Marriage Counseling in New Jersey
Open 7 days a week — Saturday 9 AM–3 PM, Sunday 9 AM–3 PM, weekday evenings until 8–9 PM. Therapy that fits your real schedule.
When the Distance Feels Bigger Than the Marriage
Most couples who reach out to us aren’t in crisis. They’re in something quieter and more confusing — a version of the marriage where the same fights keep coming around, or the conversations have stopped happening, or the closeness that used to be there has faded into a kind of polite distance.
You came here looking for a real answer, not a therapy directory. So here’s the honest one: marriage counseling at Maplewood Counseling is the structured, focused work of figuring out what’s actually been happening between the two of you — and what it would take to change it.
We’re a premium specialty practice for couples and online therapy in New Jersey. Out-of-network by design — we keep our caseloads small enough to do focused, sustained work. The kind insurance-driven volume practices can’t offer. We’ve been working with NJ couples this way for over 20 years.
How We Approach Marriage Counseling
Marriage counseling isn’t a script — it’s a structured space where two people, with a trained clinician, can slow down enough to actually understand what’s been happening between them.
What the first session looks like
A first session runs about 50 minutes. Before that session, you and your partner each fill out a brief intake so your therapist has context. Then you come together — in our Maplewood office or via secure video — and tell your story. Your therapist listens to each of you, watches the patterns, and at the end of the session helps you both name what the work might look like going forward.
The cadence we typically work in
Most couples meet weekly or every other week for the first 8–12 weeks. After that, the cadence depends on what you’re working through and what feels sustainable. We don’t stretch therapy beyond what’s useful — we talk openly about progress and timelines as we go.
Methods, matched to your relationship
We don’t run one playbook for every couple. Depending on what’s between you, your therapist may draw on:
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) — when conflict cycles around disconnection and feeling unseen
- Attachment-based work — when patterns from earlier relationships keep showing up in this one
- Integrative, trauma-informed work — when attachment trauma, infidelity, family-of-origin patterns, or major transitions are part of the picture
Common reasons couples come to us
Most of the marriage work we do at Maplewood falls into one of these patterns: communication breakdown, recovery after infidelity, drift and distance, parenting differences, intimacy loss, major life transitions (job change, relocation, illness, kids leaving home), considering separation, or premarital counseling when you want to start with intention rather than wait for problems.
If your situation isn’t on this list, that doesn’t mean we can’t help. The fit call is where we figure it out together.
Meet Our Senior Marriage Counselors
NOW ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS
Insurance & Fees
We’re a private-pay, out-of-network specialty practice. That’s a deliberate choice — being out-of-network means we focus on the specific clinical work that matters for your relationship, not the modalities or session lengths an insurance company will authorize. We keep our caseloads small enough to do focused, sustained work.
Session rates
Standard 45 and 60-minute marriage counseling session rates range from $150 to $240, depending on the clinician and session length. 90-minute and 2-hour intensives are priced separately — particularly useful for couples in crisis or premarital intensive sessions — and shared during your fit call.
Out-of-network insurance reimbursement
If your insurance plan includes out-of-network mental health benefits (most PPO plans do), you can typically get 50–80% of each session reimbursed by submitting our superbill. We provide a detailed superbill after each session.
Call your plan and ask: “What are my out-of-network mental health benefits for CPT codes 90791 and 90847?” (90847 is the family/couples therapy code.)
HSA, FSA, and HRA — fully accepted
Marriage counseling is a qualified medical expense. Pay with your HSA, FSA, or HRA card and the cost comes out pre-tax — effectively a 22–32% discount depending on your tax bracket.
What Marriage Counseling Clients Say
“Our marriage therapist at Maplewood Counseling helped my spouse and I finally resolve issues we’ve been unable to do on our own. It was incredibly helpful. We learned better ways to communicate and really listen to each other. It has made a huge difference in our marriage and connection.”
— Couples therapy client
“”Debra is a warm and caring therapist with a strong background in helping couples and families repair ruptures in their relationships. I highly recommend her and the therapists that work at Maplewood Counseling to assist families in need of support.”
— — Kelly F., Google review ★★★★★ (May 2026)
“My wife saw Bob Jenkins several times and we were very happy with his ability to help us. He created a safe space for us to express ourselves and offered good advice as well. We have turned the corner (for the better) regarding our issues.”
— Couples therapy client
Frequently Asked Questions
How is marriage counseling different from couples therapy?
The clinical work is the same — what changes is the framing. Marriage counseling at Maplewood Counseling is built around the specific patterns that show up in marriage — affair recovery, decades-long dynamics, parenting strain, the long arc of a committed life together. If you’re partnered but not married — dating, engaged, LGBTQ+, blended families — see our broader couples therapy page, which is built around every kind of couple. Either way, you’re getting the same evidence-based care from our senior couples specialists.
How long does marriage counseling take?
Most couples see meaningful change in 8–20 sessions, though it depends on what’s being worked through and the goals you set together. Couples in crisis or doing intensive infidelity recovery may need longer; couples addressing a specific issue may need fewer sessions. We talk about timelines openly as we go, and we don’t stretch therapy beyond what’s useful.
Does insurance cover marriage counseling?
We’re out-of-network with all insurance — deliberately, so we can keep our caseloads small enough to do focused work. If your plan includes out-of-network mental health benefits (most PPO plans do), you can typically get 50–80% of each session reimbursed by submitting our superbill. HSA, FSA, and HRA accepted. Worth noting: insurance plans treat marriage counseling under family therapy billing code 90847 — call your plan and ask about your OON benefits for that code.
What if my partner doesn’t want to come?
You’re not alone — this is one of the most common questions we get. We have approaches for couples where one partner is hesitant. Sometimes starting with individual sessions helps a reluctant partner feel less cornered. The fit call is a good place to think through how to bring it up.
Do you offer marriage counseling via telehealth?
Yes — across all 21 NJ counties via secure HIPAA-compliant video. Partners can join from the same room or from two different locations (helpful during high-conflict weeks or when partners travel for work). Learn more about our telehealth program.
Can we do an intensive instead of weekly sessions?
Yes. 90-minute and 2-hour intensives are useful for couples in crisis, infidelity recovery, or premarital intensive work. We’ll talk about whether an intensive format fits your work during the fit call.
What if we don’t connect with our therapist?
Tell us. Fit matters more than anything in couples work — the clinical relationship is the most important predictor of therapeutic outcomes. We’ll re-match you with someone else from our senior couples team. No awkwardness around switching.
What towns in New Jersey do you serve?
In-person: our office is in Maplewood, NJ. Most of our in-person couples come from Maplewood, South Orange, Millburn, Short Hills, West Orange, Montclair, Summit, Chatham, Madison, Livingston, and surrounding Essex, Union, and Morris county towns. Via telehealth: statewide — all 21 NJ counties.
How do I know if marriage counseling is the right step?
That’s exactly what the 15-minute fit call is for. There’s no commitment to ongoing therapy — just a conversation to help you figure out whether marriage counseling at Maplewood Counseling is what your relationship needs right now.
Ready to Start?
If you’ve read this far, you’re already doing the thing that matters most — thinking carefully about what your marriage needs. The next step is small: a 15-minute conversation with someone who’s done this work for years.
Or call us directly: (973) 902-8700
We return calls the same business day..
Maplewood Counseling
169 Maplewood Ave, Suite 4
Maplewood, NJ 07040
(973) 902-8700
contact@maplewoodcounseling.com
In-person at our Maplewood office. Telehealth marriage counseling across all 21 NJ counties.