Most couples need somewhere between 8–20 sessions of couples therapy, but the exact number depends on your goals, what you’re working through together, and how committed both partners are to the process.
If you and your partner are considering couples therapy and wondering how marriage counselling works, that’s already a powerful step toward building a healthier relationship. Still, it’s natural to wonder: How long will this take? Is it a quick reset, or will we be investing months of weekly sessions?
The truth is, there’s no single answer — but there are some clear patterns that therapists and research have found. In this article, we’ll walk through how many sessions couples typically need, what factors influence the timeline, how to tell if therapy is working, and when you might be ready to wrap up.
Is Couples Therapy Short-Term or Long-Term?
Unlike individual therapy, which may stretch into years, couples therapy is often shorter-term. Many couples see results in 8–20 sessions, depending on their situation.
Some couples just need a few sessions to tune up communication. Others, who are healing after years of conflict or rebuilding trust after infidelity, may need longer. Ultimately, the timeline depends less on the number of sessions and more on the depth of healing and practice you’re both willing to engage in.
What Determines How Long Couples Therapy Takes
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Here are the biggest factors that shape how long therapy may last:
1. What You’re Working Through Together
- If you’re navigating everyday struggles (like recurring arguments about chores or managing in-law boundaries), you may notice progress in just a handful of sessions.
- If you’re healing from deeper pain — resentment that’s built up over years, a breach of trust, or repeated cycles of conflict — therapy naturally takes more time to repair and rebuild connection.
2. Motivation & Commitment
When both partners show up open, curious, and willing to try new approaches, progress tends to happen faster. If one person feels hesitant, defensive, or checked out, it often takes more sessions to create safety and trust in the process.
3. The Type of Therapy
Different approaches come with different timelines:
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): Often 12–20 sessions.
- The Gottman Method: Begins with a detailed assessment, then structured sessions — usually 10–20 or more.
- Brief or solution-focused therapy: If your goals are very targeted, sometimes 6–10 sessions are enough.
4. Session Frequency
Consistency matters. Weekly sessions build momentum and keep new skills fresh. Meeting every other week can still work but may feel slower, while irregular sessions often stall progress.
How to Tell If Couples Therapy Is Working
Progress doesn’t always come with fireworks — it often shows up in subtle, but meaningful shifts. Here are some signs to look for:
- Early on: You feel heard in ways you haven’t in a long time. Arguments may still happen, but they don’t spiral out of control as quickly.
- Midway through: You and your partner begin using new tools — taking a pause before saying something harsh, or reaching for empathy instead of criticism.
- Later stages: You bounce back from disagreements more quickly. You feel like you’re solving problems together rather than against each other.
Like fitness or learning a new skill, growth isn’t linear. Setbacks are normal. What matters is that over time, the lows become less intense, and the highs last longer.
When Is It Time to Wrap Up Therapy?
Couples therapy isn’t about creating a picture-perfect relationship where you never disagree. It’s about learning how to stay connected, even when life throws challenges your way.
You may be ready to pause or complete therapy when:
- Arguments feel less frequent and less explosive.
- You recover more quickly after disagreements.
- You both feel supported, respected, and more like a team.
Some couples stop completely once they reach their goals. Others choose to shift into “maintenance mode,” scheduling monthly or occasional check-ins, especially during big life changes.
Think of it like this: you’ll know you’re done when you can handle conflict with confidence — when hard conversations no longer feel like battles, but opportunities to understand each other better.
How to Get the Most Out of Marriage Counseling
If you’re investing in therapy, here are a few ways to maximize the experience:
- Come prepared to be open and honest. Therapy is most effective when you bring your whole truth into the room.
- Practice outside of sessions. Change happens in the everyday moments — the way you talk in the kitchen, not just the therapist’s office.
- Stay consistent. Even when it feels hard, showing up regularly builds momentum.
Marriage counseling is not just about fixing what’s broken. It’s about building a stronger, more resilient foundation for the years ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can couples therapy work in just one or two sessions?
Sometimes, yes — if you need clarity on a single decision. But for lasting changes in communication or trust, a series of sessions is usually necessary. - How often should we attend therapy?
Most couples start weekly to build momentum. Later, you might shift to biweekly or monthly check-ins. - Do all couples need the same number of sessions?
No. Some couples see progress in 6–8 sessions, while others benefit from 20+ depending on the complexity of their challenges. - Can we stop therapy if we feel better before the “average” time?
Absolutely. You and your therapist can decide together when it’s the right time to pause. Many couples return for refreshers when new challenges arise.
Final Thought
There isn’t a magic number of sessions that guarantees success. Most couples fall somewhere between 8 and 20, but what really matters is the progress you see — less fighting, more empathy, and a stronger sense of partnership.
Couples therapy is not just about solving problems. It’s about rediscovering connection, deepening trust, and building the kind of relationship that can weather life’s ups and downs.
