couples therapy & relationship counseling in Brooklyn
We believe in meeting each couple where they are and tailoring therapy to their specific goals, values, and personalities, whether you meet us in-person at our Brooklyn office, commute from Manhattan, or prefer virtual sessions across NYC and New York State.
No rigid, dogmatic approaches here.
We do what works.
In-Person and Virtual Couples Therapy for LGBTQ+ & Non-Traditional Relationships
How we work
A relationship-centered approach to couples therapy
Our work is grounded in a relational psychodynamic perspective. This means we focus not only on what’s happening in your relationship, but also on the deeper patterns that shape how you connect, communicate, and respond to one another.
Many couples come in with a clear sense of their challenges:
Repeating arguments that never fully resolve
Feeling emotionally distant or disconnected
Difficulty communicating needs or feeling understood
Navigating transitions or uncertainty together
In our therapy sessions, we begin by exploring these patterns with curiosity rather than judgment. Together, we look beneath the surface to understand the emotional experiences, attachment dynamics, and histories that influence how you relate. From there, change becomes possible.
A space to return to
For many couples, therapy is not a one-time experience. Some partners come in for short-term support around a specific issue. Others engage in longer-term work to address deeper patterns. Many return periodically, using therapy as a space to recalibrate and reconnect when needed.
We see therapy as a resource you can return to for growth, reflection, and ongoing connection.
therapy that adapts to your relationship
Every relationship is different. Your personalities, histories, identities, and goals all shape the work we do together. At Groundwork Therapy, we tailor each process to the couple before us.
Our clinicians integrate approaches such as:
Relational Psychodynamic Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Gottman-informed techniques
Solution-focused interventions
This flexibility allows us to respond to what is actually happening in your relationship. Whether you’re seeking couples therapy in New York for a specific issue or looking to deepen your connection over time, the process is always collaborative and responsive.
In-person & online couples therapy
We offer both in-person sessions in Brooklyn and online sessions for couples across the five boroughs of NYC and New York State.
Some couples prefer the structure and presence of in-person work with a therapist in Brooklyn, while others benefit from the flexibility of working via telehealth.
Both formats are designed to provide:
Consistency and continuity
A safe, structured environment
Space for honest, open communication
You can choose what works best for your schedule, lifestyle, and comfort.
relational & flexible couples therapy
Relationships are complex. They hold history, emotion, identity, and meaning. When things feel connected, relationships can be grounding and life-giving. When they feel strained, distant, or repetitive, they can become a source of stress, confusion, or disconnection.
At Groundwork Therapy, we offer thoughtful, active, and deeply relational couples therapy. Whether you’re meeting in person at our Crown Heights, Brooklyn office or working together virtually, our goal is to meet you where you are. We want to help you move toward where you want your relationship to be.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach here. No rigid frameworks. No assumptions about what your relationship “should” look like. We do what works for you and your partner(s).
what couples therapy looks like
Couples therapy is often more active than individual therapy. Your therapist plays multiple roles throughout the process. You can think of your therapist as a facilitator, guide, teacher, and collaborator.
Sessions may include:
Exploring current challenges and recurring dynamics
Identifying emotional patterns beneath conflict
Practicing new ways of communicating in real time
Reflecting on past experiences that shape present reactions
when neurodiversity Is Part of the Relationship
Relationships that include ADHD, autism, or other neurodevelopmental differences often require a more nuanced, intentional approach. Differences in attention, communication styles, sensory experiences, and emotional regulation can shape how partners relate, communicate, and manage daily life together.
We offer neurodiversity-affirming couples therapy that recognizes and respects differences in how partners think, feel, and communicate. Using an integrative approach grounded in models like Emotionally Focused Therapy and Gottman Method, we help partners better understand each other, reduce misinterpretations, and build more effective ways of connecting.
In our work, we explore how neurodevelopmental differences interact within the relationship. Rather than pathologizing one partner, we focus on:
Building mutual understanding
Increasing empathy for different experiences
Developing communication strategies that actually work
Supporting each partner’s strengths and needs
For couples seeking therapy for neurodivergent partnerships, this approach creates space for both individuality and connection.
For partners interested in greater clarity, we will soon be offering ADHD and autism assessments for adults. Understanding underlying neurodevelopmental patterns can provide insight into longstanding relational patterns and guide a more effective couples therapy or individual therapy .
Therapy for LGBTQIA+ Relationships
We specialize in working with LGBTQIA+ relationships in all forms, including queer couples, polyamorous partnerships, open relationships, and chosen families.
With deep knowledge of gender, sexuality, and diverse relationship structures, we offer a supportive space where you won’t need to explain or justify your identity or relationship structure. Rather than making assumptions based on heteronormative or monogamous models, Groundwork therapists approach each partnership on its own terms, with affirmation and respect.
Our work is grounded in the understanding that relationships are shaped by:
Identity and self-expression
Family systems and upbringing
Cultural and societal contexts
Personal values and lived experience
Whether you're strengthening your connection, navigating change, working through conflict, or building a future together (check out our new Queer Family Building Group!), your therapy process is designed to honor your unique relationship.
Planning on taking the next step in your relationship?
Perinatal mental Health
& Queer family planning
For many couples, relationships evolve into conversations about family, parenting, and caregiving. At Groundwork Therapy, we offer specialized support for partners navigating queer family building, as well as parental and perinatal mental health.
This may include:
Exploring pathways to parenthood (IVF, surrogacy, adoption, co-parenting)
Processing the emotional complexities of family building as LGBTQIA+ individuals
Navigating identity shifts during pregnancy, postpartum, or early parenthood
Supporting both partners through perinatal mental health challenges
Strengthening your relationship while preparing for or adjusting to parenting
We also offer a Queer Family Building Group, where individuals and couples can connect with others navigating similar experiences. You can learn more about our group therapy offerings here.
Click here to learn more about our Perinatal & Parental Mental Health.
Premarital Therapy
& Intentional Relationship Building
Not all couples therapy begins in a moment of conflict. Many partners seek support as they prepare for what’s ahead. Our premarital therapy program is designed for couples who want to enter the next phase of their relationship with clarity, intention, and a deeper understanding of one another.
Whether you’re engaged, planning a long-term commitment, or defining your relationship in a way that feels authentic to you, this work creates space to explore important areas such as:
Communication styles and conflict patterns
Values, expectations, and shared goals
Financial dynamics and decision-making
Family planning, boundaries, and support systems
Intimacy, sex, and emotional connection
This isn’t about checking boxes before a wedding. It’s about building a relationship that feels grounded, flexible, and aligned with who you both are. Our approach to premarital therapy is collaborative, reflective, and tailored to your unique partnership.
Click here to learn more about our Premarital Therapy Program.
frequently asked questions
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Couples therapy is for anyone in a romantic relationship seeking to strengthen connection, resolve conflicts, or navigate challenges together. Whether you're dating, engaged, married, or in a long-term partnership, therapy can help improve communication, rebuild trust, manage life transitions, or heal from past hurts. It's not just for couples in crisis—it's also for those who want to grow closer, deepen their bond, and build a healthier future together.
Our therapists have experience working with couples who identify as:
Queer, Poly, Interfaith, Interracial, Co-Parents, Newlyweds, Engaged, Married, Separated, Dating
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You and your therapist will identify the foci and goals for therapy together. Couples therapy has a wide range of potential objectives, including:
Healing or Rebuilding Trust
Improving Communication
Deepening Connection
Reestablishing Intimacy
Improving Quality of Sex
Rebalancing Roles and Responsibilities
Establishing an Open Relationship
Navigating Transitions
Effective Decision-Making
Family Planning
Recalibrating and Reconnecting After Becoming Parents
Co-Parenting
Preparing for Moving in or Marriage
Deciding to End the Relationship
Amicably Separating
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Couples therapy often feels like a much more active version of individual therapy. At different times your therapist acts as a communication coach, a referee, a teacher, and a guide. The process is collaborative and change-oriented.
Our therapists approach couples therapy in the same way we approach individual therapy, with the first goal being to explore, identify, and deepen your understanding of the issues at play. This means starting with the easily observable complaints and then diving deeper to better understand the root areas of what is not working. This newfound understanding will then direct you and your therapist to the solutions for lasting change.
Your therapist will be leading the work through questions and shared insights and tools. We work best with couples who want to think aloud together.
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Because every couple is different our couples therapists tailor each therapy to the unique goals, values, and personalities of the couple they are working with.
We are trauma-informed and incorporate Relational Psychodynamic, EFT, Gottman, solution-focused methods and techniques when helpful for each couple.
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It depends. Our perspective is that couples should come for as long as is helpful and end when they have a stronger foundation, a deeper connection, and new tools that they are utilizing successfully.
Some couples seek therapy with a specific issue to tackle and are able to utilize the therapy space in a very practical way, requiring few sessions. Other couples entering therapy have more foundational challenges and will likely meet longer term. Many of our couples come and go, using the therapy space as their constructive place to return to when they need extra support and professional guidance.
You and your couples therapist will work collaboratively to decide the meeting frequency and treatment length that best fits your wants and needs as a couple.
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In many cases, yes. Your couples therapist may meet with each of you individually at the beginning or at certain points during the therapy process to better understand your perspectives and experiences. However, the primary focus remains on the relationship, and any individual sessions are meant to support that goal. If individual concerns require more in-depth work, your therapist may recommend separate individual therapy in addition to couples sessions.
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We have couples therapists that specialize in:
Queer Couples ~ Fertility Challenges ~ Neurodivergence in Relationships ~ Non-Monogamous Partnerships ~ Managing Trauma ~ Couples with One Person in Gender Transition ~ Trauma Triggers in the Conflict ~ Infidelity ~ Sexual Disconnection ~ Couples Navigating Cultural, Religious, and/or Ideological Differences ~ Family Planning for Queer Couples -
We offer both in-person therapy sessions in Brooklyn and video therapy sessionsfor couples.
We highly recommend attending couples therapy in person, but if you are someone who travels often, has young kids to care for, or simply doesn’t live nearby, virtual therapy is a strong second options.
Either way, our therapists are in the office Monday through Friday and we leave the location preference up to you. -
Relationship counseling for business partners is designed to strengthen the professional connection between co-founders, executives, or colleagues who share leadership responsibilities. Just like in personal relationships, business partnerships rely on trust, communication, and aligned goals. Counseling helps partners address conflict, improve collaboration, clarify roles, and navigate high-stakes decisions or stressful transitions. Whether you're facing ongoing tension or simply want to build a healthier, more resilient partnership, this process offers tools to support mutual respect, accountability, and long-term success.
Begin Your Work at Groundwork Therapy
If you’re looking for couples therapy in Brooklyn, Manhattan, or anywhere in NY, we invite you to reach out.
At Groundwork Therapy, we offer relational, flexible care designed to meet your relationship with curiosity, respect, and depth. Whether you’re seeking clarity, repair, or a deeper connection, this work can help you move forward, together.