Couples Counseling in West Palm Beach, Florida

Couples Counseling Addressing Relationship Issues: Rebuild Your Connection, One Conversation at a Time, Through Couples Therapy in West Palm Beach

Relationships aren’t easy. Even the strongest couples face moments of distance, miscommunication, or emotional disconnect. Whether you’re facing a major crisis or drifting apart, couples counseling provides a compassionate, structured path to healing, improved communication, and a more fulfilling future together.

I’m Dr. Susan Christiansen, Ph.D., LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist with decades of experience helping couples across West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County rediscover their connection, repair broken communication, and build stronger, more resilient relationships.

Working with the couple together or sometimes individually, I respond to their requests for a resolution of conflict with compassion, hopeful outcomes, and heightened sense of intimacy. My practice is rooted in empathy, respect, and proven therapeutic methods tailored to your unique relationship dynamics. If you’re looking to reconnect, rediscover trust, or navigate life transitions together, I invite you to reach out. I welcome all couples, regardless of sexual orientation and identity.

I can help couples move beyond infidelity and other breaches of trust, restore sexual connections, and navigate the everyday challenges and spiritual demands of living. In instances when betrayals can’t be forgiven, or when mutual respect and life paths can’t be found, I can also help couples bring their relationships to an appropriate end.

Call (561) 688-8787(561) 688-8787 or use my online form to request a free introductory call with me, Dr. Susan Christiansen, Ph.D., LMFT in West Palm Beach, FL. I have the expertise to help you and your partner develop a plan that works. With my assistance, you can avoid or resolve conflict and develop a long-lasting, happy, and healthy relationship.

Key Takeaways

• As a licensed mental health counselor with an LMFT and a Ph.D. in Humanities and Social Sciences, couples therapist Dr. Susan Christiansen is well-equipped to help you address relationship challenges together in a supportive environment through guided couples counseling and therapy.
• Dr. Susan Christiansen provides couples counseling and therapy both online and from her office conveniently located in West Palm Beach, FL.
• Couples therapy can encompass marriage and relationship therapy for all relationship stages.
• Dr. Susan Christiansen follows a personalized, evidence-informed therapy  approach rooted in compassion that incorporates various tailored treatment modalities.
• Couples therapy is ideal For: Married couples, partners, and those seeking premarital counseling.
• Easily request a free introductory call with Dr. Susan Christiansen, Ph.D., LMFT by phone at (561) 688-8787(561) 688-8787 or through the online form

What is Couples Counseling?

Couples counseling — also known as couples therapy, relationship therapy, or marriage therapy — is a type of psychotherapy designed to help two people in an intimate relationship improve their communication, build relationship skills, resolve conflicts, and strengthen emotional connection.

As a licensed therapist, I work with couples facing a wide range of concerns: emotional distance, communication breakdowns, trust issues, infidelity, parenting stress, financial disagreements, and life transitions. This therapeutic process is not about placing blame — it’s about understanding each other’s needs, patterns, and emotions in a safe and neutral environment.

In my West Palm Beach couples relationship counseling practice, I blend systemic family therapy principles with emotionally focused therapeutic techniques to create meaningful breakthroughs in understanding. Each client’s needs are different, but the couples and marriage counseling modalities I use often include:

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
• Gottman Method
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Evidence-Based Practices

Whether you’re dating, engaged, married, or long-time partners, couples therapy provides tools and insights to navigate your relationship more consciously and lovingly.

Key Benefits of Couples Therapy

1. Improve Communication Skills

Most relationship distress begins with miscommunication. In counseling, I help couples identify unproductive patterns — such as criticism, defensiveness, gaslighting, or withdrawal — and replace them with healthy, constructive communication strategies to build more fulfilling relationships. We focus on listening with empathy, expressing needs clearly, and resolving conflicts without blame.

2. Rebuild Trust After a Breach

Infidelity or emotional betrayal can shatter a relationship’s foundation. Rebuilding trust is a process, but it’s possible. I help couples navigate this fragile terrain with honesty, compassion, and practical steps toward repair while building coping skills.

3. Strengthen Emotional Intimacy

Many couples come in saying, “We’re like roommates.” Emotional intimacy often fades under the pressure of parenting, work, or unresolved resentment. Together, we reconnect emotional pathways, helping you rediscover affection, appreciation, and closeness for a more fulfilling life together.

4. Navigate Life Transitions Together

Whether you’re adjusting to parenthood, blending families, coping with retirement, or dealing with illness, life changes can strain a relationship. We incorporate effective coping strategies and stress management approaches with relationship expectations and personal growth in mind as we navigate life’s challenges. Therapy provides a safe space to process changes as a team while pursuing and maintaining mental wellness in a safe and supportive environment, making sure both partners feel heard and supported.

5. Prepare for a Strong Marriage

Through premarital counseling, I support couples preparing for marriage. We explore topics such as expectations, values, financial planning, intimacy, family roles, and conflict resolution — laying a foundation of clarity and mutual understanding.

How Couples Therapy Works

Step 1: Initial Session

In your first session, we’ll talk about your relationship history, current concerns, and goals. It’s a safe space where I encourage both partners to share.

Step 2: Relationship Assessment

We often conduct structured assessments (such as the Gottman Relationship Checkup) to identify key dynamics and areas for growth.

Step 3: Collaborative Goal Setting

You decide where the focus goes. Whether it’s healing after betrayal or deepening communication, we set realistic and compassionate goals together.

Step 4: Active Counseling Sessions

Each session typically lasts 50-60 minutes. I guide you through discussions, role-playing, and evidence-informed exercises that build emotional safety and improve conflict resolution.

Step 5: Progress Monitoring and Long-Term Tools

We check in on progress regularly. Along the way, I equip you with lasting tools for communication, emotional connection, and personal insight — so your relationship is set up to thrive beyond the therapy room.

Who Needs Couples Counseling?

Couples therapy isn’t just for couples in crisis. It’s for any partnership that values connection and wants to grow. In my practice, I see:

• Couples struggling with conflict or tension
  
• Partners recovering from infidelity or betrayal
  
• People navigating major life changes
  
• Couples preparing for marriage or moving in together
  
• Empty-nesters experiencing emotional distance
  
• Long-term partners seeking deeper intimacy

Whether you’re dating, married, LGBQ, or in a non-traditional relationship structure, you’re welcome here.

Why Choose Dr. Susan Christiansen for Couples Therapy in West Palm Beach?

Our Experience & Education

With over 20 years of clinical experience, a Ph.D. in Humanities and Social Science, and a license in marriage and family therapy, I bring academic depth and practical tools to every therapeutic counseling and treatment session. As a licensed mental health counselor, I stay current with relationship research and training, including Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy.

Proven Success

Many couples who once stood on the brink of separation now enjoy meaningful connection and trust. Testimonials from past clients in West Palm Beach and surrounding areas affirm the life-changing impact of consistent, compassionate therapy.

My Unique Approach

My approach is integrative. I listen deeply, reflect thoughtfully, and tailor each session to your unique needs. No two couples are the same. Whether you need structured support or space to explore, therapy is shaped around you.

Comprehensive Support

Healing and growth don’t end when the session does. I offer tools for continued progress—between-session exercises, book recommendations, and, when appropriate, referrals for individual therapy or family work.

How To Schedule a Couples Therapy Appointment with Dr. Susan Christiansen, Ph.D., LMFT

If you’ve read this far, chances are you’re ready for change. Whether you’re feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or simply unsure where to begin, you don’t have to handle this alone. You can learn to communicate effectively and embrace relationship challenges together with the help of a couples therapist.

I invite you to reach out today to address existing issues and develop skills for greater relationship satisfaction. Let’s explore how couples therapy in West Palm Beach can support your journey toward a stronger, more connected relationship.

Call (561) 688-8787(561) 688-8787 or use the online form to request a free introductory call. I look forward to speaking with you.

Helping Palm Beach County clients achieve peace and harmony since 2000