Couples Therapy in West Palm Beach, FL
and Long Island, NY
Couples Therapy keyword in West Palm Beach, Florida and Long Island, New York
You love each other. Or at least, you used to. Now? You're not sure what's happening, but it doesn't feel good. Maybe you're fighting about the same things over and over. Maybe you've stopped fighting altogether and just coexisting. Maybe one of you had an affair. Maybe you're parents now and the relationship you had before kids feels like a distant memory.
Here's what I know: You didn't get here overnight. And you're not going to fix it by having the same conversations that go nowhere. You need help. Real help. Not surface-level communication tips, but actual tools to understand why you keep hurting each other and how to stop.
That's where couples therapy comes in. Specifically, Imago therapy—and I'll explain why it works when other approaches don't.
Your Relationship Is Struggling. Let's Be Honest About It.
What's Actually Happening in Your Relationship
Let me guess what brought you here:
You're stuck in the same fight on repeat. It's the same argument with different details. Dishes, money, parenting, sex, in-laws, the topic changes but the pattern doesn't. One of you shuts down, the other escalates, and nothing gets resolved.
You feel like roommates, not partners. You coordinate schedules and divide tasks, but you don't connect. You're a functional team, but the intimacy, the spark, the "us"? Gone.
Trust is broken. Someone cheated. Or lied. Or betrayed in a way that shattered everything. You're trying to rebuild, but you don't know if you can. The hurt is too deep, and the resentment is suffocating.
You're parenting, not partnering. The baby came, and your relationship tanked. You're exhausted, resentful, and wondering if this is just what marriage looks like now. Spoiler: it doesn't have to be.
One of you is checked out. One person is all in, desperate to fix things. The other is distant, maybe already emotionally gone. The word "divorce" has been thrown around, and the panic is setting in.
You don't feel seen or heard. You try to talk, but it goes sideways. They don't get you. You don't get them. Every conversation ends in frustration or silence.
Your past is bleeding into your present. Childhood wounds, past relationships, trauma, it's all showing up in how you fight, how you love, how you shut down. You can feel it, but you don't know how to change it.
Sound familiar? Let’s start to talk about how couples therapy can help
Why Most Couples Therapy Doesn't Work (And What's Different Here)
Imago therapy was developed by Dr. Harville Hendrix and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt and it combines neuroscience, attachment theory, and psychology to help you understand the unconscious patterns running your relationship.
Translation: You're not just learning to communicate better (though we'll do that too). You're learning why you're wired the way you are, why your partner is wired the way they are, and how to stop hurting each other.
Here's the problem with typical couples therapy: You sit on a couch, you vent about your partner, the therapist nods, and you leave feeling the same…or sometimes even worse.. Maybe a little validated, but nothing actually changes.
Why? Because most therapy focuses on the surface, the fight about the dishes, without addressing the real issue underneath.
Imago therapy is different.
Imago therapy goes straight to the root: Why are you reacting this way? What wounds are getting triggered? What did you learn about love and relationships growing up, and how is it screwing you up now?
How Imago Therapy Actually Works
The Core Concept: You Picked Each Other for a Reason
Here's the uncomfortable truth: You didn't fall in love with your partner by accident. Your brain chose them because they trigger the same emotional wounds from childhood that you're trying to heal.
Sounds romantic, right? Let me explain some more.
As kids, we learn about love from our caregivers. If your parents were emotionally distant, you might have married someone who withdraws. If your mom was critical, you might have chosen a partner who's hard to please. Your brain thinks, "If I can finally get this person to love me the right way, I'll heal that old wound."
The problem? You're both doing this to each other. You're both triggered. You're both reacting from your past instead of your present.
The solution? Imago therapy makes the unconscious conscious. We identify your triggers, understand where they come from, and teach you how to respond differently.
The Imago Dialogue: How We Actually Change the Pattern
The Imago Dialogue is the core tool we use in sessions. It's a structured way of talking that completely shifts how you communicate. No more reactive fighting. No more misunderstandings spiraling out of control.
Here's how it works:
Mirroring. One partner speaks. The other repeats back exactly what they heard, word for word. No adding your opinion. No defending yourself. Just: "What I'm hearing you say is..."
How this works: It forces you to actually listen instead of planning your rebuttal. And when you hear your words reflected back, you feel understood, maybe for the first time in years.
Validation. The listener validates the speaker's feelings. You don't have to agree, but you acknowledge that their perspective makes sense from their point of view.
Validation might sound like: "It makes sense that you felt hurt when I didn't respond to your text. I can see why that would feel like I didn't care."
Why this works: Validation doesn't mean you're wrong, it means your partner's feelings are real. And when you feel validated, defensiveness drops.
Empathy. The listener tries to feel what the speaker is feeling. "I imagine that you felt lonely" or "I imagine that was scary for you."
Why this works: Empathy creates connection. It shifts you from opponents to teammates. Your partner isn't the enemy, they're someone who's hurting, just like you.
This process rewires your brain. Instead of reacting from your fight-or-flight response, you respond consciously. Instead of defending, you connect. Instead of escalating, you understand.
And that? That changes everything.
What We Work On in Couples Therapy
Every couple is different, but here are the common struggles we address:
Communication Breakdown
You're talking, but you're not listening or connecting. We'll teach you how to actually hear each other without getting defensive, shutting down, or escalating into a fight.
Rebuilding Trust After Betrayal
An affair (emotional or physical) shatters everything. Trust can be rebuilt, but it takes work, real, hard, uncomfortable work. We'll process the betrayal, understand what led to it, and figure out if repair is possible.
Parenting Stress & Relationship Shifts
Having a baby changes everything; your roles, your intimacy, your identity. We'll help you navigate the transition, divide labor fairly, and reconnect as partners, not just co-parents.
Disconnection & Loss of Intimacy
You're distant. You don't talk. You don't touch. You're functioning, but you're not thriving. We'll explore what's underneath the disconnection and rebuild emotional and physical intimacy.
Constant Fighting (or Avoiding Conflict)
Some couples fight constantly. Others avoid conflict at all costs. Both are destructive. We'll figure out your conflict patterns and teach you how to fight fair or finally start addressing the issues you've been avoiding.
Childhood Wounds & Attachment Issues
Your past is affecting your present. Maybe you're anxious and clingy. Maybe you're avoidant and shut down. Maybe you're both triggered by each other's coping mechanisms. We'll unpack it and heal it.
Why Work With Me for Couples Therapy
I'm Sowania Germain, a licensed mental health counselor and trained Imago therapist offering couples therapy online in Wellington, Florida and Patchogue, New York.
Here's what makes working with me different:
I'm direct, not neutral. I'm not here to just nod and validate both sides. I'll call out patterns I see. I'll challenge you when you're stuck. I'll push you to do the hard work because that's where change happens.
I don't take sides. I'm not "team you" or "team your partner." I'm team "relationship" Both of you have wounds. Both of you are contributing to the problem. We work on all of it.
I use Imago therapy because it works. This isn't just generic couples counseling. Imago is research-backed, it goes deep, and it creates lasting change. You're not just learning skills—you're transforming how you relate to each other.
I believe repair is possible. Even when things feel broken beyond repair, I've seen couples come back from the edge. But it requires both people showing up, doing the work, and being willing to change.
What to Expect in Couples Therapy
First session: We talk about what's happening. What brought you here? What do you want to change? What are the patterns you're stuck in? I'll also explain how Imago therapy works and what you can expect moving forward.
From there: We'll use the Imago Dialogue in sessions to practice new ways of communicating. We'll explore your childhood wounds and how they're showing up in your relationship. We'll identify your triggers and teach you how to respond instead of react.
The work: This isn't passive. You don't just show up, talk, and leave. You practice. You do homework. You apply what you're learning between sessions. Change requires effort from both of you.
The timeline: Some couples see improvement in a few sessions. Others need several months. It depends on how deep the wounds are, how long you've been stuck, and how committed you both are to the process.
Do we have to talk about our childhoods?
Yes, we’ll dig deep since your childhood shaped how you love, fight, and connect. Understanding that isn't about blaming your parents, it's about understanding and changing the patterns so you can both health.
Can therapy fix a relationship after an affair?
It can, but it's hard. The person who cheated has to take full responsibility. The person who was hurt has to be willing to work through the pain. Both have to commit to rebuilding trust. It's possible, but it's not easy.
What if we fight during the session?
Good. That means we're getting to the real stuff. I'll guide you through it using the Imago Dialogue so the fight becomes productive instead of destructive.
What if my partner doesn't want to come to therapy?
That's tough. Couples therapy works best when both people are willing. But even if your partner is hesitant, individual therapy can help you understand your role in the dynamic and figure out your next steps.
What if we're too far gone?
I've seen couples come back from affairs, years of resentment, and the brink of divorce. If there's even a sliver of willingness to try, repair is possible. But both of you have to show up.
Will you tell us to stay together or get divorced?
No. That's your decision, not mine. My job is to help you see the patterns clearly, give you tools to change them, and support you in making the best choice for your lives.
What if one of us has already checked out?
If one person is emotionally done and the other is desperate to save it, we have work to do. Sometimes the "checked out" partner just needs to feel heard and understood before they can reengage. Sometimes they're truly done. We'll figure it out.
Let's Address the Hard Questions
Here's the Truth: Relationships Are Hard
No one tells you this before you get married or move in together, but relationships are work. Real work. And when you add kids, stress, trauma, and life—it gets harder.
But here's the other truth: Struggling doesn't mean you're failing. It means you're human.
The couples who make it aren't the ones who never fight or never hurt each other. They're the ones who do the work. Who show up. Who learn to repair instead of running.
And if you're here, reading this, that means you're willing to try. That's the hardest part—and you've already done it.
What Happens When Couples Therapy Works
You stop fighting the same fight. You start understanding each other instead of defending yourself. You feel connected again, emotionally, physically, spiritually.
You don't walk on eggshells. You don't shut down. You don't avoid the hard conversations because you finally know how to have them.
Your relationship isn't perfect, but it's healthier. It's safer. It's what you signed up for when you chose each other.
And that's worth fighting for.
Ready to Stop the Cycle?
If you're tired of feeling stuck, if you're ready to actually change the patterns instead of just managing them, let's talk.
I offer a free 15-minute consultation where we can discuss what's happening in your relationship, whether couples therapy is right for you, and what working together would look like.
No pressure. No judgment. Just a real conversation about your next step.
Click here to schedule your free consultation and let's get started.
Frequently Asked Questions about Couples Therapy in West Palm Beach, FL and Long Island, NY
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It varies. Some couples see improvement in 8-12 sessions. Others need longer-term work, especially if there's trauma, betrayal, or deep-rooted patterns. We'll check in regularly and adjust as needed.
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Ideally, yes. But even if one person is hesitant, showing up is a start. Sometimes the reluctant partner becomes more engaged once they see how the process works.
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Imago goes deeper. Instead of just teaching communication skills, it addresses the unconscious patterns and childhood wounds driving your conflicts. It's not just about managing symptoms—it's about healing the root cause.
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Yes. Online therapy is just as effective as in-person. You get the same tools, the same depth, the same results, just from the comfort of your home.
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Many couples come to me after other therapies failed. Imago therapy is different because it addresses the why behind the patterns, not just the what. If you're willing to try again, it's worth it.
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No. Couples therapy is for anyone in a committed relationship, married, engaged, dating, cohabitating. If you're in it together, we can work together.
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We'll address that. Blaming keeps you stuck. In Imago therapy, both partners take responsibility for their role in the dynamic. No one is "the bad guy", you're both contributing to the cycle.
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It can, but I can't promise it will. Therapy gives you the tools, but you have to use them. If both of you are willing to do the work, repair is possible. If not, therapy can help you separate with clarity and respect.