What is Relationship & Couples Therapy?

Every relationship hits a point where the same conversation keeps happening and nothing actually changes. Whatever brought you here, relationship therapy at Tenet Therapy is a space to slow down, get honest, and build something that actually works for both of you.

Couples come to Tenet Therapy for help with:

Communication & Conflict · Intimacy & Connection · Desire Discrepancy · Navigating CNM & Polyamory · Jealousy · Premarital Preparation · Life Transitions · Rebuilding Trust · Mixed Sexual Orientation Relationshipst · And More

What Makes Tenet Couples & Relationship Therapy Different?

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We find the real issue, not just the surface fight

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A clear, intentional process

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Built for all relationship structures

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Conflict that builds connection, not damage

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Backed by research, not guesswork

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Real conversation, not clinical jargon

How It Works

Sessions are 50 minutes, though extended sessions are available and often recommended for couples work. Ty meets primarily with couples together, incorporating individual sessions as part of the process when it serves the work.

The early sessions are intentionally structured. Rather than diving straight into the presenting problem, Ty uses assessment tools and a multi-session evaluation phase to understand what's actually driving the conflict — not just the fight you keep having, but what's underneath it. This isn't extra time spent stalling. It's how the real work gets targeted instead of guessed at. Subsequent sessions are focused on tangible practice of new skills and new ways of funcitoning in relationship. We don't just talk about how to be in relationship, we actually practice changing harmful patterns together in office.

The Approach

Ty's approach to couples work is grounded in the Gottman Method, in which he's trained through all three levels, alongside Attachment Theory, Polyvagal Theory, Emotion Focused Therapy, and Existential-Humanistic principles. The combination means sessions are both research-backed and genuinely human — practical tools delivered through real conversation, not clinical jargon.

A lot of relationship conflict isn't really about the dishes, the schedule, or the in-laws. It's about attachment, nervous system reactivity, and old stories about love that one or both partners are still operating from. Naming that — clearly and without blame — is often where the real shift begins.

Ethical Non-Monogamy & Mixed Orientation Relationships

Relationship therapy that doesn't assume monogamy as the default.

Ty works with polyamorous relationships, open relationships, and other forms of ethical non-monogamy — not as a niche add-on, but as core, ongoing work. Whether you're exploring CNM for the first time, navigating jealousy and compersion, or maintaining a structure that's been working for years, this is a space where your relationship doesn't need to be explained or justified before the real conversation starts.

The same is true for mixed sexual orientation relationships — partnerships where differing orientations are part of the relationship's reality. These dynamics deserve specific, informed support rather than generic relationship advice that wasn't built with them in mind.

Couples & Relationship Therapy Might Be a Fit for You If...

 

  • You keep having the same fight with no resolution
  • You want a therapist who won't default to a one-size-fits-all model of relationships
  • You're navigating CNM, polyamory, or a mixed orientation relationship
  • You want a clear, structured process — not just a place to vent
  • You're ready to actually understand what's driving the conflict
  • Your relationship seems to have lost its way and needs to get back on track
  • You want to protect the longevity of your relationship, even if things are good

 

 

Ready to Start the Conversation?

Book Your First Session Now