Couples Counseling
Most couples wait far too long to ask for help. By the time they call, the same argument has been running for years and both people are exhausted by it. You do not have to be in crisis to come, and coming early is easier than coming late.
Timber Creek has nine therapists who work with couples across Ann Arbor, Chelsea and online anywhere in Michigan. Six of them hold Gottman Method training. Whether you call it couples counseling, couples therapy or marriage counseling, it is the same work and this is the page for it.
What we help with:
Every relationship arrives with its own history, but the reasons people come tend to fall into four groups.
Communication & Trust: Arguments that go in circles, avoidance of the real problem, infidelity — physical or emotional — and the long question of whether forgiveness is possible.
Intimacy & Connection: Affection that has drained away, difficulty around sex, and the slow drift of two people who live together but have stopped reaching each other.
Family & Parenting: Constant conflict about the children, co-parenting boundaries after a separation, and the family you each came from showing up in the family you are building.
The weight of daily life: Money, work that takes everything, and the transitions — a move, a new baby, a job loss, an empty house — that change a relationship whether you planned for it or not.
What to expect:
Couples therapy here is not open-ended talking. It follows a structure, and you will know at every point where you are in it.
1. The Assessment Phase (Sessions 1–4)
Good treatment begins with a thorough evaluation. The first four sessions set out your concerns, establish goals and determine readiness for treatment:
Session 1: You come together and we look at the relationship as it is now.
Sessions 2 & 3: Each of you meets the therapist alone.
Session 4: You come back together for feedback and we agree the plan.
2. The Treatment Phase (Approx. 20 Sessions)
From here every session is joint. We do not mix individual therapy and couples therapy with the same clinician, because it compromises both. The length is shaped by your relationship rather than a fixed programme.
3. The Maintenance Phase
When you have reached what you came for, most couples move to a check-in session every three to six months. Relapse is far more common in couples who stop abruptly than in couples who taper.
What it costs
Couples counseling is paid out of pocket. Current session rates are set out on our Insurance & Fees page, and they vary with the experience of the therapist you see.
Couples counseling is not billed to health insurance. Insurance covers treatment for one person with a diagnosis, and couples work treats the relationship rather than either partner on their own. We mention it here so there are no surprises when you book.
Individual therapy at Timber Creek is a different matter and is covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Priority Health and HAP. If cost is a concern, say so when you get in touch — there are a limited number of reduced-rate places, and we would rather have that conversation early.
If you are not sure couples counseling is the right thing
Some couples arrive still deciding whether to stay together at all. That is a different conversation from therapy and we would rather name it than pretend otherwise. Tell us when you get in touch and we will talk about what fits.
We also run retreats, one-day workshops and two or three day intensives through our Relationship Institute. Those are separate from weekly counseling and some couples do both.
Starting
Request an appointment and we will match you with a therapist who has space and who fits what you are bringing. You will not be asked to explain the whole story on a form.