Couples Counseling in North Carolina
for partners at every stage of their relationship, from premarital preparation to empty nest and beyond. Evidence-based therapy helps couples improve communication, rebuild trust after infidelity, navigate major life transitions, and develop a deeper emotional and physical connection with the support of an objective, experienced relationship specialist.
Couples Counseling in North Carolina
Quick Facts
- Who this is for: Dating, engaged, married, and long-term couples in Charlotte, NC and across North Carolina seeking support for communication issues, conflict, intimacy concerns, parenting transitions, infidelity recovery, relationship stress, separation decisions, or major life changes
- Conditions and concerns treated: Communication breakdowns, recurring conflict, emotional disconnection, trust issues and infidelity, parenting and co-parenting stress, intimacy challenges, life transition stress, relationship dissatisfaction, separation and divorce processing, and difficulty navigating major decisions together
- Modalities offered: Couples therapy informed by CBT, DBT-informed skills, attachment-based therapy, emotionally focused interventions, trauma-informed care, EMDR, Brainspotting, mindfulness-based approaches, and relationship-focused communication strategies tailored to each couple’s needs
- Session types and lengths: Appointment frequency and treatment duration are personalized based on relationship goals
- Online couples therapy: Available statewide across all of North Carolina through secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platforms
- In-person locations: Durham, NC (3710 University Drive, Suite 302) and Cary, NC (570 New Waverly Place, Suite 210)
- Insurance: Insurance accepted for individual therapy services; couples therapy may qualify for reimbursement under family therapy billing guidelines when clinically appropriate; private pay and out-of-network benefits may also be available depending on the clinician and plan
Expert Couples Therapy for Every Stage of Your Relationship Journey
Our expertise in couples therapy covers all stages of relationships from premarital to empty nest and retirement. Common issues with which we have helped couples include communication, adjusting to becoming parents, rebuilding after infidelity, navigating significant decisions together, processing the dissolution of the relationship, and increasing emotional and physical intimacy. If you’re ready to work with a relationship specialist and are a resident of NC, start couples counseling in North Carolina with Acacia.
How Does Couples Therapy Help With Relationship Challenges?
Couples therapy helps partners better understand the patterns that contribute to conflict, disconnection, and emotional distress within the relationship. Instead of focusing on blame, therapy creates a structured space where both individuals can improve communication, express needs more effectively, and work toward shared goals together.
Break the Cycle of Blame: Therapy That Focuses on Mutual Understanding
One way we help couples is to be an objective third party to guide you in better communication about the issues that are preventing you from enjoying each other. Many people enter couples therapy expecting the therapist to “join forces” with their partner and continue the blame they feel at home. Our work with couples is quite the opposite and focuses on understanding each person’s point of view and coming to resolutions that work for everyone.
Is Couples Therapy Covered By Insurance?
While we accept insurance for individual therapy, our couples and family therapy work is systemic, which focuses on relationships rather than an individual diagnosis. Insurance may reimburse sessions using code 90847 (Family Therapy with patient present) only if the focus is on the mental health of one identified client, with others attending in support. Ethically and legally, we cannot document couples therapy as individual treatment, as doing so would constitute insurance fraud. We understand the limitations of this system but must adhere to ethical and contractual guidelines.
How Couples Therapy Works
- Intake and First Contact
You reach out to schedule your first couples counseling session. This initial step helps gather basic information about your relationship concerns, goals, and scheduling needs. - Initial Assessment Session
In the first session, your therapist gets a clear understanding of your relationship history, current challenges, communication patterns, and goals for therapy. Both partners are given space to share their perspective. - Treatment Planning and Ongoing Therapy
Your therapist collaborates with you to create a focused treatment plan. Sessions work on improving communication, identifying recurring patterns, strengthening emotional connection, and addressing specific issues such as conflict, trust, intimacy, or life transitions. - Integration and Skill Building
As therapy progresses, couples begin applying new tools outside of sessions. This may include communication strategies, emotional regulation skills, and structured exercises to improve understanding and reduce conflict cycles. - Progress Review and Adjustment
The therapist periodically checks in on progress, adjusting the approach as needed based on what is working and what the couple is experiencing in real time. - Follow-Up or Continued Support
Some couples complete therapy after meeting their goals, while others choose ongoing support or periodic check-ins. Intensives or additional sessions may be recommended for more complex or recurring challenges.
How Do You Get Started?
STEP ONE: CONTACT US
At any point in your decision to pursue therapy or assessment, feel free to contact us with questions. We will gladly talk with you over the phone to determine if one of us will be a good fit. Visit our Contact Page.
STEP TWO: INTAKE
Once you have scheduled an appointment, you will be emailed forms to complete electronically prior to your first appointment. If we are in-network with your Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, or State Health Plan insurance benefits will be processed.
STEP THREE: FIRST SESSION
Your first appointment will be 60 minutes. In this first appointment, we will discuss what brought you in, your history, and will develop a “game plan” with you to work toward your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should go to couples therapy?
Couples therapy is helpful for dating, engaged, married, and long-term partners who are experiencing communication problems, frequent conflict, trust issues, intimacy concerns, parenting stress, or major life transitions.
What happens in a couples counseling session?
Sessions typically involve both partners and a therapist who helps guide structured conversations, identify patterns, improve communication, and develop healthier ways of responding to conflict.
How long does couples therapy take?
The length of therapy varies depending on the couple’s goals, challenges, and level of commitment. Some couples benefit from short-term support, while others engage in longer-term therapy.
Is couples therapy available online in North Carolina?
Yes. Couples counseling is available via secure telehealth sessions for clients across North Carolina.
Contact Acacia Collaborative
Ask a question or book an appointment below.
Hours
Monday through Friday
9AM-8PM
Saturday: 9AM-3PM
Durham Office:
3710 University Drive #302, Durham, NC 27707
Cary Office:
570 New Waverly Pl #210, Cary, NC 27518
Online Therapy
All of North Carolina
Insurance
Accepting Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Home with UNC Health Alliance, State Health Plan, Out-of-Network Superbills & Private Pay. We are credentialed with the following Medicaid plans: Healthy Blue, Carolina Complete, and Wellcare.
Services
Mental Health Therapy & Psychological Assessments