Services
Couples Counseling
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Relationships are wonderful!(But also, really hard...) Do you find yourself having the same fight over and over? Do you feel disconnected from your partner? This happens in all relationships, even good ones. Our partners trigger us and we trigger them.
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Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples is based on attachment theory which basically says that we are all wired for connection and belonging, and that when these basic needs are not being met, it leads to pain and fear. We will engage in behaviors to try to get those needs met. Ironically, these behaviors often lead to more disconnection and loneliness.
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As an EFT therapist, I am a “process consultant” to your relationship. Your relationship is my client. My job is to help you learn more about what you are feeling on the inside and be able to share it in a way that your partner can hold it. I help you get clearer on your emotions and I help your partner learn to hold it.
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Communication skills in couple’s therapy is important, however, we work on it in an experiential and “bottom up” kind of way. It means that we focus on emotions and track the negative cycle that you keep getting caught in that is making connection and bonding important.
Insurance & Couples Counseling: What You Should Know
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I understand that many couples would prefer to use their insurance benefits for counseling. I am happy to submit what is known as a diagnosis of Z63.0 (Relationship Distress With Spouse or Partner) to your insurance. However, many insurance companies do not cover this diagnosis, which is unfortunate. If there’s one thing that deeply impacts our mental health and overall well-being, it’s our relationships with those close to us!
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It's ironic that insurance will cover treatment for anxiety or depression but won’t recognize that relationship struggles frequently contribute to those more common, and covered, issues. Research consistently shows that strong, healthy relationships are a key factor in emotional well-being. Yet, many insurance policies fail to support couples who are proactively working to improve their connection.
What About the 90847 Code?
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Some therapists bill couples therapy under 90847 (Conjoint Family Therapy)—a procedure code meant for family therapy when treating an identified patient with a mental health diagnosis. This code is designed for the occasional conjoint session, not ongoing couples counseling. Because my role is not to treat one individual’s mental health condition but rather to guide the relationship itself, this code often does not align with the true purpose of our work together, which may create issues for the clients.
My Role as a Process Consultant
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In couples therapy, I do not function as an individual therapist for either partner—I serve as a process consultant for your relationship. My focus is on helping the two of you better understand and shift the emotional patterns between you.
This means:
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Identifying and reshaping negative cycles of interaction
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Strengthening emotional connection and trust
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Helping you communicate in ways that foster emotional intimacy, not conflict
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This relationship-centered approach is what makes couples therapy different from individual therapy, and it’s also why insurance is often a poor fit for this type of counseling.
Why Self-Pay?
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If your insurance does not cover couples counseling, self-pay offers important benefits:
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No Diagnosis Required
Insurance requires one partner to have a mental health diagnosis, which can create a power imbalance in therapy. With self-pay, the focus stays on your relationship—not labels.
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Expertise in Couples Therapy
Effective couples counseling requires advanced training beyond standard therapy. I have specialized education and certification in evidence-based methods like Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), ensuring you receive the highest level of relationship support.
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Freedom & Flexibility
Self-pay allows us to tailor therapy to your needs, without session limits or insurance constraints.
Your relationship matters—and investing in it can have a lasting positive impact on your life and mental health.
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At Jenuine Courage Counseling, we offer multiple services that serve individuals as well as couples and families. Below is a list of services in which there is specialized training and where our passion is particularly strong: