Statistics about couples therapy & marriage counseling

How many couples go to therapy or marriage counseling?

If you’ve been considering couples therapy or marriage counseling, you’re not alone, especially in the United States where 40-50% of all first marriages end in divorce. Millions of couples in the U.S. go to therapy every year to improve their relationship, communication, and keep each other accountable. The good news is that the vast majority of couples find it valuable.

  • Almost 50% of married couples have gone to counseling at some point in their relationship. 
  • The median couple starts couples therapy about 4 years into the relationship. The highest percentage of couples in marriage counseling have been married between 3 and 5 years. Many say they wish they didn’t wait so long to start.
  • About 75% of couples who go to counseling see an improvement in their relationship, and 90% see an improvement in their physical or mental health. One study had 99% of couples currently in therapy say that it had a positive impact on their relationship. 
  • Despite an average cost of $300 per month, 94% of couples say couples therapy is worth the investment, and 83% consider it to be a priority.
  • The most common types of attend couples therapy are marriage counseling, emotionally-focused therapy, sex therapy, behavioral couples therapy, and solution-focused therapy.
  • About one-third of people who are in couples therapy also go to individual therapy.
Overall, according to the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, the success rate of marriage counseling is around 70%, but up to 90% of couples find therapy to be beneficial. If you’re looking for a couples therapist in Denver or a therapist who specializes in Gottman Method or Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples, we’re here to help.

Why people go to couples therapy

While most couples go to therapy earlier in their relationship or marriages, there are many reasons and life events that influence when a couple might start going to therapy together.

Proactive couples therapy

35% of couples in therapy start before moving in together, and about the same percentage starts couples therapy before marriage. 31% of couples do some form of premarital counseling. Also, nearly 60% of people in couples therapy say that it makes them more open to individual therapy for themselves.

Couples are generally open to therapy

One study found that 52% of couples who had never tried marriage counseling were open to it. Also, about 35% of people in relationships encourage their partner to consider going to therapy. Perhaps most telling of all, 71% of couples who have gone to couples therapy would recommend it to others.

How long are couples in therapy?

Over half of couples who go to therapy are in it for 6 months or less. Nearly 66% of couples therapy clients complete therapy within 20 session. Even though couples therapy and marriage counseling is a time commitment, the majority of couples find it valuable to their relationships.

When do couples start going to therapy?

The average couple waits about 6 years to look for help with marital issues. About 88% of couples in therapy say that it's best to start therapy before serious problems come up. 91% of people in couples therapy say they would have better relationships if they were more open to therapy because of how it helps them improve their communication and be more aware of their partner's needs.

Why couples don't go to therapy

If you haven’t found the right therapist in Denver, or you’re wondering why some couples don’t go to therapy, here are some common reasons:

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Some say therapy is too expensive

Nearly 40% of couples who look into therapy find that it's too expensive for them at around $200 per month. However, seeing a marriage and family therapist is usually much cheaper than seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist.

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Their partner doesn't want to go to therapy

About a third of people don't go to therapy because their partner doesn't want to. If you're experiencing resistance, you're not alone.

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They're worried about divorce

Despite high satisfaction rates, around 40% of couples who go to therapy still get divorced within 4 years.

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They don't think their problems are serious enough

Nearly 60% of couples who live together think that couples therapy is only for very serious relationship issues.

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There's a stigma against couples therapy

Many couples believe that going to therapy means that they're not a strong couple, or feel shame thinking there's something wrong with their relationship.

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They say couples counseling is inconvenient

Around 20-25% of couples say that going to therapy is too inconvenient. Many decide to go to individual therapy instead, but with teletherapy options available at most therapy practices, there are more convenient options than ever before.

We provide effective therapy in Denver

As one of the largest woman-owned therapy practices in Colorado, we’ve helped thousands of people and couples living in the Denver area. We provide in-person therapy in Denver, Greenwood Village, and Lone Tree, and we’d love to match you with one of our therapists near you.

We use effective, proven therapy methods for couples and develop personalized treatment plans that are personalized and unique to what you need. Most of our clients come to us through referrals from friends or family members who have had a great experience with our therapists.

Annie Hause
(MA, LPC)
MacKenzie King
(MS, LPCC)
Aria Kirby
(MS, LPCC)
Erika Baum
(Counseling Intern)
Taylor Damitio
(MA, LPCC)
Lance Hill
(MA, LPC)
Kelly Albers
(MA, LPC)
Maci Luther
(MA, LPCC)
John Hague
(MA, LPC)
Corinne Bailey
(MSW, LCSW)
Gigi Woodall
(MS, MFTC)
Allie Evans
(MMFT, LMFT)
Nicole Wolf
(MA, LPC)
Hillary Naef
(MA, LPC)
Shannon Keane
(MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC)
Alex Song
(MA, LPC)
Courtneyrose Chung
(MMFT, LMFT, LPC, LAC)
Jelly Bean
(Therapy Dog)
 

Meet our Denver therapists

My Denver Therapy is one of the largest woman-owned therapy private practices in Colorado with many of the best, most requested therapists in Denver. 

As a therapist-owned practice with decades of combined experience, we care about seeing our clients heal, grow, and thrive. We’re one of the only therapy practices in Colorado with licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, addiction counselors, social workers, and psychiatric nurse practitioners who actively see new clients. Whether you’re an adult, teen, young adult, couple, or family, our inclusive therapist team is built to specialize in you.

Our practice started with one therapist in a shared office suite, but we’ve grown to help thousands of people in Colorado by providing in-person therapy at our conveniently located Denver Metro area counseling offices in Denver, Greenwood Village, and Lone Tree, plus online therapy for clients throughout Colorado. Because of the way our team works, our therapists provide consultation for other therapists and private practices in the Denver Metro area.

Our inclusive therapists provide some of the most innovative, effective, and in-demand forms of therapy available today, including EMDR, Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, CBT, and IFS. We also have more therapists trained in Ketamine-assisted therapy and more teen therapists and young adult counselors than nearly every other private practice in Denver.

We know that clients want to find the best therapists in Denver, so our team includes therapists with different backgrounds, specialities, and experiences to help you find the right fit. We’ll match you with one of our therapists who is the best for your goals, location, budget, and schedule to help you get started quickly.

We’re out of network for insurance, Tricare, and are unable to take Medicaid, but most of our therapists’ rates are lower than the local and national averages for therapy. 

All of our therapists take a client-focused approach to counseling and approach each session with  a commitment to your progress and growth.

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