Image of a therapist and client in a counseling session.

686,000 people sought help with Thriveworks in the last year

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

Meet with a provider as soon as this week

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Aetna, AmeriHealth Administrators, AmeriHealth Medicare Advantage, +23 more
Coping Skills, Self Esteem, Stress, Women’s Issues, Divorce / Breakup, +3 more

My extensive background in the field guides my eclectic approach to meet my clients where they are and to guide them in attaining the life they envisi... My extensive background in the field guides my eclectic approach to meet my clients where they are and to guide them in attaining the life they envision. Read more

32 more therapist available in New Jersey

Give us a call to schedule your next appointment, or browse through our full list of available providers.

Lara Carter

Hear from Lara Carter, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

View Lara Carter's profile

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

Couple's counseling often focuses on helping each partner to be more attentive to their partner's needs and exploring barriers that have impacted their relationship thus far. Interventions will often focus on improving communication patterns, helping each partner feel seen and heard, and learning how to effectively resolve conflicts.

What tools do you teach in couples/marriage counseling?

Tools used in couple's counseling include communication-related skills and understanding each partner's needs within the relationship. Communication-related tools can include using “I” statements, understanding assertiveness, conflict resolution, and effective boundary-setting. Other tools include understanding your partner's love languages and emotional bank account and how these areas play a role in your relationship.

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

When couples report noticing improvement in communication, conflict resolution, and feeling closer to each other, these are signs of great progress in therapy!

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

Couples can supplement their time in counseling by spending more time bonding emotionally, such as having weekly family meetings, planning date nights, or playing icebreaker games together.

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

The couple should be prepared to discuss factors affecting their relationship and any efforts they've made to address concerns.

Starting Couples/marriage therapy

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 therapy 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 therapy 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 accept most major insurance plans, allowing many clients to pay as little as $0–$50 per session with their co-pay. We also offer self-pay options for those out-of-network or without insurance. Self-pay rates for talk therapy range from $160 to $240 for intake sessions and $135 to $195 for follow-ups, depending on your state. For psychiatry services, self-pay intake sessions are $255–$375, with follow-ups ranging from $175–$300, also varying by state. More information on current self-pay costs is available on our pricing page.

Need more help deciding?

Maybe you don’t know when you and your partner started to drift apart. You can’t pinpoint one moment when your relationship changed, but all you know is that something is missing. You went from being madly in love to hardly noticing one another anymore.

While every couple goes through their ups and downs, you probably don’t want to see your relationship fall apart. You may feel you’ve come too far together to let go. For many, couples therapy and marriage counseling are powerful tools to avoid separation or divorce, gain insight, and help get a healthy relationship back on track. 

At Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry in Paramus, NJ, we offer marriage counseling and couples therapy, tools that can help open up lines of communication, regain intimacy, and find fulfillment. Couples counseling isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a way to strengthen your bond with the one you love. Schedule your first couples counseling session and start working to address the rifts that have grown between you and your partner. 

What Is Couples Therapy? What Is Marriage Counseling?

Marriage counseling and couples therapy experts provide a clinical and objective perspective on your relationship, in order to get to the root of your problems and guide you toward solutions. Think of relationship counseling as the door to better understanding and increased empathy.

A relationship with a loved one is precious. It’s something to hold onto and nurture through thick and thin. However, it can become strained. Marriage counseling and couples therapy can help you and your partner to get back on the right track if you’re noticing that: 

  • You no longer trust your partner or vice versa
  • Intimacy is difficult between the two of you
  • Someone in your relationship struggles with anger management
  • You have problems raising your children together
  • The lines of communication have broken down
  • One of you is jealous and possessive
  • One of you has experienced trauma or grief
  • Substance abuse is destroying your relationship
  • You spend too much time at work and not enough time on your relationship
  • Honesty is missing in your relationship
  • One of you has given up trying to repair your relationship

Do I Need Couples Therapy or Marriage Counseling? 

It’s important to remember that any couple can benefit from talking with a marriage counseling or couples therapy expert; because any relationship can be improved.

If you are thinking about relationship counseling with a couples therapist, you are already taking a step in the right direction. The first step to saving a relationship is admitting that there is a problem and being willing to work on solving it.

Many types of couples therapy options are available to move in the right direction with your partner. Different evidenced-based therapies that are commonly used in couples therapy and marriage counseling include:

  • Emotionally-focused therapy (EFT), a counseling technique that focuses on understanding your emotions
  • The Gottman method, an approach that uses data about your relationship to pinpoint concerns and how to address them
  • Imago relationship therapy, a method that looks back to how your childhood may have an impact on your relationship as an adult
  • Solution-focused therapy (SFT), which focuses on one problem and how to fix it
  • Narrative therapy, a technique that invites couples to share their personal stories
  • Relational life therapy, a counseling approach that focuses on traditional gender roles
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which works on correcting negative patterns of thoughts through increased self-awareness

Scheduling Couples Therapy at Thriveworks Paramus

At Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry in Paramus, NJ we have couples therapy and marriage counseling experts available to help you fix the issues in your relationship. Don’t let what you have with your partner slip between your fingers. Make an appointment with a relationship therapist at Thriveworks today by calling us or booking virtually.

We also offer convenient, secure, HIPAA compliant online couples therapy and marriage counseling options for couples with busy schedules. Your needs are important to our counselors. Schedule a couples therapy or marriage counseling session today, and give your relationship the opportunity to thrive again. 

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 Paramus therapists and counselors accept 29 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • AmeriHealth Administrators

  • AmeriHealth Medicare Advantage

  • 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

Show more
Self-pay costs at Paramus
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
★★★★★
Our Family Therapy sessions have been sent from heaven. Rosalie Cespedes brings professionalism, care, experience and love to our session. It is hard to find a person that all the family respects and appreciates her advice. My two daughters and wife truly appreciate her advice and the positive changes has made to our daily lives. We will definitely continue working with her long term and encourage any family or person going through personal challenges and need professional; honest advice to try working with her. Thank you for all you have done.
Read more Our Family Therapy sessions have been sent from heaven. Rosalie Cespedes brings professionalism, care, experience and love to our session. It is hard to find a person that all the family respects and appreciates her advice. My two daughters and wife truly appreciate her advice and the positive changes has made to our daily lives. We will definitely continue working with her long term and encourage any family or person going through personal challenges and need professional; honest advice to try working with her. Thank you for all you have done.
Sandy Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★
So far it's OK. I say ok because there is a big age difference between the therapist and myself. Maybe by 25yrs or so.
Read more So far it's OK. I say ok because there is a big age difference between the therapist and myself. Maybe by 25yrs or so.
Frank Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks in Paramus, NJ is located on Sunflower Ave, just off of State Route 17 and west of Di Maggio Park. We're in the same building as House Window Replacement & Installation and Harvest Property and Investment, and are neighbored by Exxon and Renell Label Print. The closest bus stop is Rt 17 and Ridgewood Ave.

Phone number

(973) 529-8913

Languages spoken by NJ providers

  • Hindi
  • English
  • Spanish
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm
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

Shown in ET

Wednesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Thursday 7:00am - 9:30pm
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

Shown in ET

15 photos