Marriage Counseling & Couples Therapy · Lisbon & Online
Marriage Counseling & Couples Therapy in Lisbon
Are you in a challenging moment in your relationship? You are in the right place to try to change the course of your life together. Marriage counseling and couples therapy can help!
Can you hear me?
What is marriage counseling and couples therapy?
Often when couples first come to us they have problems listening to each other. We’ll help you to clarify your needs, limits and make sure you both can hear each other very well.
Marriage counseling and couples therapy is a professional, collaborative process designed to help partners navigate the complexities of their relationship and resolve deep-seated conflicts in a safe, neutral environment. Rather than simply managing arguments, it focuses on identifying the underlying negative cycles and attachment needs that often lead to emotional disconnection. To achieve this, we utilize a diverse and integrative approach, drawing from evidence-based frameworks like Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to repair bonds and the Gottman Method to provide practical communication tools. By incorporating psychodynamic insights and CBT techniques, we explore how individual attachment styles and past experiences influence current behaviors.
This tailored approach empowers partners to transform their automatic “dance” from one of distance into a secure, resilient, and loving partnership.
There is hope
You are together but something is pulling you apart? Why do couples fight or go silent?
“What we hear from the couples in our sessions is often about not being appreciated, not being heard, not having enough sex or emotional intimacy. For some couples it’s about house chores, money, and childcare. For others it might be about jealousy, an affair or time spent with friends.
Imagine that these are different ways of trying to re-establish a connection and asking: “Where are you!?”.
We are made to experience a connection and when our partners drift away our alarms go on: “Where are you?”. Left alone for too long we become frustrated, angry and in the end resentful.
We might choose “house chores” to communicate that we feel alone but the basic longing is for connection. Without it we are not safe. We will help you to focus on bringing the safety back.
Couples therapy offers a safe space to bridge that gap and rebuild the foundation of your relationship.”
Sylwia Latacz
Psychologist | Couples Therapist | Marriage Counsellor
I like to work with the EFT -Emotionally Focused Therapy approach. I hold monthly “Hold Me Tight” groups for couples.
Piotr Szmyt
ISTDP Therapist | Couples Therapist
My approach to couples combines dynamic therapy and ISTDP. I value empathy, clarity and timely confrontation.
Lea Eid
Clinical Psychologist & Psychoanalyst | Lacanian Orientation
I work with individuals, couples, and groups from a Lacanian psychoanalytic standpoint — in English and Arabic.
Kayla Nickells
Couples Therapist & Marriage Counsellor | Attachment & Relationships
I work with attachment, somatic experiencing, and life transitions — including the particular challenges of building a relationship abroad.
Marriage Counseling & Couples Therapy Therapists
Therapy Lisbon Team
Together we bring a powerful set of tools, approaches and therapeutic experience to marriage counseling and couples therapy.
Can you notice your negative relationship cycle?
The trigger
A small moment – a look, a tone, or undone chores —signals a loss of connection. Your brain’s “attachment alarm” goes off: Are you there for me?
The Protest / Pursuing
To deal with the fear of losing you, one partner “pursues.” It feels like criticism or anger, but it’s actually a desperate plea to be seen and heard.
The Withdrawal / Defending
Feeling overwhelmed or “not enough,” the other partner pulls away. They go silent or stay busy to avoid more conflict. Under the surface, they are protecting the relationship by hiding.
The loop
The more one partner pushes for connection, the more the other withdraws to stay safe. You’re caught in a loop where everyone feels alone, and no one wins.
Does Marriage Counseling and Couples Therapy Actually Work?
A large body of marriage counseling and couples-therapy research, summarized in a major 2022 review published in Family Process, finds real, measurable benefit. The average couple who completes therapy ends up better off than roughly 70-80% of couples who receive no treatment at all. Approaches such as Emotionally Focused Therapy, couples-based cognitive behavioral therapy, and Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy are considered "well-established treatments" by researchers. That designation means their effectiveness has been demonstrated across multiple independent studies, not just a single trial.
Therapy isn't always a one-time fix, though — some couples see their gains fade over the following months or years. That's one reason we frame our work together as a joint plan: a set of tools and a shared understanding you keep using, rather than a single course of treatment you finish and forget.
Coming back for a few sessions later, when life throws something new at the relationship, is common and expected, not a sign that the first round of therapy failed.
The stakes of leaving relationship distress unaddressed are real — chronic conflict and disconnection are linked to higher risks to both partners' physical and mental health. It's also worth knowing that this work is mainstream rather than niche: roughly seven in ten psychotherapists report working with couples as part of their practice. In other words, seeking support for a relationship is a common, well-researched step, not a last resort.
Therapeutic Approaches We Use In Marriage Counseling & Couples Therapy
We draw from a range of proven approaches — and match methods to what each couple actually needs.
One of the best-researched approaches to couples work. It focuses on the attachment patterns and emotions beneath conflict, helping couples break negative cycles and rebuild a secure bond.
A short-term dynamic approach that works with the unconscious defenses that block authentic emotional contact between partners.
Built on decades of research by Dr. John Gottman, offering concrete communication tools. Helps couples recognize destructive patterns and replace them with healthier ones.
Practical exercises and "homework" that help couples change the automatic thoughts and reactions that keep conflicts alive.
Helps you understand how patterns from childhood and earlier relationships shape your current relationship — working with the "latent content" beneath surface conflicts.
Identifies deeply rooted patterns of thinking and reacting, formed in childhood, that can unconsciously sabotage closeness in adult relationships.
Practical training in expressing needs without blame, listening actively, and resolving conflict without escalation — concrete tools you can use right away.
Looks at what each partner's patterns are unconsciously repeating and addressing, helping couples get honest about what they actually want beneath old assumptions and expectations.
couples therapy lisbon
Favorite master relationship therapists!
We were trained by exceptionally talented therapists. We learned from many good teachers and got inspired by outstanding authors. We aspire to apply their attitude, perspective and tools in a skillful manner.
Josette ten Have-de Labije
ISTDP Teacher
Our favorite teacher! 50+ years of experience! Bringing ISTDP to couples work. Thanks to Josette we have more clarity on what’s going on in couples dynamics.
Sue Johnson
EFT Author
Thanks to Sue Johnson we know much more about couples and attachment. Her book “Hold me tight” inspired our couples training group! Listen to her and you will learn a great deal – link.
Orna Guralnik
Psychoanlist
Great author, therapist and a TV star! Best known for her Couples Therapy Show. Watching it with your partner can be a great place to start.
John Gottman
Gottman Method Therapy
Author of the famous Gottman’s method and founder of Gottman’s Institute.
if you need support don't hesitate
If you are looking for marriage counselors, email us your questions
- therapist@psychotherapylisbon.com
- Couples Therapy Lisbon | Rua Pinheiro Chagas 32 1050-053 | Lisbon
What Is Relationship Therapy?
A complete guide to what relationship therapy actually involves, how it differs from couples or marriage counseling, and who it's for.
Read: What Is Relationship Therapy? →
Therapy for Trauma Bonding
Understanding trauma bonds — why they form, why they're so hard to break, and how therapy helps you find your way out.
Read: Therapy for Trauma Bonding →
Avoidant Attachment in Relationships
What an avoidant attachment style looks like in couples, where it comes from, and how it can shift toward earned security.
Read: Avoidant Attachment in Relationships →
"Hold Me Tight" — A Therapist's Review
Our honest, therapist's-eye review of Sue Johnson's classic book on attachment and couples — what it gets right, and its limits.
Read: "Hold Me Tight" — A Therapist's Review →
Betrayal Trauma
Why betrayal affects mental health mainly through dissociation and difficulty understanding feelings — and what that means for therapy.
Read: Betrayal Trauma →
To Watch, Listen & Read With Your Partner
Films, TV series, a podcast and books we sometimes point clients toward — not as therapy, but as good company alongside it.
Read: To Watch, Listen & Read With Your Partner →Clinical Specializations in Relationship Therapy
Area of Expertise
Working through the aftermath of an affair, rebuilding trust, and deciding what comes next, together or apart.
General support for married couples navigating conflict, distance, or a loss of connection.
Grieving together after the loss of a pregnancy or child, without losing each other in the process.
Premarital CounselingBuilding strong foundations before the wedding — communication, expectations, and shared values.
Couples SexualityAddressing changes in intimacy and desire with openness, rather than silence or blame.
Child Care DisagreementsResolving disagreements about parenting roles, discipline, and division of care.
Divorce CounselingSupport for couples navigating separation with less conflict and more clarity.
MediationA structured, neutral space to work through practical decisions when a relationship is ending.
How Our Sessions Work
Starting marriage counseling or couples therapy can feel like a big step, so here's exactly what to expect.
Describe briefly what's bringing you here when you book, so we can prepare.
Both partners together, so we can hear the shared picture and how each of you experiences it.
Each partner meets with the therapist separately, one session each.
We come back together, agree on what we'll work on, and both partners commit to that plan.
Is Couples Therapy Right for Us?
Not sure if this is the right step? A few questions worth sitting with:
Do you find yourselves arguing about the same thing, again and again, without it ever really getting resolved?
Has it become hard to feel truly heard by your partner, or to really hear them?
Do you notice one of you pulling away while the other tries harder to connect?
Has physical or emotional intimacy quietly faded, without either of you choosing that?
Do you still want to fix this, even if you don't know how right now?
If some of this sounds familiar, that's usually a good sign that marriage counseling or couples therapy could help.
Summary
Marriage counseling and couples therapy provide a supportive space for partners to engage in conversations that may feel too difficult to navigate alone. In our work together, we'll explore the unique patterns and interactions that may be contributing to a sense of distance or disconnection.
In our sessions we will uncover the deeper emotions that often lie beneath the surface of these dynamics. By recognizing and expressing these emotions with each other, you can enhance your communication, deepen your understanding, and find new pathways toward re-connection and a stronger, more enduring relationship.
We are inspired by EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) for Couples, Systemic Therapy and work of Dr. Sue Johnson and Dr. John Gottman.
Our practice welcomes couples of every configuration, including LGBTQ+ couples — the same evidence-based approach, applied with the same care.
This form of therapy can be beneficial at any point in your relationship, whether you're facing ongoing conflict, emotional distance, challenges around intimacy, the impact of an affair, or stress from outside circumstances.
Couple sessions take place once per week/once per 2 weeks – depending on the couple's current situation. One session lasts 70 minutes and costs 120 EUR.
Common Questions About Marriage Counseling & Couples Therapy
What if only one partner wants therapy?
It's common for one partner to be more hesitant than the other. We're happy to start with an individual session to talk through concerns before deciding together how to proceed.
We're not married — does that matter?
Not at all. We work with couples at every stage of commitment, married or not, living together or not.
Can we do sessions online if one of us travels for work?
Yes. Many of our couples split sessions between in-person in Lisbon and secure online video, especially when work or family means one partner isn't always in the same city.
Does insurance cover marriage counseling or couples therapy, or can I get reimbursed?
Many private insurance plans across the EU, UK and US offer partial reimbursement for psychotherapy — we provide an official invoice for every session so you can claim directly with your provider.
Is what we share confidential, and does it comply with GDPR?
Yes. Everything discussed in session is confidential, and all client data is handled in line with GDPR requirements for data protection.
What if one of us lives abroad or we're in different time zones?
This is common among the intercultural and expat couples we work with. We schedule around both time zones and conduct these sessions securely online — see our page on online couples therapy for long-distance and expat relationships.
What languages are sessions available in?
Sessions are conducted in English. Piotr also works in Polish.