Overview

At ForwardUs Counseling, all sessions are 60 minutes, except the initial session which is 90 minutes.

Sessions 1-4 usually happen within 4 weeks. This schedule provides time to get a clear picture of your relationship, build rapport, and understand the strengths and goals you have as a couple.

Session 1

At the first session, you and your partner will share what brought you together, your strengths and relationship goals.

Please bring a notebook, water and a sense of humor. Many couples say that this is one of their favorite sessions.

Sessions 2 & 3

Your couples therapist will meet with each of you separately. During this time, you and your couples' therapist will go over your thoughts and personal views on your relationship; your strengths and areas that need improvement.

Session 4

We'll then come back together as a group. With the information we’ve gathered, we'll collaboratively create an action plan with goals to move forward and help us gauge progress.

Session 5 and Beyond

We start using specific techniques and strategies tailored to your needs. We introduce methods to help improve your relationship during our time together. You'll receive feedback and refine these skills with guidance.

We also plan activities for you to work on between sessions and schedule the next meeting. After this session, our meetings will be less frequent, giving you time to apply what we've discussed and practiced.

ForwardUs Counseling is here to support you and your partner at different chapters of your relationship.

The Association of Marriage and Family therapy conducted a study that reported couples who underwent couples therapy had an improvement in their emotional health, with almost two-thirds reporting improvement in their physical health.

Couples or marriage counseling can help any couple seeking to foster healthy communication and understanding. It provides a safe space to communicate openly, understand each other's perspectives, and work through conflicts, ultimately improving relationship satisfaction, intimacy, and overall communication.

Couples counseling is also beneficial for those navigating the challenges of the prenatal and postpartum periods, helping to maintain connection and support during significant life transitions.

We’re confident you’ll see that our approach sets us apart.

Many couples struggle with communication challenges, loneliness, financial stress, struggles with intimacy- loss of sexual desire, infrequent sex, issues regarding parenting choices, and general relationship dissatisfaction. Couples counseling helps address these issues and rebuild trust and connection so you can feel like teammates instead of roommates. 

Choosing a therapist is a big decision. One key aspect to look for is unconditional positive regard—someone who values you and your partner, believes in your relationships ability to grow, and having potential rather than being broken.

A good couples therapist is honest and genuine, demonstrating knowledge without overwhelming you and your partner with jargon. They should be an expert, but not a know-it-all.

When considering a therapist, start by asking questions that matter to both of you. Do their answers resonate? Do you feel a sense of rapport? It's important that your therapist can address your concerns clearly and effectively.

Having an authentic, trusting therapeutic relationship is important! At ForwardUs Counseling we hope to be your partners in progress. We offer a non-biased sounding board where you can learn to improve communication and work through issues respectfully.

Yes, at ForwardUs Counseling, we take pride in our couples' specialization. By focusing exclusively on couples, we provide highly specialized care tailored to relationship issues. Just as you wouldn’t go to a general practitioner for heart surgery, you wouldn’t seek a generalist for marriage and couples counseling.

This depends on the type and duration of your couples' session.

Please refer to our Fees and Policies Page for more information.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.

Currently we accept self-pay only. Marriage and Couples counseling are typically not covered by insurance.

For more information, explore our Fees and Policies Page.

All of our sessions will be completed on a secure online platform for your convenience. If you are a couple living in Minnesota, we would be happy to work with you!