PCT Couples Emergency Room
Sessions within 24 hours of reaching out to PCT. For couples who need a safe, structured place to get their bearings after a relationship emergency.
Most couples wait at least a week before their first couples therapy session. What happens if you can’t wait that long?
For couples who have just:
- Discovered an affair
- Learned their spouse has spent shared savings or retirement
- Found hidden alcohol when their partner swore they were sober
- Experienced a miscarriage
- Been threatened with the possibility of separation or divorce
- Realized they cannot go another day feeling this lonely in their relationship
This list goes on and on.
Your first session scheduled withing 24 hours of reaching out.
- Book a call with us and we’ll talk you through whether the PCT Couples ER is a good option for you. Then we’ll pair you with one of our Couples ER clinicians.
- Fill out your paperwork through our client portal. Your therapist will send you a Google Meet link that you’ll use to meet with them over video.
- Meet with your therapist on a video call for your 55-minute session at the agreed-upon time, within 24 hours of contacting PCT.
- Feel clarity on your course. Your therapist will get your story, bring you balance, navigate the dynamics, and set you on a course to healing more quickly. This might mean anything from beginning weekly couples therapy, scheduling a couples assessment, or starting individual therapy. You’ll have an understanding of what's next.
What to expect from our couples ER:
One session isn’t going to solve everything- most dynamics take months to several decades to establish so it will take longer than an hour to find resolution.
But here’s what you can expect:
- We’ll provide neutral territory where you can begin to explore each of your narratives, however disparate they may be.
- You’ll get understanding and non-judgmental curiosity from your therapist.
- Your psychologist can walk you through some de-escalation techniques to help you feel calmer.
- You’ll end the session knowing your next steps, whether it’s continuing therapy and what that might look like, or finding a different path.
We are your village and we are here for you.
FAQs
What constitutes a “couples emergency”?
There is no true definition of “couples emergency.” If it feels urgent to you, then it is urgent to us; your experience is what matters to us. There are so many reasons people feel in crisis in their relationship and we know a single session can relieve pressure in the couple system.
This service cannot address active suicidal or homicidal ideation or active abuse. In these cases we will refer you to the most appropriate services for what you might be experiencing.
How is this different from your usual process?
The main difference between our Couples Emergency Room and our usual process is that we usually do an initial consultation and a longer intake process. Additionally, we see couples for the intake session within a week or two, not within 24 hours. Our Couples Emergency Room is just that, emergent. It means we can be here for you right after the other shoe drops.
What if we already have a couples therapist?
Our Couples Emergency Room can be a one-time session. Although we do not do parallel therapy, we can consult with your current therapist after we meet with you. This coordination of care can augment your current couples therapy.
We also offer Couples Psychological Assessments, which are a one-time way of uncovering hidden dynamics and jumpstarting couples therapy that might be stuck.
What if my partner will not come with me?
That is totally fine. We can meet one-on-one with you on an emergency basis and incorporate your partner later, if they are willing to begin treatment.
We also often do Couples ER on an individual basis and use it as a jumping off point for ongoing individual treatment.
Can our Couples ER therapist be our ongoing therapist?
Absolutely. You can stay with your Couples ER therapist at PCT in perpetuity. Our Couples ER is a starting point for therapy, and you can make it one session or years of weekly therapy. It is up to you.
Who you will meet with
Our team is composed of doctoral-level clinical psychologists, all of whom are couples specialists. We employ rigorous and evidence-based therapeutic approaches to guide you through myriad crises, such as:
- Betrayal trauma due to affairs, gaslighting, and trust ruptures
- Dynamics leading to high conflict
- Discerning whether to leave a relationship
- Soothing attachment ruptures and finding safety within your relationship
If you fit well with your Couples ER therapist, you can stay with them in weekly couples therapy until you are through the storm and in more peaceful waters.
Payment
Our Couples ER sessions are the same length and cost as our normal sessions. Please consult our fees and insurance page to confirm payment amounts for your therapist.
*If this is a true medical emergency, or involving suicide or homicide, please contact your nearest emergency department for next steps and immediate care.
