Therapy for Couples and Families: What to Look For—And Why It Matters

Finding a therapist when you’re struggling in your relationship or family can feel overwhelming. Many people begin their search through insurance networks or online directories, only to discover that not every therapist is trained to work with the complexity of relational stress. While many therapists are excellent at supporting individuals through anxiety, depression, or life transitions, working with couples and families requires specialized training and a different clinical lens.

At The Family Therapy Place, we understand this distinction. Our practice is built around the belief that healing happens in the context of relationships—and that supporting couples and families takes more than general therapy training. We intentionally hire therapists who have advanced training in marriage and family therapy and relational trauma, and child and play therapy because this is the work we are passionate about, and it’s the work we’re trained to do well.

Why Specialization Matters in Relational Therapy

Most graduate programs provide broad foundational training in mental health, but therapists develop their specializations after graduation—through additional coursework, clinical supervision, and years of focused experience. At The Family Therapy Place, our therapists have pursued this deeper level of training in order to effectively support:

• Couples in distress or disconnection

• Parents navigating conflict with children or teens

• Families impacted by trauma, grief, or long-term relational strain

We don’t just work with relationships—we work through them, using evidence-based approaches and alternative treatment modalities to help clients identify patterns, build new connection, and experience lasting change.

Why Insurance Doesn’t Always Cover This Work

If you’re seeking therapy for a diagnosable mental health condition, insurance can be a helpful resource. But when the primary issue is relationship stress—conflict in a partnership, emotional disconnection in a family, or strain between a parent and child—insurance typically doesn’t provide adequate coverage. This is because most plans only reimburse for treatment focused on one “identified patient” with a diagnosis, not the broader relational system.

Because of these limitations, many of the most experienced couples and family therapists operate outside of insurance networks. This allows for more flexibility, depth, and integrity in the work—without needing to fit complex relational dynamics into a medical model that wasn’t built to support them.

What to Look for in a Relational Therapist

When searching for a therapist to help with couples or family issues, consider asking:

• Does this therapist or practice specialize in relational work?

• Do they have advanced training in couples therapy, family systems, or trauma-informed care?

• Is their approach focused on helping people like me—partners, parents, caregivers, or families navigating long-term stress?

At The Family Therapy Place, our entire practice is designed to meet these needs. We work from a relational framework, and we offer support that is grounded, compassionate, and focused on helping people rebuild trust and connection within their most important relationships.

You Deserve the Right Kind of Help

If you’re facing relational stress—whether with your partner, your child, or your family as a whole—don’t settle for therapy that only scratches the surface. The right therapist can help you move beyond conflict or confusion and toward genuine connection and healing.

To set up an intake with a qualified relationship therapist please contact us at 616-207-2727 or hit the contact button on our website.

‍