Every relationship has its own history, challenges, strengths, and possibilities. Yet we're surrounded by messages about what relationships are supposed to look like, how partners should behave, and what makes a relationship successful.

Sometimes these expectations help us. Other times, they make it difficult to recognize what matters most to the people actually in the relationship.

At Mountain View Therapy, we offer virtual couples and relationship therapy throughout Massachusetts. Our Narrative Therapy approach creates space to explore the stories shaping your relationship, understand the challenges you're facing, and develop a shared vision for the relationship you want to create together.

Whether you're navigating a difficult time, adjusting to changes, or simply hoping to enrich your connection, we believe you deserve a space where everyone's perspective is valued.

Every Relationship Has Its Own Story

The way your relationship has been described isn't the only way it can be understood.

Relationships develop within the context of our families, communities, cultures, and personal histories. We bring with us ideas about love, commitment, communication, intimacy, independence, and what it means to be a good partner.

Over time, certain stories about our relationships can become especially powerful.

Maybe you've started thinking of yourselves as a couple that always fights, partners who never understand each other, or people who have grown too far apart.

These descriptions can begin to overshadow the many other experiences that make up your relationship.

In therapy, we're interested in understanding how these stories developed, how they've influenced your connection, and whether they reflect the relationship you want to have.

We also look for experiences that might have been overlooked: moments of care, cooperation, humor, understanding, or commitment that tell a different story about what's possible.

The Problem Is the Problem, Not Your Partner

What becomes possible when you stop seeing each other as the problem?

When difficulties arise in relationships, it can be easy to get caught in patterns of blame.

One person is too sensitive. The other doesn't communicate. Someone is always withdrawing, criticizing, or getting defensive.

Narrative Therapy invites us to look at these difficulties differently.

Rather than locating the problem within either partner, we become curious about how the problem operates within the relationship.

How does Conflict find its way into your conversations? When does Disconnection become more influential? What happens when Resentment starts shaping how you interpret each other's actions?

By exploring problems as something affecting the relationship rather than defining either person, partners may find new opportunities to work together.

This doesn't mean overlooking hurtful behavior or avoiding accountability. It means creating space to understand what's happening while recognizing each person's capacity to make meaningful choices.

Creating a Shared Vision for Your Relationship

What kind of relationship do you want to create together?

There are countless messages about what successful relationships should look like.

How much time should partners spend together? How should responsibilities be divided? What does commitment mean? How much independence is too much? What should intimacy look like?

But these questions don't have one universal answer.

We believe the people in a relationship are best positioned to explore what matters to them and what they hope to build together.

In therapy, we might explore:

• What first drew you to one another

• The values you want your relationship to reflect

• How you each understand care, trust, and commitment

• The ways you hope to support one another's individuality

• What connection and intimacy mean to each of you

• How you want to navigate disagreements and differences

• The traditions, expectations, or relationship rules you want to keep, change, or question

• The kind of future you hope to create together

Developing a shared vision doesn't mean agreeing about everything. It means making room for each person's hopes, perspectives, and needs while exploring what you want your relationship to stand for.

Things We Might Explore Together

• Communication and recurring conflict

• Emotional connection and intimacy

• Trust, jealousy, and insecurity

• Navigating differences in needs or expectations

• Relationship agreements and boundaries

• Parenting and co-parenting

• Changing roles and responsibilities

• Sexuality, gender, and identity

• Polyamory and consensual non-monogamy

• Navigating major life transitions

• Family and cultural expectations

• Rebuilding connection after difficult experiences

• Balancing independence and togetherness

• Making decisions about the future

• Separation, changing relationships, or deciding what comes next

You don't need to know exactly what's wrong—or even agree on what the problem is—to begin exploring your relationship together.

Relationships Don't Exist Outside of Culture

The expectations we inherit can shape the relationships we create.

Our ideas about relationships don't develop in isolation.

Families, communities, religion, media, and broader cultural messages all influence what we learn about love, commitment, gender roles, sexuality, and partnership.

Some of these ideas may feel meaningful and supportive. Others may create pressure to live in ways that don't reflect who we are.

For example, you might have inherited expectations about who should provide financially, who should take responsibility for emotional labor, how much independence partners should have, or what a committed relationship is supposed to look like.

These expectations can be particularly complicated for LGBTQIA+ relationships, interracial or intercultural relationships, polyamorous and non-monogamous relationships, and anyone whose experiences don't fit dominant cultural narratives.

Narrative Therapy makes room to examine these influences without assuming there's one right way to be in a relationship.

Together, we can explore which expectations support the relationship you want and which ones may be getting in the way.

At Mountain View Therapy, we affirm that relationships can take many forms. For people exploring polyamory, consensual non-monogamy, or other relationship structures, you can learn more about our approach on our Polyamory & Non-Monogamy Affirming Therapy page.

You Don't Have to Be in Crisis to Come to Therapy

Relationship therapy isn't only for couples who are considering separating or experiencing serious conflict.

Sometimes people come to therapy because they're entering a new stage of their relationship, preparing to make a significant decision, or hoping to strengthen a connection they already value.

Others come because familiar patterns have become frustrating, conversations feel increasingly difficult, or they want to find new ways of understanding one another.

And sometimes people come because they're uncertain about the future of their relationship.

Whatever brings you here, our goal isn't to decide what your relationship should become. It's to support thoughtful, collaborative conversations about what matters to each of you and what possibilities you want to explore.

You don't have to be struggling with your identity to want an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist

You might be completely comfortable with your gender or sexuality and still want a therapist who understands your community.

Maybe you're dealing with anxiety. Maybe your relationship is changing. Maybe your family is complicated. Maybe you're grieving, overwhelmed at work, figuring out what you want next, or just feeling stuck.

You shouldn't have to choose between finding a therapist who understands what you're going through and finding one who understands who you are.

Meet Our Couples & Relationship Therapists

Our therapists bring different experiences, perspectives, and interests to their work with couples and relationships, while sharing a commitment to collaborative, non-blaming Narrative Therapy.

We encourage you to explore their profiles and consider whose approach resonates with you. Our referrals coordinator can also help you identify therapists whose availability and interests align with what you're looking for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we have to be married to attend couples therapy?

Not at all! We work with people in many different kinds of relationships, regardless of marital status.

We recognize that meaningful relationships can take many forms, and we don't assume that marriage or any particular relationship structure is the goal.

Do you work with LGBTQIA+ couples and polyamorous relationships?

Yes! Mountain View Therapy is LGBTQIA+ affirming and welcomes people in polyamorous, consensually non-monogamous, and other relationship structures.

We don't approach these relationships as problems to be fixed. Instead, we're interested in understanding your particular experiences, values, agreements, and hopes.

What if we're not sure we want to stay together?

You don't need to have made that decision before coming to therapy.

Therapy can provide space to explore uncertainty, understand each person's hopes and concerns, and consider what moving forward might look like.

We don't assume that staying together is always the right outcome.

What if one of us is more interested in therapy than the other?

It's common for people to arrive with different levels of enthusiasm, uncertainty, or concern about therapy.

We want to understand each person's perspective, including any hesitations about participating. Meaningful relationship therapy depends on creating a space where everyone has opportunities to be heard and where participation is voluntary.

Will our therapist tell us who's right or wrong?

Our approach isn't about deciding who is right or taking sides.

We're interested in understanding how difficulties affect your relationship, how each person experiences them, and what possibilities exist for responding differently.

At the same time, a collaborative approach doesn't mean ignoring harmful behavior or avoiding accountability.

Do you offer virtual couples therapy?

Yes! Mountain View Therapy is a fully virtual practice offering online therapy throughout Massachusetts.

Your therapist can help you understand what to expect from virtual relationship sessions and whether this format is appropriate for your circumstances.

Do you accept insurance for couples therapy?

Insurance coverage for couples therapy depends on your particular plan and the nature of the services being provided. Not all insurance plans cover relationship therapy.

Our referrals and billing teams can help you explore your coverage and discuss self-pay options before scheduling.

Ready to get started?

Ready to Explore What's Possible?

Your relationship doesn't have to look like anyone else's.

Whether you're hoping to reconnect, navigate a challenge, or develop a shared vision for the future, we're here to help you find a therapist who feels like a good fit.