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Many couples wait until problems feel overwhelming before reaching out for help. Couples therapy can be beneficial if you're experiencing recurring conflict, communication difficulties, emotional distance, trust issues, infidelity recovery, life transitions, parenting disagreements, or simply feeling disconnected from one another.
Therapy isn't just for relationships in crisis. Many couples use counseling proactively to strengthen their connection and develop healthier patterns before problems become entrenched. Check out my blog post: 7 Signs Couples Therapy Could Help Your Relationship
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The first session is primarily focused on understanding your relationship, concerns, goals, and what has brought you to therapy at this point in your lives.
You'll have an opportunity to share your perspective, discuss what's working and what's not, and begin identifying patterns that may be keeping you stuck. My goal is to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where both partners feel heard and understood.
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Yes. I offer an Accelerated Couples Therapy Assessment (ACTA), a one-day, in-person assessment for couples who would prefer to begin therapy with a more concentrated exploration of their relationship.
Rather than spreading the initial assessment process over several weeks, we spend a full day together exploring your relationship history, the challenges you’re experiencing, and the patterns that may be contributing to distress or disconnection.
The day includes sessions together as a couple, individual meetings with each partner, and a concluding conversation about what we’ve learned and recommendations for moving forward.
The ACTA isn’t intended to resolve relationship difficulties in a single day. Instead, it provides a more comprehensive understanding of your relationship and a foundation for deciding what comes next.
Learn more about the Accelerated Couples Therapy Assessment, including fees and scheduling.
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Yes. For couples I’m already working with, I offer an Extended Couples Therapy Day (ECTD), which gives us an opportunity to spend more focused time on the work we’re doing together.
Sometimes, a standard therapy session simply isn’t enough time to explore difficult experiences, work through recurring patterns, or stay with important conversations. An extended day allows us to slow down, explore these experiences more fully, and build on the work we’ve already begun.
Extended Couples Therapy Days are offered in person at my Minneapolis office on selected Fridays. The day includes approximately five hours of therapy, with breaks throughout.
If you’re an existing client and think this might be helpful, we can talk about whether an extended session makes sense for the work we’re doing together.
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Emotionally Focused Therapy is a research-supported approach to couples therapy that helps partners identify negative interaction patterns, strengthen emotional connection, and create greater security in their relationship.
Rather than simply teaching communication skills, EFT helps couples understand the emotions and attachment needs that drive conflict and disconnection. As an EFT-certified therapist, I use this model to help couples create lasting change in how they relate to one another. For more information click here.
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Yes. Recovering from an affair or betrayal can feel overwhelming and painful for both partners. Therapy can provide a structured process for understanding what happened, rebuilding trust, processing emotions, and determining how to move forward.
While healing after betrayal takes time, many couples are able to create stronger, more honest relationships through the recovery process. For more information click here.
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I reserve a limited number of appointments for couples going through an especially difficult time in their relationship, such as following infidelity, a significant breach of trust, or another major relationship rupture. If you would prefer to get started sooner, please indicate this when you contact me. Availability varies and can be discussed during your initial consultation.
These appointments are intended for couples experiencing significant relationship distress and are not emergency or crisis mental health services. If you or your partner is experiencing a mental health emergency or there are immediate safety concerns, please seek appropriate emergency or crisis support. Click here to send Lisa a message or to schedule a phone consultation.
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Yes. Some couples come to therapy hoping to repair and strengthen their relationship. Others are unsure whether they want to stay together. Therapy can help you gain clarity about your relationship, better understand the challenges you're facing, and make thoughtful decisions about next steps.
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This is not uncommon.
One partner often reaches out first. Sometimes a hesitant partner worries about being blamed, judged, or forced to talk about things before they're ready. Many people find that once they attend a session, therapy feels very different from what they expected.
If your partner isn't ready to attend, individual therapy can still help you gain insight into relationship patterns and make meaningful changes.
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Absolutely. Blended families face unique challenges that traditional family advice often doesn't address. I work with couples and individuals navigating remarriage, stepparenting, co-parenting dynamics, loyalty conflicts, boundary issues, and the complex emotions that often arise in blended family systems. For more information click here.
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Most couples begin with weekly sessions. Meeting consistently helps build momentum and allows us to address patterns more effectively. As progress is made, many couples transition to biweekly or maintenance sessions.
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The answer depends on your goals, the complexity of the issues, and how long the patterns have been present.
Some couples achieve their goals in a few months, while others choose to continue longer to deepen and maintain their progress. During our work together, we'll regularly discuss goals and assess whether therapy is meeting your needs.
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Yes. I offer secure telehealth sessions for clients located anywhere in Minnesota, as well as in-person sessions at my South Minneapolis office. First appointments are generally conducted in person unless we make other arrangements or you live too far from my office.
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Yes. Relation Works Therapy is LGBTQIA-affirming and welcomes individuals and couples of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and relationship structures. My practice is committed to providing a respectful, inclusive, and supportive environment for every client.
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I am an out-of-network provider and do not bill insurance directly.
Many clients choose private-pay therapy because it offers greater privacy, flexibility, and control over treatment. If you have out-of-network benefits, I can provide documentation that you may submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. I recommend verifying your health benefits with your insurer.
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Couples therapy, first session: $300
Individual therapy, first session: $250
Couples or Individual therapy, standard session: $230
Other blocks of time are available and sessions are prorated. Please contact Lisa to discuss.
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The first step is scheduling a free 30-minute consultation. During that conversation, we'll discuss what brings you to therapy, answer any questions you may have, and determine whether we're a good fit to work together.
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Mondays - Thursdays: 10am, 11:15am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:45pm
There is occasional, limited availability on Fridays, and appointments must be arranged directly with Lisa.