couples therapy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium-HighFormal to Semi-Formal (Clinical, Counselling, Everyday discussion of personal matters)
Quick answer
What does “couples therapy” mean?
A type of psychotherapy in which a romantic partnership (typically a married or cohabiting couple) works with a trained therapist to address and resolve relationship issues.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of psychotherapy in which a romantic partnership (typically a married or cohabiting couple) works with a trained therapist to address and resolve relationship issues.
Any structured intervention or professional guidance aimed at improving communication, resolving conflicts, and strengthening the relationship between two people in a committed partnership. The term can be used more loosely to refer to self-help books, workshops, or other non-clinical forms of relationship counselling.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'relationship counselling' or 'couples counselling' is a more frequent and slightly less clinical-sounding synonym. In American English, 'couples therapy' is the dominant term.
Connotations
In the UK, 'therapy' can imply a more severe, psychological, or pathological issue, whereas 'counselling' suggests guidance for everyday problems. In the US, 'therapy' is more broadly accepted for general mental and relational wellbeing.
Frequency
'Couples therapy' is more common in American English. 'Couples counselling' is more common in British English, but 'couples therapy' is widely understood.
Grammar
How to Use “couples therapy” in a Sentence
[Couple] + attend/go to/start/consider + couples therapy[Therapist] + provide/offer/specialise in + couples therapy[They] + are in + couples therapyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “couples therapy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The pair decided to couples-therapise their issues. (informal, rare/non-standard)
- They are therapising as a couple. (informal, rare)
American English
- They're trying to therapy their way through the problem. (informal, non-standard)
- They decided to couples-therapy their relationship. (informal, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- They are in a couples-therapy phase. (informal, attributive use)
- It was a couples-therapy retreat.
American English
- He has a couples-therapy session tonight. (attributive use)
- She recommended a couples-therapy workbook.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in HR contexts discussing employee assistance programs (EAPs) that offer such services.
Academic
Used in psychology, sociology, and counselling research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Common in discussions about personal relationships, life challenges, and wellness.
Technical
Specific modality in clinical psychology and psychotherapy (e.g., Emotionally Focused Therapy, Gottman Method).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “couples therapy”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “couples therapy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “couples therapy”
- Using a plural verb incorrectly (e.g., 'Couples therapy are helpful' -> 'Couples therapy is helpful').
- Misspelling as 'couple's therapy' (possessive) which is less common but sometimes accepted. The standard form is non-possessive: 'couples therapy'.
- Confusing it with 'sex therapy', which is a more specific subset.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, couples therapy is for any committed romantic partnership, including dating, engaged, cohabiting, or married couples, and is also applicable to same-sex couples.
The duration varies greatly, from a few sessions to several months or more, depending on the issues, goals, and therapeutic approach. Short-term models may be 12-20 sessions.
Couples therapy focuses on the relationship system and interactions between partners. Individual therapy focuses on one person's thoughts, feelings, and personal history. Sometimes both are used concurrently.
Typically, yes. The core work is done jointly. However, some therapists may conduct initial individual sessions or occasional solo sessions as part of the couples therapy process.
A type of psychotherapy in which a romantic partnership (typically a married or cohabiting couple) works with a trained therapist to address and resolve relationship issues.
Couples therapy is usually formal to semi-formal (clinical, counselling, everyday discussion of personal matters) in register.
Couples therapy: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkʌp.lz ˈθer.ə.pi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkʌp.lz ˈθer.ə.pi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A last resort to save the marriage”
- “Trying to fix what's broken”
- “Working on the relationship”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a couple on a sofa (a 'couch') talking to a therapist. 'Couple' + 'Therapy' = therapy for the couple.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELATIONSHIP IS A MACHINE/STRUCTURE THAT CAN BE REPAIRED (e.g., 'fix the relationship', 'work on the issues').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely synonym for 'couples therapy' in a formal clinical context?