Do we both attend the sessions?
Usually yes, sessions are held together. At some points in the process separate meetings with each of you may also take place. How those separate meetings work is explained clearly to both of you beforehand.
Couples Therapy
Couples therapy is work in which two people look at the patterns in their relationship together with a psychologist. No ruling is made about who is right; the aim is to understand how the repeating cycle is built. Sessions last 45 minutes, are held in English or Turkish, and can take place at the centre or online.
Book a sessionWhat we often work on:
- The same argument coming round again
- Communication breaking down
- Periods where trust has been damaged
- Disagreement about parenting
- Big transitions: moving, a job change, a loss
- Thinking through a separation together
What happens in a couples session?
Sessions are usually held with both of you and last 45 minutes. The psychologist holds the conversation and makes sure there is room for each of you to speak. At some points in the process, separate meetings with each of you may also take place.
-
1. First meeting
We listen to both of you and to the history of the relationship. We ask each of you separately what you are hoping for from therapy — the answers are often not the same, and seeing that early is useful.
-
2. Mapping the pattern
We open up the repeating cycle together: what triggers what, who withdraws and when, where the argument always ends up. The subject is not who is right but how the cycle works.
-
3. Trying it in the room
Some of the difficult conversations happen inside the session. The point is for that conversation to become possible at home too. This is usually the hardest part of the process and the part that does the most.
-
4. Reviewing where we are
At regular intervals we look together at where the process has got to. The decision to continue or to pause is made with both of you.
Does the psychologist take sides?
No. What is worked on in couples therapy is not the two people but the pattern between them. No ruling is made about who is right — such a ruling would not change the relationship anyway.
That does not mean everything is met in the middle. In some situations one person is carrying more, and that is named as what it is. The distinction is between taking sides and making what is there visible.
A session in which one of you does not feel heard does not work. That is watched for.
What is the difference between couples, family and individual therapy?
Each works with a different unit. Which one to start with usually becomes clear in the first meeting, and moving between them is possible.
| Who attends | What is worked on | |
|---|---|---|
| Couples therapy | Both partners | The repeating pattern in the relationship |
| Family therapy | The relevant family members | The family system and its roles |
| Individual therapy | One person | A person's own history and patterns |
What if my partner will not come?
This comes up often, and the process does not stop there. You can start on your own. Working on your own part in the pattern can be enough to change one end of the cycle.
We cover this in more detail here: Couples Therapy in Famagusta: When, Why and How to Start
Do we have to be married?
No. Marriage is not a precondition. We work with couples who live together, are engaged, are in a long-distance relationship, or are early in a relationship.
Couples considering separation also come. In that case the work is not about keeping the relationship going but about being able to think the decision through together, with less damage. Therapy does not promise an outcome; it opens room for a person and a relationship to understand themselves.
Last updated:
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the psychologist take sides?
No. What is worked on in couples therapy is not the two people but the pattern between them. No ruling is made about who is right; the aim is to understand together how the repeating cycle is built.
Do we have to be married?
No. Marriage is not a precondition. We also work with couples who live together, are engaged, are in a long-distance relationship, or are early in a relationship.
Is what I say passed on to my partner?
Where separate meetings are held, how confidentiality works is agreed beforehand and the same frame is explained to both of you. Sessions and your personal information are protected in line with confidentiality principles.
When should we start couples therapy?
The most effective time is early—when communication difficulties, recurring conflict, or emotional distance first appear. That said, therapy can be valuable at any stage of a relationship.
Can couples therapy save our relationship?
Therapy provides tools to communicate better, understand each other more deeply, and make informed decisions about the future—but it does not guarantee a specific outcome. Some couples strengthen their bond; others reach a healthy closure.
What if my partner refuses to come to therapy?
Individual therapy is an excellent starting point. Understanding your own role in the relationship dynamic and making personal changes often creates a shift that encourages the other partner to engage.
What topics does couples therapy cover?
Communication patterns, trust, intimacy, financial disagreements, parenting differences, infidelity, and how past experiences affect the relationship are all common areas. The agenda is shaped by the couple's needs.