From A Minneapolis Therapist: 7 Signs Couples Therapy Could Help Your Relationship
Couples often ask: “How do we know if it’s really time for therapy?” The truth is, if you're asking the question, you already know the answer.
You don't need permission to reach out. You don't need to wait for things to be "bad enough."
If something feels off in your relationship, if you're here, reading this, that's reason enough.
Maybe you've been arguing more. Maybe you're not arguing at all, and that's worse. Maybe trust cracked, or intimacy faded, and you're wondering if this is fixable.
Here's what we tell couples all the time: therapy isn't just for relationships in crisis. It's for people who want to stop drifting and start reconnecting.
Below are 7 signs that couples therapy could help. If even one resonates, consider it your green light.
7 Signs That Couples Therapy In Minneapolis Could Help You:
The same arguments keep repeating.
You know the script by heart. The topic itself changes — money, parenting, whose family to visit — but the underlying argument is always the same.
And it never actually resolves. Afterward, there's no repair. Just silence or distance.
It's exhausting. And lonely.
In therapy, we help you step off the hamster wheel.
We'll slow down the cycle so you can see what's really happening underneath the surface. You'll learn to recognize your triggers, understand what each of you actually needs, and practice repairing after conflict, so arguments don't leave lasting damage.
You feel more like roommates than intimate partners
Emotional intimacy? Physical connection? That's been missing for a while.
You coordinate schedules
You split chores
You manage the household like a well-oiled machine.
You’re functioning, but you’re not close.
Therapy helps you rebuild what’s been lost.
We’ll explore what pulled you apart - whether it’s burnout, resentment, or just life getting in the way. Then we’ll guide you back toward vulnerability and connection, helping you rediscover each other beyond the to-do list.
Trust Feels Shaky
Maybe it was a lie that kept growing, it could be ongoing dishonesty, big or small. Either way, the safety you once felt is gone — and you're not sure how to get it back.
You're second-guessing everything. And that's no way to live.
Therapy creates a space to rebuild trust, slowly and intentionally.
We'll help the partner who broke trust understand the impact and take real accountability. And we'll help the hurt partner express what they need to feel safe again.
It's not about forgetting what happened, it's about creating something new and stronger and finding a way to move forward.
There has been infidelity or other betrayal in your relationship
This isn't just painful for the hurt partner. The partner who was unfaithful often feels shame, confusion, and fear about what comes next.
Both of you are hurting. Both of you are asking: can we survive this?
You don't have to figure it out alone.
Infidelity therapy helps you navigate the aftermath with guidance and care.
We'll address the trauma, create space for honesty, and help you decide whether you're rebuilding or separating, and how to do either with intention.
Using therapy approaches designed for affair recovery, we'll help you process the pain, understand what led to the betrayal, and chart a path forward that honors both of you.
Communication Feels Unsafe or Impossible
Conversations escalate fast.
Or one of you shuts down completely.
Either way, you can't seem to talk about anything important without it ending in a fight or a wall of silence.
You're walking on eggshells. Or worse, you've stopped trying altogether.
Therapy teaches you how to communicate without the damage.
We'll help you understand why conversations go sideways; what each of you is really reacting to beneath the words. You'll learn how to express what you need without blame, and how to listen without defensiveness.
It's about creating a space where both of you can be heard.
Emotional Distance Is Growing
Loneliness creeps in even when you're together.
You're in the same room, but it feels like you're miles apart. The connection you used to have has faded.
The ease, the warmth, you miss them, even though your partner is right there.
Therapy helps you close the gap. We'll explore what's driving the distance.
Whether it's unspoken resentment, fear of vulnerability, or just years of drifting. Then we'll guide you back toward each other, helping you make bids for connection and respond to your partner's needs. Small shifts can bring you closer than you've felt in years.
When You Are Going Through A Life Transition
Blending families. Becoming parents. Empty nesting. A serious illness. These milestones can pull you together, or pull you apart.
The stress is real. And it's hard to support each other when you're both struggling.
Therapy helps you use your relationship as a support during times of change.
Whether you're navigating stepfamily dynamics, adjusting to a cancer diagnosis, or redefining yourselves after the kids leave, we'll help you stay connected through the transition.
You'll learn to lean on each other instead of pulling away, and build resilience as a team.
Why Starting Therapy Early Matters
You're not in crisis, but you see the patterns forming.
You notice the distance creeping in.
And you know that waiting until things are broken makes them harder to fix.
You don't need permission to prioritize your relationship.
Therapy isn't just for couples in crisis. It's most effective when used as prevention. Through Emotionally Focused Therapy methods (EFT) we'll help you build stronger communication skills, deepen your emotional connection, and address small issues before they become big ones.
Think of it as relationship maintenance, not damage control.
We offer both in-person sessions in south Minneapolis and secure telehealth for residents throughout Minnesota in English and Spanish. Whatever works for your life, we'll meet you there.
You Don't Have to Wait Until Your Relationship Is Unbearable
If you recognized yourself in any of these signs, that's enough. You don't need to hit rock bottom to deserve support.
Couples therapy isn't about admitting failure. It's about choosing your relationship, and each other, before the pain gets bigger than it needs to be.
Ready to take the next step?
Schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our vetted couples therapists. We'll help you figure out if therapy is right for you, answer your questions, and match you with someone who gets it.
Book your free consultation here!
Relation Works Therapy is a private pay practice, which means we don't bill insurance directly. However, many clients use their Health Savings Account (HSA) or submit for out-of-network reimbursement.
We'll provide you with a detailed receipt (or Superbill upon request) that you can submit to your insurance company. Just check with your benefits provider to confirm whether your plan covers out-of-network therapy — and if you're seeking couples or family counseling, ask specifically about coverage for those services.
We can't guarantee reimbursement, but we're here to support you through the process.