Couples Therapy in
New York City

Overview

It often seems that the odds are stacked against being able to build and maintain long-term happy and healthy relationships. There is so much added stress in today’s fast paced world when it comes to technology, financial responsibility, lack of emotionally fulfilling social connection, and constant social media interruptions that spending time nurturing and cultivating a healthy relationship often feels like an insurmountable task. 

Relationships mean so much when it comes to a fulfilling and meaningful life. While no relationship is without its trials and tribulations, there is a distinction between normal disagreements and more serious problems. If the majority of your daily interactions are not nurturing its growth, you may find your relationship is stuck in a gridlocked cycle of distress. Over time, an imbalance of unhealthy vs healthy positive interactions leads to the deterioration of the relationship. 

Whether you find that you and your significant other are struggling to make time for one another, enjoy time together,  communicate effectively, or are dealing with heavier issues such as infidelity, death, or divorce, couples therapy can be one of the most important steps you take to help heal and grow as a couple.

+ Who are good candidates for therapy?

The decision to seek couple’s therapy can be a daunting one. It requires the couple to be vulnerable and admit that there may be something wrong in the relationship. This can be overwhelming and terrifying for some.

The truth of the matter is that seeking couples counseling early in your relationship, can be one one the healthiest and most rewarding decisions you make!

Most couples can benefit from a neutral and safe space to discuss goals for the relationship and areas of needed improvement.

+ How do I know if I could benefit from couples therapy?

Taking the next step to start couples counseling is no simple task. It requires revealing that the relationship is not perfect and without any fault. This can be terrifying and difficult to admit. For many, this can feel scary if your not familiar with what therapy and counseling are all about. Numerous amounts of partners and couples embark on this process can feel confusing and mysterious. Often times, the idea of seeing a therapist is of low priority, with usually one of both parties are unsure with how to proceed and whether their specific problems, or issues can actually be helped.

Lack or Broken Trust

Many long-term couples experience distress at one point or another due to differences in dealing with finances, intimacy needs, family dynamics, emotional affairs or disengagement.

Difficulty communicating in healthy and effective ways.

It’s only normal that couples will have squabbles here and there however, if you’re ratio of positive to negative interactions and communication are leaning heavily towards the negative side, it is a strong indicator that the health of the relationship may be at stake. Negative interactions such as frequent arguing, name calling, criticism, and invalidation leads to feeling more distant and eventually disconnected in the relationship.

Major life change or transition including death, divorce, illness, loss

Most long term couples experience a major life changing event which can be extremely stressful and result in conflict or dissatisfaction within the relationship.

A therapist can help the couple process the loss and change in relationship dynamics as well as teach the couple healthy ways to communicate and support one another during this time and beyond.

Something just doesn’t feel right..

It might be hard to put your finger on it but something feels different. Maybe like the ‘spark’ may be gone in your relationship. Are you starting to feel resentment?

This may just mean that your relationship needs a tune up much like you’re beloved car. A therapist’s office can be the safest and most supportive place to get help.

+ What are some of the benefits of couples therapy?

Couples therapy has the ability to positively impact many critical areas that determine the health of one’s relationships over time. Individuals unknowingly contribute to the detriment of the relationship because they never learned effective communication skills and/or have unresolved past issues they are recreating and projecting in their current relationship.

A skilled couple’s therapist can help you:

Increase intimacy in your relationship. Not only can it be more sexually satisfying but it can help foster more feelings and acts of romance in your partnership.

Work better as a team, learn to cooperate, and nurture a dynamic of supportive partnership.

Manage daily stressors as in more effective ways.

Adapt and support one another through major life transition and/or loss.

Resolve and come to terms with major differences in relationship decisions.

Improve the quality of time and interactions you have with one another.

+ How do I know I am ready for therapy?

You are willing to accept that it is time to try something different in order to get better results.

You are willing to take responsibility for your role in the current relationship dynamic.

You are motivated and committed to Working in couple’s therapy.

You are seeking change and self-improvement in your own life.

You are ready to grow strong and healthy as a couple.

+What is my initial consultation at Dr. Hersha's office in New York like?

During the first meeting at Dr. Hersha’s New York location, your therapist will determine if you are a good candidate for therapy. This starts with your full health history, including major illnesses, prior hospitalizations, and any other relevant medical information. Your therapist will want to know about current and past relationships and obtain an individual history as well as your diet and exercise habits.

It is important to tell your therapist if you smoke, take any medications, supplements, or other recreational drugs as these can have a big impact on your progress. Our therapists understand that this can be difficult and sensitive information to share and therefore strive to offer non-judgmental support and gentle guidance. During the visit, your therapist will do a general evaluation of of mental well-being and health including any other serious past injuries and/or trauma. All of this information will assist with the planning and treatment of your diagnosis.

The details

+ How is couples therapy different from getting help from clergy, friends, coworkers, family etc.?

Although most of the time well-intentioned, friends, family and clergy are rarely able to advise with neutrality, and an understanding of human behavior and relationship dynamics. These people have their own conscious or unconscious agenda or stake in the relationship.

Competing advice without allowing the couple to safely make distinctions about their own goals and values in a supportive and non-judgmental space can be detrimental to the couples experience and relationship.

An effectively trained and skilled couple’s therapist is able to help the couple determine individual strengths and weakness as well as issues that are causing distress and breakdown of the relationship. Unhealthy and ineffective communication patterns are explored and addressed. While giving individuals real skills and tools for learning how to express thoughts and feelings without attacking the partner or causing a breakdown in communication . In addition, couples learn how to listen to their partner’s needs as well as effective ways to foster connection.

+ I've tried couples counseling before and it did not help, will your approach be any different?

Dr. Hersha’s approach to couples therapy is different from the general practitioner as she uses over 40 years of established evidence-based treatment techniques to help couples foster improved communication and healthy behavior patterns within the relationship.

Dr. Hersha and her associates are invested in helping you reach your goals as a couple. You will receive non-judgmental support, insight into relationship dynamics, effective tools and communication techniques to help foster increased intimacy, connection, and satisfaction within the relationship .

+ Does my health insurance cover the cost of couples therapy?

The short answer is probably. Dr. Hersha and Associates are out of network providers. This means you’re responsible for reaching a deductible before your insurance provider reimburses you for a percentage of the service cost. Contact your insurance provider directly to determine your out-of-network benefits. If you have additional questions or concerns please call our office manager (347) 746-0712..

+ Do you treat same-sex or non-traditional couples?

Absolutely. Everyone deserves to find and create a healthy and satisfying partnership.

+ What will couples therapy be like?

Couples therapy sessions range between 60 to 75 minutes per visit based on the couples goals, needs, and availability to attend sessions.

The first few sessions will focus on information gathering in order to start the process of determining relationship strengths, weaknesses, behavioral patterns and relationships dynamics.

The couple will complete an extensive online research-based assessment that works to provide the couple with the opportunity to further explore relationship dynamics, learn strengths and challenges of the relationship as well as help formulate a treatment plan moving forward.

The goal is to help the couple start feeling better faster and provide them with the necessary tools to foster growth and connection.

+ Can couples therapy be deducted as a medical expense?

(We suggest you verify this information with your accountant or financial advisor as tax laws may vary according to your specific location and situation.)

In the IRS Publication 502, medical care expenses are defined as expenses that alleviate or prevent a physical or mental illness or disability. This may include the cost of counseling that you pay for yourself, your spouse or your dependents. The IRS allows you to deduct medical expenses associated with psychiatric care, therefore you can deduct expenses related to treatment by a psychologist.

“Our relationships are priceless. Don’t you want to make sure that you are investing in its health when they take so much of our time and emotions? Each time you have a negative interaction with your partner that goes unresolved, we are bound to repeat, which in turn chips away at the health and dynamic of your relationship”

- Dr. Hersha Diaz

Get started

Don’t wait any longer, get started with Dr. Hersha today.