Couples Counseling

CAPS offers couples counseling to Duke students and their partners.   Many times, challenges in a relationship can have a negative impact on academic and even social realms.   For couples struggling with frequent conflicts, problems in communication, loss of intimacy, or difficulty managing a shared crisis, counseling is available.  

Often, couples seek counseling at a point when their relationship is on the verge of ending or when one partner has decided to end the relationship.   At times, such couples benefit a great deal from counseling and they decide to continue the relationship and enjoy growth and greater closeness as a result of what they gained from couples counseling.   However, the goal of couples counseling is not necessarily to keep couples together.  The main goal is to help gain clarity on the direction the relationship will continue.  There are times that couples counseling helps couples reach decisions to end their relationship but do in a way that still promotes growth, respect, and appreciation for each other. 

CAPS offers couples counseling to all students, regardless of marital status or sexual orientation.   While at least one member of the couple seeking couples counseling must be a Duke student, couples counseling services are offered to students whose partner is not enrolled at Duke University.   Individual counseling, however, cannot be provided to partners of Duke students who, themselves, are not enrolled.  If you have any questions or are interested in pursuing Couples Counseling, call or come by our office to schedule an initial assessment appointment and explain to the receptionist that you are seeking Couples Counseling. If you’re not sure whether Couples Counseling is the most appropriate service, feel free to call and ask to speak to a counselor for a Consultation.