ONLINE INDIVIDUAL AND COUPLES THERAPY SERVICES
Monica's Services & Specialties
Couples Therapy
Services & Specialties
Couples Therapy
Your relationship just isn’t the way it used to be…
● You love each other but can’t seem to get on the same page during conflict.
● You don’t have as much fun as you used to.
● You’re feeling criticized, blamed, or put down by your partner.
● You have more negative than positive interactions.
● You can’t seem to move on from past hurt.
● Seems all you talk about are chores/to dos.
● You can’t seem to agree on how to parent your children.
● You want to have more fun together.
● You live together yet you couldn’t feel more distant or alone.
● You are living parallel lives and you wonder if there’s any hope to feeling close again If any of these apply to you, you’ve come to the right place.
Gottman Method Couples Therapy
I incorporate the Gottman Method into my work with couples, which is an evidence-based approach grounded in over 40 years of research by Drs. John and Julie Gottman. Their work has led to the development of practical, science-backed interventions designed to help couples navigate challenges and strengthen their relationships. The main goals of Gottman Method Couples Therapy are to improve the quality of your friendship and connection—fostering intimacy, affection, respect, and positive interactions—while also reducing negative communication patterns during conflicts. Additionally, it helps couples create a shared sense of purpose and values, strengthening the overall foundation of the relationship. You can read more about the Gottman Method here.
What You Should Know About Our Sessions
There are three key things to keep in mind when working with me. These reflect how I approach our time together and my view of our work.
1. I’m both your therapist and your coach.
My ultimate goal is to help you and your partner communicate in a way that brings you closer, helping you truly understand each other’s perspective. That’s where the work begins. I’ll teach you practical tools for better communication, and we’ll practice them together. If the conversation starts to go off track, I’ll step in and guide you back. I’ll support each of you individually when needed, and I’ll remind you of the tools to help you break old patterns. Changing how you talk to each other and breaking negative cycles is tough, but it’s my job to make sure you have the skills and confidence to keep practicing, even when it feels challenging.
2. You’re here to improve your relationship, not change each other.
For things to shift, both of you need to be ready to look inward. It’s easy to point out the things our partner does wrong, but it’s harder (and more important) to reflect on how we contribute to the issues. It can feel unfair to focus on what we need to change, but that’s where the real growth happens. True progress comes when both partners are ready to take responsibility for their own actions and learn how to move forward together.
3. Most of the work happens outside of session.
While we’ll meet once a week for 75-90 minutes, the real change takes place in the day-to-day moments between sessions. You talk to each other every day, so it’s essential to practice the skills we work on continuously. For the tools to really make a difference, you need to be intentional about applying them in your everyday interactions. The more you practice, the more natural these new ways of connecting will become.
If this sounds like a good fit, please schedule a Free 25 minute consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do you take insurance?I currently accept Aetna and Quest Behavioral Health through Headway. *note: I prefer longer, 75-90 min sessions for couples, however, insurance will cover 50-60 minutes only. This means that you'd have to pay your copay for the first 50-60 minutes, then pay out of pocket for the additional 15-40 minutes we meet ($56-$85). If you have an insurance plan with Out-of-network benefits (PPO or POS plan), I can provide you with a special receipt (called a superbill) to submit to your insurance for reimbursement of some percentage of the session. You would be responsible to pay the full fee for each session on the day the session is held, and your insurance would send you a check directly. If you’re thinking about going this route, you can either use this link, https://welltrack-connect.com/therapists/27054/monica-burford, to get a sense of your out of network benefits and how much you'll get back. Please note that insurance companies require that I provide a diagnosis to demonstrate medical necessity for therapy. The special receipt for insurance reimbursement will include a diagnostic code for your diagnosis. Thus, your insurance company will have access to this private information. Lastly, if this sounds like a lot of work, you can use Mentaya, a service that streamlines getting reimbursed for your therapy sessions through your out-of-network benefits. Mentaya charges a 5% fee per claim, which includes handling any paperwork required, dealing with denials, and calling insurance companies. It’s risk-free: they guarantee claims are successfully submitted, or a full refund of their fees.
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What's your fee for virtual couples therapy?Initial Intake Session: $235 for 60 minutes and $265 for 75 minutes Ongoing 60 minute session: $205 Ongoing 45 minute sessions: $175
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What's your cancellation policy?I have a 24 hour cancellation policy, which means you would have to cancel your session at least 24 hours before your scheduled time to avoid the late cancellation fee of $175
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What’s the intake/assessment process like?The intake process with the Gottman Method Couples Therapy is 4 sessions. Session 1: I meet with both of you to get a thorough history of your relationship, session: 2 and 3 are individual meetings with each one to get more about your personal history and perspective on issues, and session 4: we review areas of strength and growth in the relationship and set goals
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What are couples therapy sessions like?In a typical session we’ll spend about 5 minutes checking in, reviewing any homework, and setting the plan for that session. I’ll then help you navigate a conversation, reach a compromise, or work on your friendship.
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How Long Are Sessions?75 or 90 minutes. I have found that 50 minutes are simply not enough to have effective couples therapy
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How do we know if this will be a good fit for us?If the information has sounded good so far, that’s a good sign. Next step is to schedule a video consultation with me and see how you feel. I can also answer any additional questions you might have.
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Are there couples you don't work with?Yes, there are certain things that are out of my scope of knowledge, and there are also times when couples therapy is contraindicated.
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How do I get started?First, you and your partner need to set up a video consultation. I want to make sure that I have the relevant skills to help your particular relationship and circumstances. It’s also important that you both feel comfortable with me and the approach. You must both be present for the video consultation.