couples therapy

Couples therapy (also known as couples' counseling, marriage counseling, or marriage therapy) is a form of psychotherapy that seeks to improve intimate relationships, resolve interpersonal conflicts and repair broken bonds of love. It may be used to address a variety of concerns, including communication difficulties, relationship distress, infidelity, mental health conditions, and major life transitions. This article describes the history and development of couples therapy, its theoretical foundations and common therapeutic approaches, research in its effectiveness, applications with different populations, emerging practices and the training and qualifications of couples therapists.