Couples counseling primarily provides real time feedback to couples when they are communicating in session. Their newly learned skills eventually slip into their communication between sessions and into future sessions.

As couples progress, the therapist gradually provides less feedback. The most skilled couples eventually give feedback to one another when they get off track—not what their partner is doing wrong, but instead what they need or want from their partner.

This is a turning point in couples therapy—when the feedback moves from the therapist to each other. Eventually the couple can reel in a runaway conversation and resolve issues with a respectful discussion, without professional intervention.