Image of a therapist and client in a counseling session.

1,382 people sought couples therapy help at Cambridge in the last year

Discover how starting therapy with a couples can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

Meet with a provider as soon as this week

Good news! We have 60 therapists in Massachusetts available for an online or in-person session.
Leyla Derbali

Hear from Leyla Derbali, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)

View Leyla Derbali's profile

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

My go-to approach for helping couples is empathetic and nonjudgmental listening. I find the best benefit in allowing couples to articulate their opinions about what they are struggling with and set goals.

What tools do you teach in couples/marriage counseling?

I teach the following tools in couples counseling:

  • Emotion identification
  • Communication skills
  • Distress tolerance

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

I know couples are making progress when they are better able to hear each other, share their thoughts and feelings with their partners, and feel safer and more trusting of each other.

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

Clients can supplement their time in couples counseling with practicing skills, and working on goals that were discussed in sessions.

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

To prepare for your first couples counseling session, you can work with your partner to agree on the issues you are struggling with and identify common goals for therapy.

Starting Couples therapy

What is couples therapy?

Thriveworks Couples therapy helps couples work through their specific relationship issues. It is led by licensed professionals — often licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) — who are experts in their field and best-equipped to help couples. Some examples of common focuses within couples therapy include:

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

How does couples therapy work?

Couples therapy works by helping couples identify and better navigate their unique challenges. Following an initial assessment of the couple in terms of strengths and needs, the therapist would then discuss their therapeutic goals and any possible approaches or ways of working together as therapist and couple.
Couples attend sessions together, whether they meet in person or by video. In addition to regular couples therapy sessions, each partner may also be asked to attend a few individual sessions to supplement their progress. This will allow their counselor to get to know each individual better, assess each of their personal needs, and develop the very best treatment plan moving forward.

Is couples therapy conducted in person or online?

Couples therapy at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and via Online therapy. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you and your partner.

How long does couples therapy last?

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

Need more help deciding?

Get Your Relationship on Track – Counselors and Therapists in Cambridge

Couples counseling with a skilled caring counselor or psychologist can help you find the happiness you once had in your relationship. If you’re ready to work with a couples counselor at Thriveworks Cambridge, simply call us at (617) 380-4651.

Why Do Couples Go To Counseling?

Problems in a relationship can arise from many different causes. These may include:

  • Financial problems
  • Loss of job
  • Selling a home
  • Life transitions such as retirement or unemployment
  • Difficulty with children
  • Serious medical problems
  • Death of a loved one
  • Emotional or psychological problems
  • Addictions
  • Infidelity
  • Lack of trust
  • Miscommunication

How Can We Change Our Relationship?

Couples counseling can help teach you and your partner new ways of interacting. Breaking unhealthy habits of behavior and communication can be very difficult, but possible. The first step in any change process is acknowledging the need for assistance. From that point, a counselor can help facilitate a new way of interacting and working together as a couple.

Some of these methods of change may include:

  • Identifying problems
  • Recognizing the most important problems for each partner
  • Creating safe boundaries for discussion
  • Teaching active listening
  • Establishing honest and clear communication
  • Creating trust
  • Healing painful hurts from the past
  • Establishing or fostering intimacy
  • Dealing with addictions, medical problems, and psychological issues

A Thriveworks counselor can help you and your partner identify what problems need to be addressed.

Thriveworks Cambridge Couples Counselors, Psychologists Are Here To Help

Thriveworks Cambridge Counselors are prepared to take on the problems that you and your partner are experiencing, whether big or small. Our trained and licensed marriage counselors are experts in their field

Thriveworks Cambridge Couples Counselors can help you and your partner create the healthy, loving, and respectful relationship that you both desire. Call us today at (617) 380-4651.

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 Cambridge therapists and counselors accept 29 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts | BCBS Medicare Advantage (HMO | PPO)

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts | BCBS

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

  • Fallon Health

  • First Health Network

  • Harvard Pilgrim

Show more
Self-pay costs at Cambridge
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

4.5 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
All the people of thrive works have been great my doctor is awesome Dr. Lal
Anthony Dec 2023
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I am so pleased with my decision to see Rebecca at ThriveWorks in Cambridge. She is compassionate and understanding, but also pushes me to feel confident I can make changes in my life that are needed most. I feel so supported. Feeling grateful that I took a leap to try Rebecca!
Read more I am so pleased with my decision to see Rebecca at ThriveWorks in Cambridge. She is compassionate and understanding, but also pushes me to feel confident I can make changes in my life that are needed most. I feel so supported. Feeling grateful that I took a leap to try Rebecca!
Cambridge May 2022
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Rebecca Rodriquez is a true professional. I have found her to be trustworthy and truly helpful. She demonstrates kindness, compassion and strong clinical knowledge in her therapeutic approach. I highly recommend her to all. She has been extremely helpful to me.
Read more Rebecca Rodriquez is a true professional. I have found her to be trustworthy and truly helpful. She demonstrates kindness, compassion and strong clinical knowledge in her therapeutic approach. I highly recommend her to all. She has been extremely helpful to me.
Cambridge Apr 2022
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I have had the opportunity to work with Rebecca Rodrigues for a long time. She is a thoughtful professional, mindful clinician and highly respectful to her clients.
Read more I have had the opportunity to work with Rebecca Rodrigues for a long time. She is a thoughtful professional, mindful clinician and highly respectful to her clients.
Cambridge Apr 2022
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Arielle has been an incredible help in my life and I can’t thank her enough for it!
Cambridge Jun 2021
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I've had the pleasure of working with Alicia at her previous job. She is an incredible clinician who's knowledge, leadership, and compassionate made her an excellent supervisor and therapist.
Read more I've had the pleasure of working with Alicia at her previous job. She is an incredible clinician who's knowledge, leadership, and compassionate made her an excellent supervisor and therapist.
Cambridge Jan 2020
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I had been unable to make an appointment with a therapist for a long time. Everyone had a three month waiting list. I took a chance and made an appointment here. I love Hannah, she’s excellent, and I’m glad I found Thriveworks. It’s too soon for me to weigh in on the additional services Thriveworks offers but it seems good!
Read more I had been unable to make an appointment with a therapist for a long time. Everyone had a three month waiting list. I took a chance and made an appointment here. I love Hannah, she’s excellent, and I’m glad I found Thriveworks. It’s too soon for me to weigh in on the additional services Thriveworks offers but it seems good!
Cambridge Nov 2018
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Hannah Fulkerson has been a great help in creating a dialogue between myself and my wife. Thank you.
Read more Hannah Fulkerson has been a great help in creating a dialogue between myself and my wife. Thank you.
Cambridge Aug 2018
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Cambridge is located off of Massachusetts Ave, on the north side of the Charles River. Our office is in the Cambridge Tower next to Apollo Travel and Tours, Tanjore, and Cambridge Premier Realty. The closest bus stop is Massachusetts Ave opp Lee St. If you have trouble finding our office or have any questions about how to get here, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Phone number

(617) 380-4651

Languages spoken by MA providers

  • English
  • Spanish
  • Creole
  • French
  • Japanese
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
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm

Shown in ET

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
Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in ET

6 photos