Couples Counseling for Relationship Problems in Los Angeles

Relationships can be one of the most rewarding parts of life, but they can also come with challenges. It’s no secret that many couples face serious struggles, sometimes leading to separation or divorce. 

While not every relationship ends this way, these numbers remind us that many couples struggle. When two people share a life, emotions and expectations naturally get complicated. Whether you’re dealing with constant disagreements, a loss of connection, or communication breakdowns, counseling for relationship problems can help clear the fog.

For couples in Los Angeles facing these challenges, finding the right path forward can mean the difference between growing together or drifting apart.

What Causes Problems in Relationships?

Every relationship encounters bumps along the way. It’s rare for two people to see eye to eye all the time. The work stress, finances , family demands, health or changes in personal goals can strain even the strongest partnerships. Sometimes, small misunderstandings pile up until they feel like walls separating partners.

Many couples struggle to talk openly about what’s really bothering them. When emotions run high, honest conversations often get replaced by blame or silence. This creates a cycle where problems deepen instead of being resolved. Others face struggles around trust, especially if past hurts remain unhealed or if one partner feels uncertain about the future.

Some relationship problems come from simply growing in different directions. What once fit both partners well may no longer match who they are today. When personal dreams or needs aren’t discussed, resentment can build quietly. Over time, couples can feel less like teammates and more like roommates. .

When to Consider Couples Counseling

You might think about seeking counseling if you notice:

• Frequent arguments that don’t get resolved
• Growing emotional distance or feeling disconnected
• Recurring issues about trust or commitment
• Difficulty communicating without anger or withdrawal
• Struggles with major life changes affecting your relationship

Counseling is not only for crises. It can be a proactive step to improve communication and deepen your bond.

How Counseling Can Help Couples Grow

Counseling for relationship problems creates a space where partners can express themselves honestly, without judgment or blame. It’s about understanding each other’s needs, fears, and hopes. Key benefits include:

Recognizing harmful patterns:

Learning what role each partner plays in sustaining current relational challenges. Examples of such patterns can be pursuer vs. distancer communication styles, anxious vs. avoidant attachment configuration, internalizer vs. externalizer emotional pattern, or parent-child structure of the relationship, to name a few.

Uncovering deeper issues:

Surface conflicts about chores or money often hide needs for feeling valued, safe, and connected.

Addressing the Past:

Helping both partners let go of the old “stuff” that is burdening the current relationship.

Addressing common challenges:

• Communication breakdowns—feeling unheard or misunderstood
• Trust issues—fears from past betrayals or uncertainty about the future
• Emotional disconnection—feeling distant and out of synch
• Conflicts about priorities—differing views, values, future vision  

• External stress—poor handling of work stress and life stress, including inadequate self-care

Building empathy:

Understanding how our  partner’s experience can be different from our own, and still be valid. Here we are moving from being right, and into staying connected.

Creating Better interactions:

Developing tools to reconnect and use the moments of challenge as tools to build a deeper and stronger relationship. 

Counseling helps couples move beyond surface problems to the emotional core, fostering mutual growth and stronger relational foundation. 

 

 Why Counseling Can Feel Challenging at First

It’s common to hesitate before reaching out for counseling. Many worry therapy will uncover more conflict or force decisions they’re not ready to make. Sometimes, couples think they should “figure it out on their own” or that problems will fade with time.

The truth is, delaying counseling can allow unspoken frustrations to build. The longer difficulties remain unresolved, the harder it becomes to reconnect. Early counseling offers a chance to work on issues before patterns become deeply set. It’s an investment in our own happiness, as well as the well-being of our children, if we choose to have them. 

 

 Dr. Harel Papikian: Guiding Couples with Care and Expertise

Dr. Harel Papikian is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience working with diverse couples, including BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. His approach focuses on helping couples navigate relationship challenges with honesty and emotional depth. Dr. Harel’s expertise includes understanding complex relationship dynamics and guiding partners toward meaningful change.

Known for his warm and practical style, Dr. Harel offers counseling sessions designed to fit modern lifestyles, including online appointments that allow couples to connect from wherever they feel most comfortable. His experience across cultural backgrounds helps couples feel seen and understood in their unique journeys.

The cost for couples counseling in Los Angeles typically ranges from $200 to $300 per session.

What to Expect in Counseling with Dr. Harel

Leveraging his unique ARM method—a structured approach he developed—Dr. Harel guides couples through a healing process designed to rebuild trust, foster understanding, and strengthen connection.

Counseling emphasizes clarity and informed decision-making, allowing partners to acknowledge the past while creating a more fulfilling future, whether through reconciliation or respectful separation.

1. Awareness

: Couples begin by identifying the current state of their relationship, exploring how past experiences, communication patterns, and emotional triggers shape present struggles. This stage builds self-awareness and mutual insight, laying the foundation for meaningful growth and healthier connection moving forward.

2. Release

: Partners are encouraged to process emotional pain, unresolved resentments, and negative beliefs about themselves or the relationship. By letting go of these burdens, couples gain space to heal, rebuild trust, and rediscover a sense of compassion for themselves and one another.

3. Mastery

: In this final stage, couples learn practical relational skills that support long-term resilience. Tools for communication, conflict resolution, and emotional regulation are introduced, enabling partners to handle future challenges confidently and maintain balance while nurturing a more supportive and loving partnership.

When couples choose counseling for relationship problems with Dr. Harel, the process starts by identifying the most pressing issues for both partners. Together, they explore communication habits, emotional triggers, and long-term goals. 

Dr. Harel created his ARM method to guide couples through Acknowledgement, Reflection, and Moving forward—helping them heal and rebuild trust. This approach helps partners in gaining clarity and making informed decisions—whether to grow closer or separate respectfully.

The ARM method includes:

Awareness:

Understanding current feelings and how past experiences affect them. Managing emotions like fear and anxiety calmly.

Release:

Process emotional pain and negative patterns. Building self-compassion for a better relationship.

Mastery:

Developing skills to handle future challenges and maintain balance.

Dr. Harel emphasizes collaboration—therapy is a shared effort, not a one-sided fix. He encourages couples to practice skills between sessions and reflect on what’s working and what needs adjustment. This hands-on process often leads to steady progress and a stronger connection.

How Counseling Can Transform Your Relationship

Counseling does more than resolve conflicts—it changes how partners relate every day. When couples learn to express their needs openly and listen without judgment, trust grows naturally, breaking the cycle of misunderstandings and emotional distance. 

As these patterns shift, couples often reconnect over small moments—a shared laugh, a kind gesture, or simply feeling understood. Counseling restores hope and rekindles the feeling of being a team, even during tough times.

To get the most from counseling for relationship problems:

• Commit to honesty by sharing your true thoughts and feelings.
• Stay open to learning new ways of seeing yourself and your partner.
• Practice patience, knowing change takes time and setbacks are normal.
• Engage with what you learn between sessions to strengthen progress.
• Set clear goals to help focus your work with the counselor.

Final Thoughts

Couples in Los Angeles facing relationship problems don’t have to navigate challenges alone. With guidance from a clinical psychologist like Dr. Harel Papikian, couples can explore what lies beneath their struggles and build a stronger connection.

Some reports suggest that 70% to 90% of couples who commit to counseling experience meaningful improvements in their relationship. Counseling offers a pathway to clearer communication, renewed trust, and emotional closeness — all vital for lasting love.

If your relationship feels stuck or strained, counseling could be the step that brings clarity and hope. It’s about finding ways to grow together — even when the road gets tough.

Book a session with Dr. Harel Papikian today and start building a stronger connection.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is couples counseling?

Couples counseling is therapy designed to improve the quality of your relationship and increase your mutual relationship satisfaction. It includes addressing points of tension in the relationship, gaining deeper insight into the underlying causes for relationship challenges and acquiring the necessary skills and tools to build a fulfilling and lasting love. 

2. When should we try counseling?

If you and your partner argue often, feel distant, or struggle with trust, it’s a good time to try counseling. You don’t have to wait for big problems—it can help prevent issues from growing.

3. How does online counseling work?

Online counseling with Dr. Harel is done through video-sessions, which are accessible from the comfort of your home. 

4. How long does counseling usually last?

Sessions with Dr. Harel are 50 minutes long.  It is possible to have a double-session or to have more than 1 session a week, if so desired. 

5. Will counseling help if only one partner wants to try?

Couples counseling requires the participation of both partners. It is usually encouraged for both partners to join the first session and discuss any reservations or concerns.