Couples Therapy

You can enroll for couples therapy in minutes! Contact our office for a quick enrollment with basic information like contact information, insurance details (if using insurance), and payment information. Our staff will schedule your first appointment with one of our senior therapists to discuss your needs and how GearingUP can help you. The first intake appointment is often with the parent or guardian so that GearingUP’s clinical team can get a better idea of what the concerns are, the child’s treatment history, and create a preliminary treatment plan. We often have same day or next day appointments available for new clients, but most new clients are seen in less than one week after contacting our office.

Mostly, the difference is just in the name. Both Couples Therapy and Marital Therapy are intended to help committed couples improve their relationship and their lives together. Many treatment professionals prefer to use the term “Couples Therapy” since it applies more broadly and to more relationships.

Couples bring their own goals to therapy depending on their particular situation. Many unmarried couples are interested in strengthening their bond, improving satisfaction and intimacy in the relationship, or work through life transitions. Married couples share those goals, but they are often also working through additional issues such as financial stress, co-parenting concerns, caring for extended family members, and more. No matter your situation – GearingUP’s couples therapists are equipped with proven tools to improve your relationship.

Couples Therapy is available to any committed relationship couple who are looking to improve their relationship for any number of reasons. Both married and unmarried couples of all ages and backgrounds are welcome.

All GearingUP couples therapists have received advanced training in evidence-based couples therapy methods as well as having a proven track record of couples therapy under supervision of senior clinicians. Either through advanced continuing education courses or certification programs, GearingUP couples therapists have received dozens of hours of training in research-based couples therapy methods, oftentimes directly from the experts who developed them. Different couples therapists on our staff have their own specialties in couples therapy, but please feel free to ask questions and interview your therapist regarding their training and qualifications in couples therapy.

Couples Therapy by definition does require both partners. However if your partner is unable or unwilling to enter couples counseling with you, GearingUP’s therapists can still help. Certain forms of skills based individual therapy could help you with evidence-based skills for emotional regulation, improved communication, interpersonal effectiveness, and more. Employing these skills when interacting with your partner could help improve your relationship on their own. In addition, the additional support and resources of individual therapy could help you weather a difficult time in the relationship. GearingUP is ready to help!

Absolutely not. Relationships can struggle for many reasons, and many couples are able to survive and thrive in their relationship after some of the toughest challenges such as infidelity. Many couples choose to enter couples counseling even when something isn’t necessarily “wrong.” They may feel that they simply want to be more connected, deepen their bond, and enhance their intimacy and relationship. Couples therapy can be a valuable resource for any couple, and it serve as a proactive step toward building a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling relationship.

GearingUP offers in-person couples therapy only at certain locations. Please contact our office for the most up to date information, or check our location pages for more information.

Couples counseling is also available through online virtual telehealth sessions.

Multiple GearingUP therapists have experience with, have completed advanced training in, or specialize in working with couples. Please refer to the therapist profile pages to learn more and for the most up to date information.

Couples therapy sessions usually last for 50 minutes either in-person at one of GearingUP’s professional offices or in an online virtual telehealth session over video conference. Most insurance plans cover both in-office and online sessions, but we would be happy to confirm your benefits for you. The content of each session will change depending on the current goals, the couples therapy system being used, and the agreed upon treatment plan the therapist is following as well as recent events in your relationship as well as other considerations.

Most insurance plans do not require a referral or pre-authorization to start outpatient therapy with GearingUP. However, please call your insurance company to confirm your insurance benefits or call our office and we can confirm if anything is required for your plan.

Most insurance plans cover couples counseling, but please call your insurance company to confirm your insurance benefits or call our office and we can confirm them on your behalf.

Of course, you can switch therapists at GearingUP at any time! Please contact our office to request a change in therapist if you would like to make a change, and we will reschedule you with another licensed therapist on our staff.

GearingUP has been delivering therapy in the Dallas and Plano areas since 1986 with over 500,000 completed therapy sessions. GearingUP therapists have an average of over 10 years experience as a licensed therapist, and each therapist completes an average of 75 hours of continuing education and professional development per year (based on 2022 and 2023 clinician data). Multiple GearingUP therapists have years of experience working with couples, and many have completed advanced training and certifications with world experts in couples therapy like the Gottman Institute and Dr. Sue Johnson.

GearingUP also regularly monitors the quality of care and clinical effectiveness through anonymous client ratings, surveys, and internal clinical data reviews. Based on our clinical testing data, 93% of GearingUP clients show “significant improvements” in resolving their clinical issues after 6-12 months of therapy. Client surveys show that 99% of our clients report that they have made progress on their goals since starting with GearingUP and 100% agreed that the therapist was effective for their therapy needs. Approximately 97% of clients say that they feel better since they have started therapy with GearingUP, and 99% of clients responded that they are happy with their care at GearingUP.