5 Signs You Could Benefit from Seeing a Couples Therapist

By Amanda Holmberg, MS LMFT

Many couples wait until things feel really hard before reaching out for support. But marriage or couples therapy isn’t just for major problems. Sometimes, it’s simply about improving communication, understanding each other better, or feeling more connected. If you’re wondering whether couples therapy might be helpful, here are five signs from a Plymouth, MN couples therapist that it could be a good next step, along with a few ideas you can try on your own right now.

1. Communication Feels Frustrating or Tense

Couple embracing outdoors in jackets. Couples therapy or marriage counseling with a Twin Cities area therapist can be a good option to pursue. Gottman Therapy for Marriage Counseling near Twin Cities, MN can be helpful for strengthening your relationship here.

When conversations regularly lead to conflict or feel like they’re going in circles, it’s easy to feel stuck. Maybe you feel like you’re not being heard, or like everything you say is being taken the wrong way. These patterns are common and often come from deeper issues that haven’t been talked through. Sometimes past resentments are creeping into current conversations without even realizing it. A couples therapist can help you figure out what those are, how to move past them, and how to communicate more effectively.

Couples Therapist Tip for Healthy Communication:

Use “I” statements instead of “you” statements. For example: “I feel overwhelmed when plans change last minute” is usually received better than “You never tell me what’s going on.”
Try a short daily check-in. Each person shares one thing they appreciated that day and one thing that was hard. Keep it brief and consistent.

2. Trust Has Been Damaged

Whether from infidelity, secrecy, or something smaller that still left a mark, getting through these things in a healthy way is tough. Most relationships will go through something like this at some point. It’s how you deal with it that matters. Therapy can help rebuild with guidance and support.

Couples Therapist Tip for Trust Rebuilding:

If you’re the one working to rebuild trust, focus on being consistent, transparent, and patient.
If you’ve been hurt, try to express what you need in order to feel safe again, rather than staying silent or shutting down.

3. Intimacy Feels Different or Distant

Changes in emotional or physical intimacy happen for many reasons. This can include stress, routines, parenting, health, or unspoken resentment. While some changes are temporary, others can become patterns that feel really hard to get out of.

Couples Therapist Tip for Intimacy Help:

Reintroduce small moments of physical closeness, like a longer hug, sitting near each other on the couch, or holding hands while walking.
Set aside time to talk about what intimacy means to each of you right now. Be honest and curious, not critical.

Holding Hands. Couples therapy or marriage counseling with a Twin Cities area therapist can be a good option to pursue. Gottman Therapy for Marriage Counseling near Twin Cities, MN can be helpful for strengthening your relationship here.

4. You’re Going Through a Major Life Change

Transitions like moving, changing jobs, having a child, or dealing with loss can create tension, even if you both want the same things. It’s normal for stress to show up in how you talk to each other or how supported you feel.

Couples Therapist Tip for Getting Through Big Changes:

Make time for small routines that help you stay connected. This could look like setting aside even just 15 minutes a day to talk without distractions.
Try using “we” language. Saying “What can we do about this?” helps shift from blame to problem-solving together.

5. One or Both of You Feel Lonely in the Relationship

Feeling alone even when you’re with your partner can be painful, and it happens more often than people realize. You might be managing the logistics of life together, but missing a real emotional connection.

Couples Therapist Tip for Regaining Closeness:

Ask open-ended questions that go beyond the usual daily updates. Try “What’s something you’ve been thinking about lately?”
Once a week, each of you shares one thing you’re struggling with or excited about. Listen without interrupting or trying to fix it.

Consider Couples and Marriage Counseling Near Minneapolis, MN

Happy couples taking a selfie while kissing. Couples therapy or marriage counseling with a Twin Cities area therapist can be a good option to pursue. Gottman Therapy for Marriage Counseling near Twin Cities, MN can be helpful for strengthening your relationship here.

If some of these signs sound familiar, that doesn’t mean your relationship is broken. It means you’re aware, and that awareness is the first step toward change. Couples therapy can help you get clear on what’s happening between you and how to move forward with more intention, respect, and understanding.

You don’t need to have all the answers to start. We can help! Consider seeking extra support from a licensed marriage and family therapist in Plymouth, MN. Take the first step towards healthier relationships with couples therapy near the Twin Cities. Start with these three simple steps!

Schedule a free 30-minute consultation
Meet a skilled and caring online couples therapist in Minnesota
Strengthen your marriage or relationship as a couple, together!

Other Counseling Services at Radiant Living Therapy

At Radiant Living Therapy, we support, explore, and address challenges through couples therapy. Expert therapists at our Plymouth, MN counseling office offer other mental health services such as anxiety and depression counseling and EMDR for trauma therapy. Other services include counseling for men, teen therapy, and more. We are here to help you thrive.

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