Marriage & Couples
Therapy.
Find your way back to each other
You didn't sign up for the constant arguments or the icy silence. We help couples move past the same old fights and rebuild the trust and intimacy that brought you together.
When Love Feels Like a Battlefield
You remember when things were different. But now, it's constant arguments about nothing—and everything. Or worse, the icy silence that feels more lonely than being alone. You're wondering if you can ever get back to where you used to be.
The truth is: most relationship problems aren't about the surface issues. Whether you're fighting about dishes, money, or sex, the real issue is usually deeper—unmet needs, unexpressed hurts, or a breakdown in how you connect.
We Don't Take Sides
At Ascend Therapy, we don't referee fights or decide who's "right." We help you both see the underlying patterns—the "dance" you're stuck in—and find new moves.
We treat the relationship as the client. Our goal is to help you express what you really need, hear each other without defensiveness, and rebuild a secure bond.
Sound Familiar?
Couples therapy might be right if...
- You have the same argument over and over without resolution
- One or both of you shuts down or walks away during conflict
- Trust has been broken and you're not sure how to rebuild it
- You feel more like roommates or co-parents than romantic partners
- Intimacy—emotional or physical—has disappeared
- You're navigating a major transition (new baby, job change, empty nest)
- You're not sure if the relationship can be saved—but you're willing to try
Common Challenges
Issues we address.
Relationships face predictable challenges. We help couples navigate:
Our Approach
Evidence-based couples work.
We use research-backed methods that go beyond surface-level communication tips to create lasting change.
Gottman Method (Research-Based)
Based on 40+ years of research. Strengthen friendship, manage conflict constructively, and create shared meaning.
EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy)
Focuses on the emotional bond. Identify attachment needs and break the negative cycles that keep you stuck.
Systemic (Family Systems)
Understand your relationship in context—how your families of origin and life circumstances shape your patterns.
Practical Skills (Action-Oriented)
Love is an action. We teach concrete skills for listening, de-escalating rights, and maintaining connection.
The Process
What to expect in therapy.
Assessment
We start with joint and individual sessions to understand the history and each partner's perspective.
Pattern ID
Uncover the negative cycle you get stuck in—who pursues, who withdraws, and what triggers it.
Skill Building
Learn and practice new ways of communicating, fighting fair, and expressing needs safely.
Deepening
Address underlying hurts and attachment wounds that fuel the conflict.
Consolidation
Create a shared vision for your future and strategies to protect your connection.
Our Specialist
Meet your relationship expert.
Couples work requires specific training and expertise. Our specialist is here to guide you.
Nagla Mostafa, LMFT
Specialties
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 15+ years experience helping couples navigate trust, communication, and intimacy.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions.
It's common for one partner to be hesitant. Couples therapy works best when both are willing, but sometimes individual sessions can help you shift your own patterns, which changes the relationship dynamic. We can also discuss how to invite them without pressure.
No. We are advocates for the relationship, not for one person. Our job isn't to be a referee or decide who's 'right.' We help both of you see your contributions to the struggle and validity in your needs.
It depends on the issues. Some couples see improvement in 8-12 sessions. More entrenched patterns or trust ruptures may take 6 months or longer. We work at a pace that allows for real, lasting change.
Sometimes. Therapy can help you clarify if recommitment is possible. Some couples discover renewed connection even on the brink of divorce; others realize they are better apart and use therapy to separate amicably.
Yes. Online couples therapy is effective and convenient. Both partners can join from the same location or separate ones. We offer telehealth throughout Illinois.
Ready to Reconnect?
You don't have to navigate this alone. Strengthen your bond and rebuild trust with expert guidance.