“Make dedicated, non-negotiable time for each other a priority, and never stop being curious about your partner. Don’t assume you know who they are today, just because you went to bed with them the night before. In short, never stop asking questions. But ask the right kind of questions.”
― John M. Gottman, Eight Dates:
A Plan for Making Love Last Forever
Relationships are hard – Reclaim the joy in yours!
All things can be improved, changed and bettered, with just a little support, no matter how big or small. With couples therapy, you’ll learn how to communicate your feelings and needs, and get what you want out of your relationship.
Some issues that bring couples to therapy are:
- Balance (Work/Life/Family)
- Blended Families
- Substance or Behavioral Addiction Recovery
- Chronic Illness
- Conflict/Fighting
- Co-Parenting During/After Divorce
- Emotional & Physical Intimacy
- Parenting
- Pre-Marital/Readiness
Is marital/pre-marital therapy covered by my insurance?
Rarely. Most insurance companies pay to treat mental health disorders and require services to be “medically necessary”. Medical necessity requires that covered services treat a disease, injury, condition, or illness. When I am seeing a couple, I am typically not treating a mental health disorder, unless the sole focus of treatment is assisting a partner who is suffering from a mental health disorder, including addiction, that is impacting the relationship. Usually this is not the case and the couple’s treatment goal is to enhance, save or restore a relationship.
I strongly suggest that couples reach out to their insurance plans and/or benefits administrators to inquire whether “Z Codes” are covered by their plan. The Z Code used for marital/pre-marital therapy is Z63.0 – Problems in Relationship with Spouse or Partner. Do not ask if couples counseling is covered as you may be told that it is – but the plan won’t share that it is only covered in the supportive scenario described above – insist that they look up Z63.0 and determine coverage for that. In many cases, member services will not have this information and you should ask to speak with someone in the claims department.
When couple’s therapy is not the best treatment and individual therapy is indicated:
- History or active risk of abuse or violence between partners (can include emotional, physical or sexual abuse).
- Active or untreated mental illness or addiction with one (or both) partners.
- One or both parties are engaged in infidelity and lack the motivation to give those outside relationships up for the good of the primary relationship.
- One party has undertaken the decision to separate or divorce and the other wants to work on the marriage.
In my couple’s therapy sessions, I help people develop the necessary skills needed to heal and maintain sustaining love. I am an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist and support both traditional and non-traditional couples.
If any of the above issues relate to your and your partner in your relationship, contact me today for a free consultation. I would love to speak about how I may be able to help you reconnect and rekindle your love for one another, or in the case of divorcing parents, how to co-parent in a respectful, positive way.