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Couples therapy and marriage counseling help partners rebuild communication, restore trust, and strengthen emotional connection. Many couples in Los Angeles seek professional guidance when frequent arguments, communication problems, emotional distance, or unresolved relationship conflicts begin affecting their partnership. Through structured couples counseling sessions, partners can learn healthier ways to communicate, resolve ongoing relationship issues, rebuild intimacy, and develop stronger relationship skills. For couples preparing for marriage, exploring a premarital counseling service can also provide valuable tools to build a healthy foundation and prevent future conflicts.

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Improve Communication

Help your partner hear you, while mastering the skill of understanding your partner

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Resolve Conflicts Effectively

Master the de-escalation and reconnection strategies

Rebuild Trust

Learn to implement honesty, emotional attunement, and accountability to restore trust

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Enhance Emotional Connection

Learn listening, vulnerability, attunement, and love language skills to deepen connection.

Manage Life Transitions

Navigate life transitions such as engagement, marriage, or major relationship changes. Couples preparing for marriage often benefit from premarital counseling services before their wedding.

Address Intimacy Issues

Enhance sexual and emotional intimacy through safety, trust and connection.

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Overcome Mental Health Challenges

Restore your well-being to become the best partner you can be

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Prevent Divorce or Separation

Explore the full potential of your relationship and the possibility of healing together

about me

Psychologist, PsyD

With over 16 years of experience, Dr. Harel Papikian has dedicated his career to helping individuals create and nurture their ideal relationships. Based in Los Angeles, Dr. Harel has a private practice where he works with both singles and couples, guiding them through transformative journeys to find fulfilling love.

about me

Dr. Harel Papikian

Psychologist, PsyD

Dr. Harel Papikian
About Therapy

How does couples
counseling work, and what can we expect from the process?

When it comes to couples therapy, every therapist has their own unique touch. Dr. Harel Papikian, with over 16 years of experience working with couples from all walks of life in Los Angeles, has developed a brief and intensive approach to creating a lasting change – the ARM Method. It’s all about transformation, powered by 3 steps:

1. Awareness

This phase is all about understanding where you stand as a couple and what you both want out of the relationship. You’ll explore your individual backgrounds, how they’ve shaped you, and what’s contributed to your current dynamics.

2. Release

It’s time to release the old baggage. This phase helps both partners tackle past hurts, emotional baggage, and negative limiting belief systems , clearing the way for a healthier, more harmonious partnership and empowered life.

3. Mastery

The final stage is about skill-building. Here, you’ll learn how to communicate better, resolve conflicts with ease, and develop the tools to make your relationship more loving, connected, and resilient.

Book your first session and
start changing your beliefs

Frequently Asked Questions About Couples Therapy & Marriage Counseling

Couples therapy can be helpful if you and your partner are experiencing frequent conflicts, communication problems, emotional distance, or difficulty resolving ongoing issues. It can also benefit couples who simply want to strengthen their relationship and improve communication.

The first couples therapy session usually focuses on understanding the relationship history, current challenges, and goals for therapy. The therapist may ask questions about communication patterns, conflicts, and expectations to create a plan that supports both partners.

No, couples therapy is not only for relationships in crisis. Many couples seek therapy to improve communication, deepen emotional connection, and develop healthier relationship skills before problems become serious.

The length of couples therapy varies depending on the couple’s goals and challenges. Some couples benefit from a few sessions to improve communication, while others may work with a therapist for several months to address deeper relationship patterns.

Yes, couples therapy can help partners rebuild trust by improving communication, addressing unresolved emotions, and developing healthier ways to support each other moving forward.

In most cases, both partners attend sessions together because therapy focuses on improving relationship dynamics. However, a therapist may occasionally suggest individual sessions if it supports the overall progress of the relationship.

Couples therapy can help address communication breakdowns, recurring arguments, emotional disconnection, trust issues, parenting disagreements, intimacy challenges, and other relationship concerns.

Most couples start with weekly or bi-weekly sessions. The frequency can change depending on progress, relationship goals, and the therapist’s recommendations.

Online couples therapy can be just as effective for many couples. Virtual sessions provide flexibility and convenience while still allowing partners to work on communication and relationship patterns with professional guidance.

Couples therapy can help partners better understand each other, improve communication, and resolve conflicts more effectively. While outcomes vary, many couples find therapy helpful in strengthening their relationship and preventing separation.

If your partner is unsure about therapy, it may help to discuss your relationship goals and explain that therapy is meant to support both partners. Emphasizing growth and improved communication can sometimes make the idea feel less intimidating.

Before your first session, it can help to think about the challenges you want to discuss and the goals you hope to achieve as a couple. Being open, honest, and willing to listen to each other can make therapy more productive.

Book a free consultation with Dr. Harel

Book a free consultation with Dr. Harel