Couples and Marriage Counseling in
Mansfield, Texas
Find Hope With Your Partner
At The Hope Place, we seek to meet every life stage, including those in relationships. Whether you are struggling significantly, or notice small things that you would prefer to address sooner than later, we would be honored to partner with you to help achieve your best hopes.
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Whereas individual therapy focuses on individuals, couples therapy places the focus on the relationship between two people. While we understand that there are two people that make up the relationship who each have their own thoughts, feelings, and experiences, the focus in therapy shifts from those individual needs to the health of the relationship. As such, some therapists might recommend individual therapy alongside the couples counseling to help address individual needs that are not helpful to the relationship.
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Once called marriage therapy, current culture recognizes that two people involved in a romantic relationship do not have to be married in order to receive help. While every couple might not be a good fit for a particular therapist, one or more of the the therapists at THP that see couples the following status of relationships:
Dating couples
Married Couples
Engaged or pre-marital couples
Long-term unmarried and same-sex partners
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We believe that you are the expert on your life, and it is not up to the therapist to determine the status of your relationship. Sometimes, one or both of the individuals may come to the conclusion that it is healthiest for goals to change. The therapists at The Hope Place will work with you to determine your best hopes for the relationship, while concurrently supporting the changing dynamics of your relationship if your goals change.
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Communication Issues: Communication can break down for many reasons. Constant arguing, defensiveness, or emotional disconnection generally do not help the relationship, and more effective ways to engage and be present might be needed.
Major life transitions: Life can be hard! Existing systems that are familiar and useful in one stage of life do not always show the same effectiveness through transitions to new stages.
Trust Issues. Trust can feel hard, either from unrelated past emotional trauma, or from betrayal in the current relationship.
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Yes! Jessica Barber has received training in the Gottman Method, and combines principles from this training with solution focused techniques for her work with couples.
Rachel Malquist LPC-S is betrayal trauma certified and able to facilitate full disclosures of sex addiction, pornography, or affairs.
What to Expect
Starting couples counseling can feel like a big step, so here is how the process usually unfolds at The Hope Place.
Your intake. You begin with a couples intake, where your therapist gets to know both of you, hears what brought you in, and learns your best hopes for the relationship. This sets the direction for your work together.
Time with each of you. Your therapist may ask, and in some cases require, to meet with each partner one on one for a session or two. Hearing each perspective on its own helps them understand the full picture and support the relationship as a whole.
How your care may be arranged. Sometimes one therapist sees you together as a couple while a different therapist provides individual therapy to one partner. This keeps each person well supported and protects the focus and privacy of both the couples work and the individual work.
Working toward your goals. From there, sessions focus on the patterns between you, strengthening communication, easing conflict, and rebuilding connection. Your therapist checks in along the way to make sure the work is helping, and adjusts with you as your goals change.
At your own pace. Every couple is different. Some come for a short, focused season, others for longer, deeper work. You stay in the driver's seat of what you want for your relationship.
How is couples counseling different from individual therapy?
Individual therapy centers on one person, while couples counseling centers on the relationship between you. Both of your thoughts and feelings still matter, but the focus shifts to the health of the relationship itself. Sometimes a therapist may suggest individual therapy alongside it to support needs that affect the relationship.
Do we have to be married to come?
No. What was once called marriage counseling now welcomes any committed romantic relationship. Our therapists work with dating couples, engaged and premarital couples, married couples, and long term partners.
What issues can couples counseling help with?
Couples often come in for communication struggles, frequent arguing or emotional distance, major life transitions, and trust concerns, whether from past wounds or betrayal in the current relationship. Wherever you are, we work from your best hopes for the relationship.
Can you help us recover after infidelity or betrayal?
Yes. Betrayal, whether from infidelity or another break in trust, can leave deep wounds, and rebuilding takes care and time. We help couples work through betrayal trauma by creating a safe space to be honest, process the hurt, and slowly rebuild trust and connection. Because betrayal often affects each partner individually too, your therapist may suggest individual support alongside your couples work, and several of our therapists specialize in betrayal trauma and trauma processing.
Does couples counseling actually work?
It can help a great deal when both people are willing to engage. Couples counseling gives you a structured, supportive space to understand your patterns, communicate more clearly, and rebuild connection. It does take effort and honesty, and many couples find real change over time.
Will the therapist take sides?
No. Your therapist stays in the corner of the relationship rather than either partner. We believe you are the expert on your own life, so our role is to support your goals and the changing dynamics of your relationship, not to decide who is right.
How long does couples counseling take?
It depends on your goals and what you are working through. Some couples come for a short, focused stretch, while others stay longer to work on deeper patterns. Your therapist will check in with you along the way about what is helping and what you need.
Do you take insurance for couples counseling?
No. Most insurance plans do not cover couples counseling, because they only pay for treatment of a diagnosed mental health condition in one person, and couples work focuses on the relationship. We are private pay, which also protects your privacy, and we can provide a superbill you may submit for any out of network benefits you may be owed.
How much does couples counseling cost?
Rates depend on the therapist's training and experience. You can find current couples counseling rates on our team and services page. We are also glad to talk through cost with you so it does not stand in the way of the support you need.
Can we do couples counseling online?
Yes. We offer telehealth to couples anywhere in Texas through a secure, confidential video system, so you can meet with your therapist from wherever feels comfortable. In person sessions at our Mansfield office are available too.
What approach do your couples therapists use?
Jessica Barber, LCSW-S, has training in the Gottman Method, a well researched approach to couples work, and blends it with solution focused techniques. The Gottman Method focuses on improving communication, managing conflict, and deepening friendship and connection.
Do you offer premarital counseling?
Yes. We work with engaged and premarital couples who want to build a strong foundation before marriage. It is a chance to strengthen communication and walk through expectations together early, while things feel hopeful.
Located in Mansfield, Texas
info@hopeplacetx.com
(817) 941-0100 phone
1-888-304-1422 fax
or Text Our Front Desk
Hours Vary. By Appointment Only.