Therapy Services for Couples & Relationships
In-person, evidence-based couples and relationship therapy in the heart of Denver
Brett Marroquin, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Arches Psychology Denver offers in-person therapy for individuals, couples, and other relationship types in our offices located in the Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver, Colorado.
All services are evidence-based, scientifically-supported, and LGBTQ-affirmative.
Couples and Relationship Therapy
Couples often reach out for help when they feel stuck, trapped, or feel like giving up. That's a good time for professional couples therapy.
Other couples identify concerns before that point, and therapy can help keep that "stuck" point from entering the picture.
Still other couples are interested in helping their relationship thrive, even if it’s not currently experiencing trouble, such as in premarital therapy.
Some of the most common reasons couples reach out for therapy are:
Recurring fights or disagreements
Not feeling heard or cared for
Issues of trust, intimacy, or respect
Sexual desire or satisfaction
Struggles over commitments or future plans
Differences in values or priorities
Feelings of disconnection or dissatisfaction
Poor communication and misunderstandings
Preparing for big life steps or events
I work with people in all kinds of couples and relationships, including heterosexual, gay, queer, LGBTQ, and open/ethically nonmonogamous relationships.
How I Help Couples
In couples therapy, we will work together to first understand the factors and patterns that have led your relationship to where it is, and then use techniques that help you step back as a couple and create new patterns together.
I am certified in Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT), a scientifically-supported couples therapy approach focused on balancing acceptance and change in the relationship. IBCT focuses on thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in each partner, and the complex ways that partners influence one another.
I also draw from Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), which explores how the deep roots of partners’ emotions can be both sources of pain and opportunities for reconnection.
In our work together, couples learn to understand each other’s emotions better, and communicate and collaborate better to build intimacy, trust, and a more satisfying partnership.
I know it can be uncomfortable — and even scary — to reach out about couples therapy.
Reach out for a free phone consultation so I can address any questions you may have about the process, and we can discuss whether I might be a good fit for you and your partner.
Brief “Relationship Checkups”
You don’t have to wait until your relationship feels shaky or at the breaking point to reach out. Whether brand new or decades long, relationships take care and attention, and sometimes we don’t prioritize giving them the conscious attention they need.
I am certified in the Relationship Checkup, a two-session checkup designed to grow connection and and understanding between partners as part of regular relationship maintenance.
You can think of the Relationship Checkup as like the preventative care you get when you visit your primary care doctor, or the regular oil change you do to keep your car running smoothly. It’s scientifically developed and tested, and shows positive effects on relationship satisfaction and intimacy over the long term, even with just this couple of sessions.
The Relationship Checkup involves two 50-minute sessions. We’ll work together to identify your relationship’s strengths, patterns, and areas of concern. Afterward, I’ll provide you with personalized feedback summarizing relevant findings from scientific research on relationships, highlighting my recommendations for you and your partner, and offering ideas for ways to continue supporting your relationship.
The Relationship Checkup is useful for couples and relationships whether they are experiencing significant difficulty or not. For many, the Relationship Checkup is all that’s needed to maintain or improve the connection. For others, the checkup may identify areas for more targeted couples therapy.
Getting Started
First we’ll have a brief, free phone consultation to see if I’m a likely fit for you and your needs. We’ll discuss whether it makes the most sense to meet for couples therapy, versus scheduling a Relationship Checkup.
For couples therapy, during our assessment process I’ll meet once with both partners together, once individually with each partner, and once again with both partners. This allows us to identify key issues and plan treatment that takes both partners’ perspectives into account. After these sessions, couple therapy sessions are usually once per week for 45-50 minutes.
We’ll then use practical, concrete approaches — tailored specifically to your needs and treatment goals — to explore how different ways of thinking, feeling, and interacting with your partner can reignite connection, decrease conflict, and build the satisfying relationship you deserve.
For a Relationship Checkup, we’ll schedule our two sessions and discuss what to prepare in advance.
