Relationships are rarely easy, and when communication breaks down, old wounds resurface, or life transitions put your partnership under pressure, it can feel impossible to find your way back to each other.
At The Midtown Practice, our NYC couples therapists help partners move through challenges and enrich their bond. With both in-person and online options and a diverse team of clinicians, we’re here to support you and your loved one.
Jump to a therapist
- Kate Ballen: Good fit for couples navigating communication breakdowns and life transitions
- Holly Alderman: Good fit for couples working through conflict, parenting stress, or family dynamics
- Cliff Sobel: Good fit for couples facing divorce, dating after 50, or relationship ambivalence
- Jackie Siegal: Good fit for couples managing career pressure, grief, or trauma alongside relationship strain
- Shira Lee Silver: Good fit for young couples in their 20s and 30s building a life together
If you’re unsure which therapist is right for your situation, please contact us so we can thoughtfully match you.
Meet Our NYC couples counselors
Kate Ballen, LMSW
Good fit for couples navigating communication breakdowns and life transitions
I became a therapist after years as a journalist and screenwriter: work that taught me how powerfully storytelling shapes how we see ourselves and each other. In couples therapy, I help partners examine the narratives they’ve built about their relationship and rewrite them together. My approach blends psychodynamic insight with practical behavioral tools, so sessions support both long-term healing and shorter-term relief.
- Credentials: Licensed Master Social Worker #126799
- Specialty Areas: Couples therapy, communication difficulties, life transitions, parenting challenges, family therapy
Holly Alderman, LCSW
Good fit for couples working through conflict, parenting stress, or family dynamics
My work with couples is relational and strengths-based, focusing on empowering you both to better understand yourselves and each other. I also have advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), one of the most research-supported approaches for couples, along with my post-graduate training at the Ackerman Institute for the Family. This background has equipped me with a specialized understanding of relationships: between partners, parent-child dynamics, and larger family systems.
- Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker #088473, post-graduate training at the Ackerman Institute for the Family
- Specialty Areas: Couples, families, relationships, anxiety, depression, parenting, life transitions
Cliff Sobel, MHC-LP
Good fit for couples facing divorce, dating after 50, or relationship ambivalence
Before becoming a therapist, I spent decades in the business world building companies, leading teams, and navigating the full spectrum of human relationships. That experience gives me a practical, grounded perspective that I bring into every session. I have a particular focus on what’s sometimes called “gray divorce” (separation after 50) as well as the unique emotional terrain of dating and commitment in midlife and beyond. My style is direct, empathetic, and eclectically informed by psychodynamic, existential, and cognitive-behavioral approaches.
- Credentials: Mental Health Counselor – Limited Permit
- Specialty Areas: Performance anxiety, career stress, professionals
Jackie Siegal, LCSW
Good fit for couples managing career pressure, grief, or trauma alongside relationship strain
I bring something relatively rare to couples therapy: years of real-world experience in corporate America. I understand firsthand what it means to navigate office politics, career ambition, and work-life balance, and how those pressures can spill into even the closest partnerships. My therapeutic approach combines psychodynamic depth with a practical cognitive-behavioral framework, and while I’m passionate about supporting couples impacted by work-related stress, I’m also well-versed in other relationship challenges.
- Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Specialty Areas: Couples therapy, career and relationship stress, trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, substance abuse
Shira Lee Silver, LCSW-R
Good fit for young couples in their 20s and 30s building a life together
My work with couples centers on the therapeutic alliance: the trust, honesty, and collaboration that makes real change possible. I specialize in working with adults in their 20s and 30s, which means I understand the particular pressures that come with building a relationship while also navigating careers, family expectations, and shifting identities. I draw on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), CBT, DBT, and psychodynamic approaches, tailoring each session to what the couple in front of me actually needs.
- Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker #084692
- Specialty Areas: Couples, young adults, anxiety, depression, grief, family conflict, trauma, relational difficulties
What sets our practice apart from other NYC couples counseling providers
- A diverse team of specialists. Our couples therapists bring different training backgrounds, life experiences, and therapeutic orientations so you’re matched with someone who fits your relationship.
- Integrated psychiatric and therapy services. For couples where one or both partners are managing a mental health condition, having therapists and prescribers in the same practice enables coordinated, seamless care.
- Careful matching process. Our Clinical Coordinator takes time to understand your situation before connecting you with a therapist, and you’ll have a chance to speak directly with them before committing.
- In-person and virtual options. We offer hybrid care, so you can choose the format that works best for your schedules and comfort.
- Extended availability. With a large team, we have more flexibility to accommodate evening and varied appointment times.
- Evidence-based and relational. Our therapists are trained in proven modalities such as EFT, ACT, CBT, DBT, while also keeping the therapeutic relationship itself at the center of care.
Our Process
1. Connect
Schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation with our highly trained Clinical Coordinator, Alli Malamut, by either:
- Call or text us at: 332-262-7077
- Email us at: info@midtownpractice.com
- Or complete the form below
2. Get matched
In order to find you an ideal fitting clinician or therapist, our Clinical Coordinator will want to learn more about you. Specifically, it would be helpful to hear about your concerns, personal preferences, and any relevant logistical matters (for example, in-person or video sessions? best time or day to meet?)
3. Check the fit
Connect with the clinician or therapist you are matched with to ask questions, share history, and make sure you feel comfortable about moving forward. If so, book your first session. If it does not feel right, circle back with us.
Schedule time to meet with your new clinician or therapist and work towards living a more fulfilling life! Over the years, we’ve found our thoughtful matching process is the surest way to find you an ideal clinician or therapist and achieve the best outcome for you.
FAQs about relationship therapy
Couples therapy is effective for a wide range of relational challenges. Common areas include: Communication breakdowns and recurring conflict Trust issues and infidelity recovery Navigating major life transitions (marriage, parenthood, job changes, relocation) Intimacy and emotional disconnection Parenting disagreements Grief and loss affecting the relationship Pre-marital counseling Divorce or separation support Whether your concerns feel pressing or you simply want to invest in your relationship proactively, couples therapy can help you and your partner understand each other more deeply and build stronger tools for the future.
Research consistently supports the effectiveness of couples therapy, with some studies showing positive effects for up to 70% of participants. Outcomes depend on factors including how early couples seek help and both partners’ engagement, which is why starting sooner rather than later tends to yield better results.
No. Couples counseling is available to anyone in a committed relationship, regardless of marital status. Whether you’re dating, engaged, cohabiting, or long-term partners, therapy can be a valuable space to work through challenges and strengthen your connection at any stage of a relationship.
Couples therapists are not focused on right and wrong; we do not believe in keeping score. We focus on the relationship as a dynamic system rather than a battleground between individuals. This approach addresses current issues and is a proactive measure to prevent future problems. Even strong, healthy relationships can benefit from couples therapy during transitions or periods of friction. It provides a safe space to work through common concerns such as intimacy, infidelity, finances, parenting differences, communication breakdowns, frequent conflicts, health issues, and other stressors. By viewing the relationship as a shared responsibility, couples can develop stronger bonds and more effective strategies for navigating life’s challenges together.
Some couples come to therapy to separate amicably, minimizing trauma for all involved. However, couples therapy isn’t just for relationships on the brink of collapse. Many use it to navigate changes, improve communication, and deepen understanding, regardless of their relationship’s duration or stage. It can also be an effective tool to adapt to personal and circumstantial changes. In some instances, couples experience a conflict or pivotal moment that shifts their perspective or makes them question aspects of their relationship. Our skillful couples therapists will help you process and transform these difficult times into opportunities for growth and renewed commitment to one another.
Yes. The Midtown Practice offers in-person sessions at our offices at 18 East 48th Street in Midtown Manhattan, as well as virtual and hybrid options. We’re happy to work with whatever format suits your schedules and preferences best.
Couples counseling is sometimes covered by insurance, though coverage depends on your particular plan. The Midtown Practice is an out-of-network provider and does not bill insurance directly. However, we provide invoices you can submit to your insurance carrier for potential out-of-network reimbursement. We encourage you to contact your insurance provider to understand your out-of-network mental health benefits before your first appointment.
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