Couples counseling is different than individual therapy, partly because in couples counseling the relationship itself is the client, not either of the individuals, and the relationship’s well-being is the therapist’s chief concern. Issues that are important for each individual to address, such as depression, explosive anger, or excessive substance use, may arise in the course of couples counseling, and it might be appropriate for either or both partners to seek individual therapy as well. Individual work might also be helpful for partners who have long-standing difficulties stemming from abuse, neglect, or other traumatic histories, or whose relationship skills are compromised by depression, anxiety, or other problems relating to themselves.

Such individual work does not usually eliminate the need for appropriate couples counseling, but it can sometimes reduce the stress of couples work, as well as the time a couple spends working on some concerns. In those circumstances couples counseling may focus on building or renewing trust, enhancing intimacy, understanding sexuality, and otherwise deepening partners’ bonds by improving their skills in communicating and working together.

Sometimes a match is so difficult between partners, or such great damage has already been done in a relationship, that it is beyond the ability or the desire of a couple to reach a mutually satisfactory salvation. In those circumstances couples work often becomes separation counseling, intended to make the end of a partnership as painless and positive as possible.

One way to reduce the chances that a couple’s difficulties will become insurmountable is through prophylactic counseling – couples counseling before it is needed. The purpose of this work is to keep a good relationship happy. The work is useful maintenance for couples whose relationship may have a few troublesome glitches despite being substantially good, rather like a tune-up for a car that generally runs well, whose owner wants it to keep doing so over the long run.