Marriage counseling, also referred to as couples therapy, is a form of psychotherapy. Marriage counseling helps couples from all generations and stages acknowledge and work through distress to improve their relationships. Through marriage counseling, you can process your relationship and make educated decisions on how to rebuild your marriage or how to most effectively end a unhealthy relationship.

Marriage counseling is a professional service provided to the community by licensed therapists known as marriage and family therapists (In the state of Hawaii marriage therapists who are pursuing license in the state will be referred to as marriage and family therapist interns. These therapists have graduate or postgraduate degrees.  Many therapist are part of a national association and become credentialed by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).

Marriage counseling is usually short term, but the length of time is often determined by the level of distress in the relationship. Marriage counseling is most effective with both partners in the relationship present. In some cases where one partner refuses to be a part of the therapy process, therapist's may agree to do individual work. The specific treatment plan is often unique and dependent on the couples individual needs.