Every relationship faces difficult periods. Communication breaks down, the same arguments repeat themselves, or you and your partner start to feel more like housemates than a couple. Reaching out for support is not a sign that your relationship has failed. It is often the first step towards understanding each other again.
At The London Psychology Clinic, we offer specialist couples therapy in London delivered by a Certified Gottman Therapist. This page explains what couples therapy involves, the approach we use, and how to take the first step.
What is couples therapy and how do you know if it could help?
Every relationship has some conflict. In small doses, disagreement is normal and even healthy. But when conflict becomes frequent, when the same argument keeps resurfacing without resolution, or when you feel increasingly distant from your partner, it has moved beyond what most couples can work through alone.
You might recognise some of these experiences:
- Recurring arguments that never seem to get fully resolved
- Feeling unheard or misunderstood by your partner
- A gradual loss of closeness, affection or intimacy
- Difficulty rebuilding trust after a breach, such as infidelity
- Struggling to communicate during a major life transition, such as a new baby, a house move or a career change
- Feeling more like co-managers of a household than partners
If any of this feels familiar, you are not alone, and you do not need to be in crisis to benefit from couples therapy. Many couples find it most useful as a preventative step, addressing patterns before they become entrenched.
How is couples therapy delivered?
Couples therapy at the clinic is delivered using the Gottman Method Couples Therapy, one of the most researched approaches to relationship counselling available. It was developed by Dr John Gottman and Dr Julie Schwartz Gottman, based on more than four decades of research into what makes relationships work and what tends to break them down.
Rather than simply talking through problems, the Gottman Method gives couples practical, structured tools for improving communication, managing conflict constructively, and rebuilding friendship and emotional intimacy. Sessions typically begin with an assessment of your relationship history, strengths and difficulties, before moving into focused work on the specific patterns affecting you.
You can read more about the approach itself in our article on what the Gottman Method is and how it works.
What types of relationship difficulties do we treat?
Sessions take place in a calm, confidential setting, either in person at our Paddington clinic or online. Your
Our couples therapy service can help with a wide range of difficulties, including:
- Ongoing or gridlocked conflict
- Communication difficulties
- Emotional disconnection or loss of intimacy
- Infidelity and rebuilding trust
- Challenges arising during significant life transitions
- Wanting to strengthen a relationship that is generally healthy
What happens at the first session?
Your first session is an assessment appointment. It gives your therapist the opportunity to understand your relationship in full, including its history, its strengths, and the difficulties bringing you to therapy now. Both partners are invited to share their perspective.
There is no pressure to commit to anything at this stage. Many couples find the first session valuable in itself, simply having a structured space to speak openly, with someone trained to help you both feel heard, can bring a real sense of relief.
At the end of the first session, your therapist will share their thoughts and discuss what a course of therapy might look like for you as a couple.
How to get started
If you and your partner are considering couples therapy, reaching out is often the hardest part. You do not need to have everything figured out beforehand, or agree on what the “real” problem is. If you are unsure whether couples therapy is right for you, connecting with us may help you both reflect.
You may also find it useful to take our short reflective questionnaire, Is It Time to Speak to a Therapist?, to help you think through whether now is the right time to reach out.
Get in touch with the clinic
View our Meet the Team page
