Relationship Counseling Maryland
Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy and LGBTQIA+ Affirming Care, for Maryland relationships of all shapes and sizes.
Our office is in Kensington, MD, for easy access from Bethesda, Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, Rockville, and Olney. Or online!
At Better Together Family Therapy, we meet you where you are — and we stay with you as you discover where you want to go. If you’ve tried traditional couples therapy and felt misunderstood, overwhelmed by one-size-fits-all models, or frustrated by assumptions about how relationships “should” work, you’re not alone.
You deserve a space where your unique neurodivergent strengths, your identity, and your lived experience are valued, not pathologized. This is that space.
Wondering how to ask your partner to come to therapy with you? Click here.
Relationship Counseling MD: What makes us different than the average Therapist in Bethesda
We are the local leader in neurodiversity-affirming care
We honor ADHD, autism, sensory differences, anxiety, and a wide range of neurotypes. Your self-knowledge isn’t just welcome; it’s part of the map we build together.
LGBTQIA+ affirming practice is built into all that we do
Your identity is part of the therapy’s foundation, not a sidebar. We help you navigate love, belonging, and everyday life with dignity and clarity.
A framework for choosing the right tools for each neurodiverse couple or family
We draw from Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and other evidence based practices. We use the framework of Integrative Systemic Therapy to select the best tools at the right times for your relationship. What you’ll notice most is how our approach adapts to your relationship’s rhythms and needs.
Location and accessibility, easy access from Bethesda, Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, and Rockville
Based in Kensington, MD, we offer flexible in-person and teletherapy options to meet you where you are across Maryland and the DC metro area. We’re easy to get to from Silver Spring, Rockville, Chevy Chase, Olney, Wheaton, and Bethesda.
Affordable options with our Clinical Interns
Our interns are graduate students working under the direct supervision of Maryland Board Approved Supervisor and AAMFT Approved Supervisor Robin Brannan LCMFT. Robin has been supervising therapists in Montgomery County, Maryland since 2006.
Who we help: Neurocomplex & Neurotypical Partners
We help neurodiverse couples (including polyamorous and nontraditional structures) find relationship guidance that respects their brains, routines, and boundaries.
We give LGBTQIA+ couples and queer+ neurodiverse partnerships seeking an affirming space to grow together.
We support parents in navigating parenting together when one or both partners are neurodivergent. We guide couples early in their journey (premarital or new-stage relationships) in setting a strong foundation and those with years of shared history working to reconnect.
Our Approach: Relationship Counseling Maryland
A great relationship is built around who you are, not who someone else says you should be.
Integrative Systemic Therapy (IST) is our backbone for understanding family dynamics and personal identity within relationships. IST is an empirically supported modern model of therapy that integrates the tools from various evidence based approaches to couples therapy into one relationship counseling roadmap. That’s a mouthful. In short, IST is a system created by The Family Institute at Northwestern University to guide our process of choosing the best tools for your family. In our work, you’ll find interventions from
Solution Focused Therapy
The Gottman Method
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Narrative Therapy
Bowen Family Systems
Imago Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Couples Therapy
All are adapted for neurodiverse relationship patterns (communication, repair, and intimacy practices that fit you). We translate theory into practice with concrete, daily-life applications that you can use at home—no cookie-cutter scripts.
Our Credentials: What marriage counseling Maryland families means to us
Maryland has thousands of licensed therapists. So which ones are the experts in couples and families? The ones with LCMFT or LGMFT after their names. You’ll find us here at Better Together Family Therapy.
Why it matters to get marriage counseling from a licensed therapist (not a coach)
The requirements to become a licensed Maryland therapist include a masters degree in a clinical field like Social Work, Professional Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Art Therapy, or Marriage and Family Therapy. These degree programs include coursework and supervised experience providing mental health care. That training provides the essential competence a therapist needs to work ethically and legally in Maryland. And our expert therapists have it.
The Marriage and Family Therapist difference
A degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) requires that the student provide 300-500 hours of therapy to their own clients during their graduate program. That’s not watching someone else do the work. It’s doing it themselves. And for MFT students, at least 50% of that work must be with couples and families. How many hours of Couple and Family Therapy experience do other degree programs require? ZERO.
That doesn’t mean that other professionals can’t be qualified to provide therapy to couples and families. Some are lucky enough to get some couple and family experience during their internships. And some professionals who want to treat couples and families go out and get additional training after graduate school. We have one of those on our team. Laura Willard LCSW-C has been so well trained in Couple and Family Therapy that she is authorized by the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists to supervise Marriage and Family Therapists. As a Social Worker. That’s rare. In fact, there are only 3 such individuals in Maryland.
Our Toolkit for Neuro-exceptional Couples
Our toolkit isn’t about forcing you into a mold; it’s about equipping you with practical, reliable moves you can actually use.
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What it is: Shared touch, knee-to-knee positioning, or simple breathwork to settle arousal before conversation.
Why it helps: When both brains feel safe, communication flows more clearly.
How you’ll use it: Short, repeatable routines before tough talks or when one partner is overwhelmed.
Practical example: In a tense moment, you pause, place a hand on the other person’s forearm, inhale together for four counts, exhale for six, then resume with a single, focused question.
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What it is: Finding key phrases that cue your partner how to respond to you.
Why it helps: Reduces paralysis or avoidance, especially for partners who feel overwhelmed by choices or open ended questions.
How you’ll use it: A short signaling script you can deploy to keep your partner informed of what you want or accomplish a decision making task.
Practical example: When you need help solving a problem, you might say “I have a puzzle. Will you help me solve it?” When you don’t want solutions, you might start with “I need to idea-dump. Can you just listen this time?”
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What it is: Prioritizing a single change rather than attempting multiple adjustments at once.
Why it helps: Prevents overload and keeps momentum sustainable.
How you’ll use it: Identify the top goal for the week, define concrete steps, and celebrate small wins.
Practical example: Instead of changing “our communication,” the couple selects “practice checking in every evening for five minutes.”
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What it is: A defined process for relationship repair when missteps happen (acknowledge, repair, re-engage).
Why it helps: Builds safety, trust, and a predictable path back to connection.
How you’ll use it: A simple post-misstep routine you can follow in minutes.
Practical example: After a misstep, each partner names one word capturing their feeling, then the couple agrees on one small next step to try.
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What it is: Phrases and cues that reinforce your right to be yourselves and to shape their relationship.
Why it helps: Grounding conversations in self-trust reduces defensiveness and increases openness.
How you’ll use it: In-session prompts and at-home reminders.
Practical example: “I know myself well enough to know what I need,” used before a tough request.
What to Expect in Sessions
A collaborative process: You bring your life, your identities, and your goals; we bring structure, curiosity, and a map to help you reach them.
Work at Your Pace: We honor slow, steady progress when that’s what you need, and we’ll adjust as your relationship needs shift.
Safety and boundaries: We’re explicit about consent, confidentiality, and what’s feasible in your household and daily life.
Who We Are
Our team: A diverse collective with shared commitments to neurodiversity-affirming and LGBTQIA+ affirming care.
Credentials and commitment: We are licensed, insured, and dedicated to ongoing learning in inclusive therapy practices. Our team consists of Marriage and Family Therapists, Art Therapists, Clinical Professional Counselors, Clinical Social Workers, and an Intern to offer the same quality care at a lower price.
How to Get Started: Make a Move Toward the Love You Want
Request an appointment. We’ll give you a call to answer your questions and help you determine if we’re the right fit. Reach out to start the conversation and move toward a relationship that truly fits you
Read More About Our Approach
FAQs About Couples Therapy Maryland: Online or in person
Is couples therapy Maryland covered by insurance?
The answer to this question is complex, and we’re happy to help you answer it. First, we are out of network providers, so the remaining information in this section only applies to you if your insurance plan covers services delivered by an out of network provider.
Insurance plans typically need to know two things when making coverage decisions.
What kind of service is being provided, as indicated by a procedure code (CPT code). The procedure code for therapy involving a patient and a family member of that patient is 90847.
What medical condition is being treated using that service, as indicated by a diagnosis code. The condition must be diagnosed by the provider who is performing the treatment. Let us know if you would like to receive a diagnostic evaluation from your couples therapist before starting therapy. This step is necessary if you plan to file a claim with your insurance.
If your couples therapist has not performed a diagnostic evaluation of at least one partner, there will not be a diagnosis code in your records, and insurance will not consider your couples therapy to be a medical service.
Will marriage counselors ever suggest divorce?
A therapist’s job is to help you discover what YOU want. They help people make their own decisions from a place of strength. A good marriage counselor won’t direct you to choose one option over another. They will guide you in getting the most out of what you choose for yourself.
When one or both partners is considering divorce, there is a special process called Discernment Counseling that should be done before couples therapy begins. This is to ensure that both partners enter couples therapy committed to working on the relationship. Discernment Counseling guides partners toward agreement on one of 3 options: work on improving the relationship, end the relationship, or keep things as they are. All 3 are valid options, and the choice is yours and your partner’s.
While your therapist should never suggest divorce, he/she/they may advise you to get out of a situation that endangers you. For example, if your partner is threatening or abusing you, a therapist might recommend that you find a place to stay where you are safe from abuse. Resources for those who feel unsafe at home can be found here, and a sample safety plan can be found here.
When you’re ready to build the love you want, click here to try Couples Therapy Bethesda or online Relationship Counseling Maryland.
What makes Better Together Family Therapy different from other couples therapists in Maryland?
We offer neurodiversity-affirming and LGBTQIA+-affirming relationship counseling that honors your unique identity, neurotype, and lived experience. We use Integrative Systemic Therapy as our framework, drawing tools from the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Imago Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and more — all adapted to fit how your brains actually work, not a one-size-fits-all script.
Do you offer online couples therapy in Maryland?
Yes. We offer both in-person couples therapy at our Kensington, MD office and online relationship counseling throughout Maryland and the DC metro area. We recommend that both partners be in the same room during telehealth sessions, even if the therapist is on screen.
What types of couples do you work with?
We work with all couples — LGBTQIA+ couples, neurodiverse partnerships, interracial couples, polyamorous and nontraditional relationship structures, couples navigating parenting together, premarital couples, and partners with years of shared history looking to reconnect. If traditional couples therapy has felt like a poor fit, we were built for you.
Where is Better Together Family Therapy located?
We are located at 3720 Farragut Ave., Suite 301, Kensington, MD 20895 — conveniently close to Bethesda, Silver Spring, Rockville, Chevy Chase, Wheaton, and Olney. We also offer teletherapy throughout Maryland. Call us at 240-242-5185.
What is Discernment Counseling? Is it different than marriage counseling Maryland?
Discernment Counseling is a structured process for couples where one or both partners is considering divorce or separation. It guides partners to clarity on one of three paths: committing to work on the relationship, ending it, or keeping things as they are. It is recommended before couples therapy begins when ambivalence about the relationship is present.
How do I get started with couples therapy at Better Together Family Therapy?
Simply request an appointment online or call us at 240-242-5185. We'll reach out to answer your questions, help you find the right therapist fit, and get a weekly appointment time on the calendar — including evenings.
Why should I choose a licensed therapist over a relationship coach for marriage counseling Maryland?
Licensed therapists in Maryland are required to complete a master's degree in a clinical field, including supervised hours providing mental health care. Marriage and Family Therapists (LCMFT/LGMFT) must complete 300–500 hours of direct client work during graduate school, with at least 50% focused on couples and families. Relationship coaches have no equivalent licensing requirements. At Better Together Family Therapy, our team includes licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW-C) who is authorized by the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists to supervise Marriage and Family Therapists.
What credentials should I look for in a couples therapist in Maryland?
Look for LCMFT (Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist) or LGMFT (Licensed Graduate Marriage and Family Therapist) after your therapist's name. These licenses indicate specialized graduate training in couples and family therapy. Other licensed clinicians such as LCSW-C, LCPC, LGPC, LGPAT, or LCPAT may also be qualified if they have pursued additional couples and family therapy training. All therapists at Better Together Family Therapy are licensed and insured in Maryland.
Does couples therapy actually work?
Yes — when both partners are genuinely engaged, couples therapy can be remarkably effective. Our therapists are trained in several evidence-based approaches including the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Cognitive Behavioral Couples Therapy. These are among the most well-researched couples therapy models available. The key ingredients are honesty, a willingness to look inward, and a therapist you both feel comfortable with.
Do both (all) partners have to want to come to marriage cousneling?
Ideally, yes — couples therapy works best when all partners are present and willing. That said, motivation doesn't have to be equal. One partner can be more reluctant than the other and still make meaningful progress. If your partner is completely unwilling to attend, individual therapy can still help you navigate the relationship and clarify what you need. We can also discuss strategies for encouraging a reluctant partner.
How do I get my partner to go to couples therapy? What if they say no?
We know this can be one of the hardest steps toward improving your relationship. It’s especially hard to take that step when you aren’t on the same page. We’ve written a blog post to guide you through this moment. Find it here.
Do you work with couples who aren't married?
Definitely! Commitment comes in many different forms. We work with all kinds of couples — dating, engaged, partnered, married, ethically nonmonogamous, and those navigating separation or co-parenting. Your relationship doesn't need a legal label to deserve support.
Do you work with LGBTQ+ couples? Are you experts in LGBTQ+ relationships?
Yes, warmly and affirmatively. Our practice includes therapists who are themselves members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and all of our clinicians are committed to and experienced in creating safe, inclusive, and affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ couples and individuals. Robin Brannan LCMFT, who supervises our team, is also a part of the Sexual and Gender Diversity Learning Community at the University of Maryland and has served as a longtime clinical consultant for the LGBTQ+ couples workshops at the Together Program.
Can therapy help us decide whether to stay together?
Yes. Some couples come to therapy knowing they want to stay together and work things out. Others come less certain. We support both. Our role is not to tell you what to do, but to help you communicate honestly, understand each other more deeply, and make decisions that are right for your lives — whatever those decisions turn out to be. We also may recommend starting Discernment Counseling if you’re leaning toward ending the relationship.
Do you offer premarital counseling?
Yes. Premarital counseling is a wonderful investment in your relationship. We can help you and your partner explore communication patterns, expectations, family dynamics, finances, parenting philosophies, and other topics that shape a strong foundation for future commitment.
Are you listed with ADHDMarriage.com? My partner and I are navigating an ADHD relationship dynamic.
Yes! We are proud to be a recommended resource on ADHDMarriage.com. Relationships where one or both partners have ADHD come with unique dynamics — including challenges with executive function, emotional regulation, attentiveness, and the frustration that can build on both sides when these patterns go unaddressed. Our team has deep expertise in ADHD and can help both partners feel seen, understood, and equipped with real strategies for connection.