COUPLES THERAPY & MARRIAGE COUNSELING
Having issues in your relationship? Our licensed couples therapists in Valley Stream and the Bronx help you communicate, rebuild trust and feel like a team again, with weekly sessions, premarital counseling and couples intensives. Sessions are 50 minutes: $150 in person or $125 by telehealth.
WHEN SHOULD YOU SEEK HELP?
Couples should seek therapy long before they think they need to. Often time people seek help when the issues have become unbearable. The majority of experts believe that therapy can be a part of your relationship. Most problems that do not get resolved within a relationship start small then grow in size. It is crucial to address the concerns early. Therapy can help couples learn tools and techniques to improve their conflict resolution skills.
COMMON RELATIONSHIP ISSUES
Communication • Recurring arguments • Infidelity & trust • Rebuilding intimacy • Premarital counseling • Parenting & blended families • Separation & co-parenting
WHY COUPLES COUNSELING?
Communication is a big one for couples. But just simply talking with each other more isn’t the answer. There is communication, and then there’s effective communication. Both parties need to feel heard, soothed, respected, and cared for first. We analyze old communication patterns and then replace them with a feasible and more effective one. Everyone is unique, so our goal is to help you identify the negative cycles in your relationship and build upon your strengths and address deficits. Couples Counseling can revive your relationship.
In sessions, we will address the needs, concerns, and desires of each individual. When you work with a therapist who truly understands the dynamics of your relationship from an objective point of view, it becomes easier to identify and work through the root causes behind your concerns. Moreover, couples therapy can also provide a safe space to talk about sensitive topics such as sex. Couples get caught in a negative relational cycle that can leave them stuck. Read more about negative cycles.
Ready to feel like a team again?
Tell us a little about your relationship and we’ll match you with the right couples therapist.
Couples Counseling in Valley Stream and the Bronx, NY
Every relationship goes through hard seasons. Couples therapy and marriage counseling at Lighthouse help partners slow down, understand each other’s needs and change the patterns that keep conflict going. Whether you’re dating, engaged, married or co-parenting after a separation, a licensed therapist can help you talk about difficult topics in a way that feels safe for both of you.
Sessions are available at our Valley Stream office in Nassau County, our Bronx office in Kingsbridge, and online anywhere in New York State. We work with couples from Valley Stream, Elmont, Lynbrook, Rosedale, Laurelton, Riverdale and across Long Island and New York City.
Does this sound familiar?
- The same fight, over and over. Different topic, same argument.
- Feeling more like roommates. The closeness is gone.
- Trust has been broken. An affair, secrets or broken promises.
- Shutting down or blowing up. One goes quiet, the other gets louder.
- Money, kids and in-laws. The same pressures keep pulling you apart.
- Big life changes. A new baby, a move or an empty nest.
- Wondering whether to stay. You want clarity about the relationship.
- Getting ready for marriage. You want to start strong.
You don’t have to wait until things feel unbearable. Couples who start early often need fewer sessions.
Meet our couples therapists
Lynda Simon-Taylor, LMHC-D
Clinical Director · Valley Stream
Deborah Dejean, LMHC
Director of Supervision · Valley Stream
Joan McKenzie, MFT-LP
Therapist · Valley Stream
Pamela Stewart, MHC-LP
Therapist · Valley Stream
Elizabeth Johnson-Ray, MFT-LP
Therapist · Valley Stream
Tricia Taylor, MFT-LP
Therapist · Bronx
All of our couples therapists also see clients online anywhere in New York State. Meet the full team
Fees
$150
In-person session · 50 minutes
$125
Telehealth session · 50 minutes
Couples counseling is self-pay. Insurance plans generally do not cover couples therapy, so we keep our rates simple and transparent.
Good Faith Estimate: under the federal No Surprises Act, you have the right to a Good Faith Estimate of expected costs if you are not using insurance. Ask us for one before your first session, or learn more at cms.gov/nosurprises.
Couples Therapy & Premarital Counseling Packages
Prefer a clear plan? Our couples therapy packages bundle sessions with a research-based relationship assessment, at a lower price than paying per session. Choose premarital counseling, an 8-session marriage counseling package, or a couples intensive for relationships in crisis. Tap a package to see what’s included.
All packages are self-pay. You’ll receive a Good Faith Estimate before you begin. Ask about a package or call (516) 303-9925.
Ready to feel like a team again?
Tell us a little about your relationship and we’ll match you with the right couples therapist.
Free resources for couples
Try these at home. Free to download, no email required.
The Weekly Couples Check-In
A 30-minute routine to stay connected.
How to Repair After a Fight
Six steps to come back together.
10 Questions to Reconnect
Conversation starters for date night.
Recommended reading: 8 Common Relationship Problems Couples Face (and How Couples Therapy Helps)
What to expect
Your first session focuses on your relationship’s history, its strengths and where you feel stuck. Your therapist will make sure each of you is heard, help you spot the negative cycles you fall into, and give you new ways of responding to each other to practice between sessions. Some couples come for a few sessions to work through one issue; others meet over several months.
Common questions
Is couples counseling covered by insurance?
Couples counseling is self-pay: $150 per 50-minute session in person, or $125 by telehealth. Insurance generally does not cover couples therapy. We also offer couples therapy packages that lower the cost per session. If you or your partner want individual therapy, we accept many insurance plans for individual sessions. See Billing & Insurance.
When should we seek help?
Sooner is better. Couples usually do best when they start before problems feel overwhelming, such as when the same arguments keep repeating, you feel distant, or trust has been shaken. Counseling can also strengthen a relationship that’s already working well.
What if my partner isn’t ready to come?
You can start with individual sessions. Many people find it helps them understand their own part in the pattern and invite their partner later.
Do you offer premarital counseling?
Yes. Our Start Strong premarital counseling package includes six sessions and the PREPARE/ENRICH assessment, which helps engaged couples talk through money, family, conflict, intimacy and the future before you say “I do.” Premarital counseling is available in Valley Stream, in the Bronx and online.
What is a couples therapy intensive?
A couples intensive packs months of weekly therapy into one or two long days, about 6 to 12 hours. It is designed for couples in crisis, after an affair, or considering separation or divorce who want focused help quickly. Our Crossroads Intensive includes an assessment beforehand and two follow-up sessions.
How much does couples therapy cost?
Weekly couples therapy is $150 per 50-minute session in person or $125 by telehealth. Packages range from $795 for premarital counseling to $2,100 for a two-day intensive. See Couples Packages above.
What approaches do your couples therapists use?
Our therapists draw on research-based approaches including the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Imago dialogue, along with structured assessments such as the Gottman Relationship Checkup and PREPARE/ENRICH.
Can we meet online?
Yes. Secure video sessions are available for couples anywhere in New York State.