship.
  • Narrative Therapy: Narrative therapy explores how couples construct and interpret their relationship stories, empowering them to challenge negative narratives and co-create more positive and empowering ones.
  • Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT): SFBT helps couples identify and amplify strengths and resources in their relationship, focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on problems.
  • Psychodynamic Couples Therapy: Psychodynamic therapy explores unconscious dynamics and early relational patterns that influence couples’ present-day conflicts and interactions, promoting insight and relational change

Schedule with Thriveworks Media

If you’re ready to see the difference that a mental health professional can make, call Thriveworks in Media, PA to get started. When you do, our support team will help you with the process: everything from setting up your insurance to booking your first session is made easy with their help.

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurances. We accept 585+ insurance plans, and offer self-pay options, too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling services at Thriveworks.

Our Media therapists and counselors accept 30 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • AmeriHealth New Jersey

  • Amerihealth Pennsylvania

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

  • First Health Network

  • Geisinger Health Plan

  • Geisinger Health Plan Medicare Advantage (HMO | PPO)

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Self-pay costs at Media
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

Thriveworks Media has no reviews yet, but check out these reviews from locations in Pennsylvania.

4.5 Thriveworks Media reviews are collected through Thriveworks.com.
★★★★★
Thriveworks helped me realize that I do believe people can change. I’m not the person I was three months ago, broken and fearful. I’m healthy and happy and for the first time being kind to myself. Thank you for giving me my life back.
Read more Thriveworks helped me realize that I do believe people can change. I’m not the person I was three months ago, broken and fearful. I’m healthy and happy and for the first time being kind to myself. Thank you for giving me my life back.
Anonymous Thriveworks Client
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Media is located off of N Jackson St, and our building is in the center of Cooper St., W 6th St., W 7th St., and N Jackson St.

Phone number

(610) 557-1991

Languages spoken by PA providers

  • English
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Mandarin
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm

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Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Saturday 7:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Monday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Tuesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Thursday 7:00am - 9:30pm

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