Marriage therapy is couples therapy for married partners: a structured, confidential space to work on the relationship rather than on either spouse as the problem. People usually arrive because of something specific that has happened in married life, not because of an abstract wish for “better communication.” This guide is organized around those situations, and describes what sessions can do for each.

What Marriage Therapy Is

The marriage itself is the client. At Serenity Psychotherapy Clinic you meet with Ahmad Shihab, MA, RP (CRPO #11572), who works with both of you and does not pick a side. Together you look at the pattern that has formed between you and practise different ways of speaking and responding. Nothing is promised about the result, and there is no set length.

Situations Married Couples Bring

After a baby, a move, or a new job

Big changes rearrange who does what, how much time you have, and how much energy is left for each other. Tension can build quietly, and each of you may feel you are carrying more than your share. Sessions can help you name what has changed and work out, together, how to share the load and protect time for the relationship.

When families and cultures pull in different directions

Expectations from parents, in-laws, and community, and different ideas about roles, can sit uneasily with the life you are building as a couple. Therapy does not assume that one definition of a “healthy” marriage fits everyone; what matters is what these expectations mean for the two of you. Serenity offers sessions in English and Arabic.

Money and shared decisions

Disagreements about spending, saving, or who decides what are rarely only about money. Sessions can bring the feelings underneath into view, such as security, fairness, or fear, and help you find a way to talk about it that does not end in the same argument.

When closeness has faded

Many married couples describe feeling more like roommates, or like parents who run a household together. Emotionally focused therapy (EFT), one of the approaches that may be used, looks at the feelings and needs underneath the distance, and CBT techniques can help with specific habits that keep it in place. For a look at how this plays out week to week, read how couples therapy can strengthen communication and emotional connection.

After a breach of trust

Infidelity or another betrayal can leave both partners unsure how to move forward. Therapy can offer a structured place to talk about what happened, what rebuilding transparency would require, and what each of you needs, at a pace that does not force a decision before you are ready.

The two of you are often in different places. The partner who was hurt may want answers, reassurance, or simply time; the partner who broke trust may feel shame, or want to move on faster than the other can. Sessions give each of you room to say so without it turning into another argument at home, and your therapist does not take a side. Your therapist may also suggest a session with one of you alone if some things are easier to say that way.

Some couples decide to rebuild, and others use the sessions to separate respectfully. Therapy does not steer you toward either. If the betrayal has left you feeling unsafe, read the safety section below first.

When you are thinking about the future

Some couples come because one or both are considering separation. Therapy can offer clarity, respectful communication, and a calmer way to think it through. It does not decide the outcome for you.

Before you marry

Premarital conversations are also a common reason to start. Couples preparing for marriage often use sessions to talk through what tends to surface later: how you each expect to share household work and decisions, how money will be managed, how close you will be with each side of the family, and whether and when to have children. The sessions are a place to hear how the other person thinks about these things before the questions become urgent.

Some of these topics have a legal side. The Government of Ontario explains that a marriage contract is a legal document signed before marriage, that both people must sign it in front of a witness, and that each of you should speak to a different lawyer and exchange financial information before signing. A psychotherapist cannot give legal advice or prepare a contract, but being clear about what each of you wants can make that legal conversation easier. You do not need a plan to begin; wanting to start the marriage with open conversation is reason enough.

What Sessions Look Like

Both spouses normally attend. The first few meetings are for the story of your marriage so far, the strain you are under now, and what you each want to be different. From there the work moves to the habits and skills you decide to practise. If it would help, your therapist may propose seeing one of you alone for a session.

In Person in Mississauga

Marriage therapy is held in person at the Meadowvale office in Mississauga. If travelling there is hard for you, say so at the free consultation. Online sessions are available at the clinic for individuals and families, and you can talk through your options then. The couples therapy page describes the service in full.

If You Do Not Feel Safe

If your spouse is a source of fear, repairing the marriage can wait: your safety comes first. Call 911 in an emergency, and if you are thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8.

Cost and Booking

Sessions are $250 per hour, and the first consultation is free. We directly bill with most insurance providers — please give us a call to inquire about your specific insurance policy. The fees and insurance page has every fee. A free 30-minute consultation carries no obligation, and many couples book it together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is marriage therapy different from couples therapy?

It is the same service. Marriage therapy simply refers to couples who are married, and Serenity’s couples therapy is open to any committed relationship.

What if my spouse does not want to come?

One spouse is often more ready than the other. Going to the free consultation together is an easy first step, and a single conversation with the therapist sometimes eases the other spouse’s doubts.

Does marriage therapy mean we are heading for divorce?

No. Many couples come to strengthen the marriage or to get through a transition. Therapy does not decide the outcome for you.

References