Adjunct Couples Therapy in Los Angeles, CA —What is it and how it can help you

Disclaimer: this article is written with monogamous couples in mind–take what fits and leave the rest. Much of the principles listed here are also applicable to non-monogamous relationships.

Adjunct couples therapy in Los Angeles provides one-on-one support alongside traditional couples counseling, helping partners process personal challenges and strengthen their relationship.

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Traditional couples therapy with a qualified specialist is a precious gift, always, and especially for couples experiencing seasons of stormy weather. The right couples therapist can help make or break a relationship, and should be chosen with care. Moreover, at times it is the case that one partner (or both) may need one-on-one support. As an adjunct couples therapist in Los Angeles, I am able to support such relationships by providing these dedicated spaces.

Adjunct couples therapy is an addition to ongoing couples work, wherein one or both partners see their own therapist on the side. In this way, each individual can dive deeper into personal matters which may inevitably impact the couple as a unit. 

Why Adjunct Couples Therapy Exists

As mentioned, couples therapy can be crucial to the overall sustainability of a relationship. However, it doesn’t always leave room for personal processing that can impact the overall relationship dynamic. 

At times, one partner may need further support. This might look like exploring feelings that may feel too tender to bring up in the couple’s space. In addition, it is possible one individual may need time to further develop coping skills before being able to contribute to the relationship dynamic in a more sustainable way. Adjunct couples therapy can give each individual more room to process trauma, personal history, family dynamics, or identity layers that naturally manifest in the relationship. 

How It Works

Adjunct couples therapy may work a number of different ways and typically depends on the client(s). Your existing couples therapist may suggest that one or or both individuals seek out extra support via individual therapy. The client seeking the therapist may receive a referral from their couples therapist or find a professional through insurance or a directory such as PsychologyToday. From there, the individual can have their couples therapist and adjunct couples therapist be in consultation with one another. This could prevent a, “too many cooks in the kitchen,” dynamic, or rather, having each chef follow the same recipe. The couples therapist and adjunct couples therapist would work together, being careful to work towards the same goals, and the adjunct therapist would be mindful not to derail joint progress. The professionals may consult one another monthly, for example, depending on the risk level and goals of the clients. 

In other cases, a client may want the adjunct couples therapist to work completely separately from the couples therapist. At times, both clients and professionals may want to work with a blank slate–avoiding influence from a third party’s views. The way this works is entirely dependent on the parties involved. 

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Who Can Benefit

Many couples benefit from having an adjunct couples therapist. In particular, individuals navigating major life transitions such as marriage, parenthood, relocation, or a change in occupation could use personal support. Furthermore, partners in interfaith or interracial relationships wanting to process delicate layers of their intersectionality and how this naturally surfaces in the relationship dynamic may benefit from seeing an adjunct couples therapist. Also, individuals needing to process personal trauma, anxiety, or identity struggles affecting the relationship could benefit from a more personalized approach. Generally speaking, any individual who wants to show up more fully for their partner and the relationship as a whole could benefit from the one on one support that adjunct couples therapy can provide.

The Unique Benefits

Adjunct couples therapy can be a wonderful addition to couples work. Clients in adjunct couples therapy can receive extra support without replacing couples therapy. Equally important, clients can have a confidential space for self reflection. In addition, adjunct couples therapy gives clients the opportunity to build communication skills, emotional regulation, and boundary-setting that certainly impact the couple as a whole. In all, adjunct couples work has the power to accelerate the work done in traditional couples therapy. 

Looking for an Adjunct Couples Therapy in Los Angeles, CA?

Above all, adjunct couples therapy has the power to support and empower the relationship as a unit. If you are curious about adjunct couples therapy or are interested in pursuing services, feel free to send me a message today to set up your intro call. 

FAQ

1. What is adjunct couples therapy?

Adjunct couples therapy is an addition to ongoing couples counseling, where one or both partners also see an individual therapist. It allows each person to explore personal issues that may affect the relationship.

2. How is adjunct couples therapy different from traditional couples therapy?

Traditional couples therapy focuses on the relationship as a unit, while adjunct couples therapy gives each partner space for personal reflection and growth that supports the couple’s work together.

3. Who can benefit from adjunct couples therapy?

Individuals navigating life transitions, identity struggles, trauma, or the complexities of interfaith and interracial relationships may find adjunct therapy especially helpful. It’s useful for anyone who wants to show up more fully for their partner and their relationship as a whole.

4. Can adjunct couples therapy replace couples therapy?

No. Adjunct therapy is designed to complement, not replace, couples therapy. It offers additional one-on-one support while keeping the couple’s goals in mind.

5. How do couples therapists and adjunct therapists work together?

With client consent, the therapists may consult periodically to align on goals, prevent conflicting approaches, and ensure both forms of therapy support the relationship rather than compete with one another.

6. What are the unique benefits of adjunct couples therapy?

It provides confidential space for individual processing, helps develop coping and communication skills, and can accelerate progress in couples therapy.

7. Do both partners need an adjunct therapist?

Not always. Sometimes only one partner needs additional support, while other times both may benefit from individual work alongside couples counseling.

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