In couples work, the client is the couple which is different than the individual. The work becomes enhancing the way a couple communicates, relates, validates, supports, and attends to one another. Frequently, a couple comes in speaking about one problem and the therapist identified a completely different problem. This would be talked about openly and honestly to see which direction for the therapist to move.

Often times, couples work is much faster than individual work because once one person changes behavior, the other person responds. Sometimes, however, in couples work there might be identified a problem which needs to be addressed with some individual work too; this could be that one partner is severely depressed, or one partner is lost (loss of self) or something else which would directly impact the couplehood. In that instance, the couples work would generally continue while the individual needs were simultaneously addressed.