Marriage Counseling & Couples Therapy in San Antonio, TX
Real couples work with licensed therapists trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method. Married, engaged, or partnered, the goal is the same: understand each other again and build something durable.
Understanding couples therapy
Real work, not talk in circles
Most couples arrive at therapy after months, sometimes years, of the same argument on repeat. Couples therapy is not about who was right last Thursday. It is about identifying the pattern underneath the fight, understanding what each of you is really asking for, and building the skills to talk about hard things without falling into the same loop.
At South Texas Mental Health Associates in San Antonio, our licensed therapists are trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method, two of the most research-supported approaches in couples work. Sessions are 60 minutes, typically weekly to start, and are structured around what your relationship actually needs, not a rigid template.
We work with married couples, engaged couples, and unmarried partners. This is one of the few services we offer exclusively at our San Antonio location. Care is available in person on NW Military Highway or by secure telehealth for couples based anywhere in Texas.
By the numbers
Couples work in context
Some published context on relationship therapy and what couples typically experience in structured couples work.
What couples bring in
The reasons couples come to STMHA
You do not need a crisis to start. Many couples come to strengthen a good relationship or to catch a growing problem early. Others come because things feel stuck.
Our approach
How couples therapy works at STMHA
EFT and the Gottman Method share a research base and a clear goal: help you understand your patterns and give you tools to break them. Here is what that actually looks like week to week.
Why STMHA
Why couples pick STMHA San Antonio
Trained in EFT & Gottman
Both approaches are strongly evidence-based and used together for many couples we see.
Married, engaged, or partnered
We work with all committed relationship structures, at any stage.
New couples welcome
Most couples are scheduled within a week or two, no referral required.
In-person or telehealth
See us at our San Antonio clinic or from wherever you are in Texas by secure video.
Comparing approaches
EFT vs. Gottman vs. Discernment counseling
Different couples benefit from different structures. Here is how the main approaches compare.
| Approach | Best fit for | Typical length |
|---|---|---|
| EFT (Emotionally Focused) | Couples with emotional disconnection, cycles of pursuit and withdrawal, and attachment injuries. | 8-20 sessions |
| Gottman Method | Couples who want structured, skills-based work on communication, conflict, and shared meaning. | 12-24 sessions |
| Discernment counseling | Couples where one or both partners are unsure whether to work on the marriage or separate. | 1-5 sessions |
Your therapist matches the approach to your relationship. Many couples benefit from elements of more than one.
Related services
Related care that pairs with couples work
Sometimes couples therapy works best alongside individual support for one or both partners.
One-on-one therapy that supports and complements the couples work.
Learn more › Anxiety treatmentIndividual anxiety care for a partner whose symptoms affect the relationship.
Learn more › Depression treatmentDepression care when it is showing up in the relationship, too.
Learn more › EMDR therapyIndividual trauma work that can unlock stuck couples work.
Learn more › Medication managementPsychiatric medication management alongside therapy when it helps.
Learn more › PTSD & trauma therapyIndividual PTSD care that supports relationship healing.
Learn more ›Where to find care
Our San Antonio clinic
Care is available at our San Antonio clinic on NW Military Highway, Monday through Friday, and by secure telehealth across Texas.
STMHA San Antonio
Coverage
Insurance accepted
We accept most major plans and verify your benefits before your first visit, so there are no surprises.
Good to know
Couples counseling questions, answered
No. We work with married, engaged, and unmarried couples. What matters is that you both want to invest in the relationship.
The Gottman Method is a research-based approach developed from more than 40 years of studying what makes marriages succeed and fail. It gives couples specific tools to manage conflict, deepen friendship, and create shared meaning.
EFT is a short-term approach based on attachment science. It helps couples identify the emotional pattern driving their conflict and rebuild secure connection. It is one of the most research-supported couples therapies available.
Most couples see meaningful change within 12 to 20 sessions, though this varies. Your therapist will discuss timeline with you after the assessment phase.
Couples therapy is offered exclusively at our San Antonio clinic. Telehealth is available for couples anywhere in Texas.
Coverage for couples therapy varies by plan. Many insurance plans do not cover relationship counseling as a covered service, since it is not tied to a mental health diagnosis. We verify benefits and discuss options before your first visit.
Yes. Individual therapy focused on your relationship is a valid starting point. It can also help you have a productive conversation with your partner about coming in together later.
Discernment counseling helps couples who are unsure whether to work on the relationship or end it. Your therapist can talk with you about whether that structure fits your situation.
Medically reviewed
Reviewed by John Lusins III, MD
Board-certified psychiatrist and Medical Director of South Texas Mental Health Associates.
In a crisis
Get help right now
STMHA is an outpatient clinic and cannot respond to emergencies. If you or someone you know is in danger or thinking about suicide, please use these free, confidential resources, available 24/7.
- Call 911Life-threatening emergency, or someone at immediate risk of harm.
- Call or text 988Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 24/7. Chat at 988lifeline.org/chat.
- Dial 988, then press 1Veterans Crisis Line, or text 838255.
- Dial 2-1-1Texas 2-1-1, everyday support and community resources.
Ready to take the next step toward mental wellness?
Contact South Texas Mental Health Associates to schedule couples therapy at our San Antonio clinic, or by telehealth from anywhere in Texas. New couples welcome.