Couples Therapy
20+ Years of Experience Supporting Relationships in Transition, Tension, or Growth
Couples Therapy in English — For Relationships Under Real Pressure
In-Person in Munich & Frankfurt | Online Worldwide
Book a Free 15-Min Consultation →
Most couples don’t arrive at therapy because they stopped caring. In fact, they arrive because they care enough to try — and because what they’ve been doing on their own isn’t working anymore.
The arguments that go in circles. The silence that says everything. The feeling of living alongside someone rather than with them. The moment one partner says “I can’t keep doing this” and the other isn’t sure what this even is anymore.
At PsyShrink, we work with couples at every stage — early tension, sustained conflict, crisis, and everything in between. Moreover, we specialise in the particular pressures that come with international life: cross-cultural relationships, expat stress, frequent relocation, and the unique dynamics of relationships built across languages and borders.
What Couples Therapy Addresses
Couples come to us for many different reasons. In most cases, however, the underlying issues fall into recognisable patterns — ones we work with every day.
Communication breakdown Not just arguing — although that too. More often, it’s the communication that stopped happening: the things that don’t get said, the conversations that get avoided, the slow erosion of genuine connection. In therapy, we help couples identify what’s actually being communicated beneath the surface, and then build the skills to say it directly.
Recurring conflict and destructive patterns The same fight, over and over, with the same result. Research shows that couples who learn structured communication and conflict-resolution skills reduce their risk of separation by up to 30% (Markman & Rhoades, 2012). Early intervention, therefore, makes the difference between drifting apart and growing together.
Cross-cultural and international relationship stress When two people come from different countries or cultures, they bring different — and often unconscious — assumptions about relationships, family, communication, and conflict. As a result, disagreements that look like personality clashes are frequently cultural mismatches. We have specific experience helping international couples surface those differences and build a shared framework that works for both partners.
Trust repair after betrayal Infidelity, dishonesty, or significant breaches of trust don’t automatically end a relationship — but they do require real work to move beyond. Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) helps 70–75% of couples move from distress to satisfaction, even after significant hurt (Johnson et al., JMFT, 2013). Repair is possible. It starts, however, with both partners being willing to be honest.
Relocation stress and the trailing partner dynamic One of the most common — and least discussed — sources of strain in expat couples is the relocation dynamic: one partner moves for the other’s career and, in the process, loses their professional identity, social network, and sense of purpose. Over time, this imbalance creates resentment that often doesn’t announce itself clearly. Instead, it surfaces as irritability, emotional withdrawal, or a slow disconnection. We help couples name it and address it directly.
Growing apart and loss of connection Sometimes there’s no single crisis — just a gradual drift. Life got busy, priorities shifted, and somewhere along the way the relationship stopped feeling like a priority. Consequently, couples in this situation often feel more like housemates or co-parents than partners. Therapy helps rebuild the connection deliberately rather than hoping it returns on its own.
Parenting disagreements and family pressure Raising children puts strain on even strong relationships. Furthermore, when parents come from different cultural backgrounds, disagreements about discipline, education, and family values run deeper than they appear on the surface. We help couples develop a shared parenting approach that doesn’t require one partner’s culture to permanently lose.
Considering separation Not every couple comes to therapy to save the relationship. Some come to figure out whether it’s worth saving — and to make that decision with clarity and honesty rather than in the middle of a crisis. We work with couples at this stage too, without a predetermined agenda about the outcome.
In-Person and Online
In-person couples therapy is available in Munich and Frankfurt. Sessions take place in private, comfortable practice spaces.
Online couples therapy is available worldwide via secure video. Both partners connect from wherever they are — whether that’s the same home, different cities, or different countries. For couples navigating long-distance phases, frequent travel, or international postings, online therapy removes the logistical barriers entirely.
For more detail on the online option, see our dedicated Online Couples Therapy → page.
Who Offers Couples Therapy at PsyShrink
Cynthia Kunze, MA — Senior Psychologist and Founder 25+ years specialising in relationships, native English speaker, multinational couples, and expat life. Available online, in Munich, and in Straubing. Fee: €300/80 min session.
Lis Breitling — Psychotherapist (HeilprG) Specialising in relationships, anxiety, and life transitions. Available in Munich and online.
Andreia Lungulescu — CBT Psychotherapist (HeilprG) Available in Munich and online.
Kimberly Hennessy — Counsellor and Family Mediator Available in Frankfurt and online.
Not sure who’s the right fit? Book a free 15-minute consultation and we’ll match you based on your specific situation, needs, and schedule.
Have US Health Insurance?
If you or your partner hold a US insurance policy with out-of-network benefits, your couples therapy sessions may be partially reimbursable. In that case, we provide superbills with the documentation your insurer requires. Many of our American clients find that 50–80% of session costs are covered. Ask us about this when you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do both partners need to want therapy for it to work? Ideally yes — but one partner being reluctant is more common than you’d think. In some cases, starting with the willing partner first can create enough shift in the dynamic that the other becomes open to joining. We can discuss what makes sense for your specific situation during the consultation.
How is couples therapy different from individual therapy? Individual therapy focuses on one person’s internal world — their history, patterns, and psychological wellbeing. Couples therapy, on the other hand, focuses on the relationship itself: the dynamic between two people, the patterns they’ve built together, and how they communicate and relate. Sometimes both are needed, either simultaneously or in sequence.
What approach do you use? Our therapists draw on several evidence-based approaches, including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and systemic methods. Rather than following a rigid protocol, we use what fits the specific couple and situation.
How many sessions will we need? It varies. Some couples come for a focused block of 4–6 sessions to address a specific issue. Others, however, work with us over several months. In either case, we’ll give you an honest assessment after the first two sessions — we don’t extend the work unnecessarily.
What if we’re also considering separation? We work with couples at every stage, including those who are undecided about the future of the relationship. Therapy in this context is about helping both people reach clarity — not about pushing toward a particular outcome.
Is couples therapy confidential? Yes. What is discussed in sessions remains confidential. We’ll explain the specifics — including the narrow legal exceptions — before your first session together.
Can we do sessions if we’re in different cities or countries? Yes. Online couples therapy works regardless of where each partner is located. Both connect via secure video. See our Online Couples Therapy page for full details.
Ready to Start?
You don’t need to have it all figured out before reaching out. That’s precisely what the consultation is for — to talk through what’s happening, ask questions, and decide together whether this is the right step.
Book a Free 15-Min Consultation →
PsyShrink — English-speaking couples therapy for international relationships. In-person in Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin. Available online worldwide.