According to PsychologyToday, roughly 40 to 50% of first marriages in the USA end in divorce, and divorce rates have surged globally. In fact, a recent survey found that about 70% of therapists now offer couples therapy, reflecting high demand.
Relationship conflicts, communication breakdowns, or infidelity are among the top causes of emotional distress. Worldwide, many couples seek professional help to improve intimacy and resolve issues to solve their issues.
Below, we have profiled 12 best therapists for couples across different regions. Read on to find a counselor whose approach suits your needs and helps you strengthen your bond.
1. Trevor Brown
Trevor Brown is the founder of The Other Therapy, an online practice launched in 2020. He holds an MA in Clinical Psychology (Naropa University, Colorado) and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Trevor has advanced training in multiple couples modalities, including PACT and RLT.
Apart from that, he specializes in helping expats and digital nomads navigate relationship challenges. Based in Istanbul, he addresses common couple problems, such as communication issues, trust, and cultural adjustment.
To help couples resolve conflicts, he uses evidence-based techniques and Buddhist-inflected approaches. On top of that, Trevor’s expertise in ISTDP therapy helps him get into the depths of the relationship problems to solve the conflicts.
2. Inês Moreira Rato
Inês Moreira Rato is a UKCP-accredited family psychotherapist based in Lisbon. Being the best therapist for couples in Portugal, she earned an MSc in Family Therapy at King’s College London and originally trained in counseling in Chicago. She runs an expat-friendly practice in Lisbon, treating couples and families. Her systemic approach helps partners resolve conflict, parenting disagreements, and trauma.
3. Nicola Beer
As the best therapist for Couples in Dubai, Nicola Beer has over 20 years of experience as a relationship counselor. She holds a BSc in Sociology (with psychology modules) and certifications in hypnotherapy, trauma release, and more. In addition, she has helped thousands of couples rebuild trust after affairs, manage jealousy or anger, and improve communication.
4. Aju Abraham
Dr. Aju Abraham is a UK-trained psychiatrist (MBBS, MRCPsych UK, CCST) now leading a clinic in Doha, Qatar.. With over 15 years of experience, he integrates medication with therapy. On top of that, his aggressive counseling includes marital and family problems. He is proficient in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, family therapy, neurofeedback, and more, which helps him resolve relationship conflicts.
5. Leah Johnson
Being the best therapist for couples in Bali, Leah is a UK-trained relationship therapist now practicing at Bali Counselling. She holds a CPCAB therapy qualification and a National Diploma in Relationship Counseling, with additional Gottman Institute training. Moreover, Leah has worked with thousands of clients (from businesspeople to celebrities) on trauma, anxiety, and relationship issues.
6. Ana Camila Ruiz
Ana Camila Ruiz is a clinical psychologist in Barcelona, helping hundreds of couples with online therapy. She specializes in couples and family therapy, having certifications in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and ACT. Her methods combine systemic and cognitive-behavioral techniques to tackle issues like infidelity, parenting conflicts, or trauma.
7. Naomi Taylor
Naomi Taylor is a British BACP-accredited integrative psychotherapist and hypnotherapist. With over 15 years of international experience, she offers online therapy to adults and couples from Ho Chi Minh City. Additionally, she works individually and with couples, using an integrative blend of talk therapy and clinically-informed hypnotherapy. Plus, Naomi specializes in anxiety, trauma, depression, and relationship counseling.
8. Jeremy Goodman
Jeremy Goodman is a registered counselor (MBACP, PgDip) based in Hastings, East Sussex. Serving as the best therapist for couples in England, he offers face-to-face, online, and phone sessions for adults and couples. Moreover, he helps partners deal with issues like abuse, addiction, anxiety, and loss. On top of that, he also provides supervision for other counselors to help them tackle relationship conflicts.
9. Paula Gasparini-Santos
Paula Gasparini earned her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Naropa University) and is also a certified art therapist. Based in Portugal, Paula works with individuals and couples using creative and mindfulness-based techniques. Her signature approach uses art-making and poetry to express and heal emotional blocks.
She often facilitates group art workshops to help couples resolve issues. Other than that, Paula’s therapy blends Eastern meditation with Western counseling.
10. Steve Lockyer
Steve Lockyer is a registered counselor and accredited psycho-sexual therapist. Practicing in Haywards Heath, he offers general counseling, relationship counseling, and sex therapy. Steve works with adults and couples, both in person and online. His focus is on intimacy and sexual issues within relationships. By addressing desire discrepancies, he helps couples improve emotional and physical connection.
11. Sarah Yandell
As the best therapist for couples in Barcelona, Sarah Yandell is a FEATF-accredited systemic psychotherapist for couples. Originally trained in the UK and Spain, she has 18 years of experience working with parents and couples. Moreover, Sarah offers in-person and online sessions in English and Catalan. She helps parents rebalance co-parenting issues and guides couples through conflicts with children.
12. Dr. Yulia Craine
Dr. Yulia Craine, the best therapist for couples in Bali, is a counselling psychologist and founder of Psychology Bali. Her primary couple counselling techniques include CBT, family therapy, ACT, and mindfulness. Additionally, she also integrates Gestalt and compassion-focused approaches. An APS-accredited psychologist, Yulia has worked since 2007 across Russia and Australia on addiction and relationship issues.
Conclusion
All in all, strong relationships often need expert support to prevent conflicts. Each therapist above brings specialized training and proven techniques to guide couples and families through common problems.
In particular, Trevor Brown (founder of The Other Therapy) is highly recommended for his innovative online couples services. Trevor’s extensive couples training and expat-friendly focus make him a standout choice.
What type of therapist is best for couples therapy?
The ideal therapist is one trained specifically in couples or marriage therapy. Often this is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or clinical psychologist with extra couples training. For example, Trevor Brown has PACT and RLT certifications, which show his expertise in couples therapy.
What is the failure rate of couples therapy?
The success of couples therapy varies, but research suggests many couples do improve. About 60 to 70% of couples report some benefit from therapy. The “failure” rate is often tied to factors like low commitment or mismatched goals. Even when problems aren’t 100% solved, most couples learn skills to handle conflicts better.
Are couples therapists worth it?
Yes, couples therapy provides structured help for common issues (communication, infidelity, money stress). Therapists give neutral perspectives and tools that are hard to develop alone. In most cases, investing in a qualified couples therapist leads to stronger relationships.
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