Raise confident kids without losing yourself

Parenting has a powerful impact on a couple’s relationship. Many couples seek support not because they are doing something wrong, but because the demands of parenting have begun to strain their connection, communication, or sense of teamwork. Parenting while managing careers, mental health, and family life can feel exhausting, and even strong relationships can feel stretched. With support, couples can feel more aligned and supported as parents and partners.

When parenting affects your relationship

For many couples, parenting becomes the main source of tension.

You may find yourselves disagreeing about discipline, routines, or expectations. One partner may feel they are carrying more of the emotional or logistical load, while the other feels criticized or shut down. The postpartum period can be especially challenging, with anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation, and major identity shifts affecting both partners. Over time, these pressures can reduce patience, increase conflict, and create emotional distance.

Couples parenting children with behavioral, emotional, or mental health challenges often experience even higher stress. Decisions can feel heavy, and disagreements may arise about how best to support your child.

We also support individual parents and coparents who are navigating similar challenges, including parenting across households and maintaining stability for their children.

How therapy helps the whole family

When parenting stress goes unaddressed, it often affects both the couple relationship and the children.

Partners may feel less connected and more reactive with each other. Anxiety, depression, and burnout can increase for one or both parents. Children often sense this strain and may respond with increased emotional or behavioral difficulties. Family life can begin to feel tense rather than supportive.

Therapy can help restore steadiness, alignment, and a sense of partnership.

How we support parents, couples, and coparents

At Integrative Couples Therapy, we primarily work with couples who are parenting and want to strengthen both their relationship and their approach to raising children.

In couples sessions, we help parents align around shared values, reduce conflict related to discipline and decision making, and improve communication during stressful moments. We support couples in navigating postpartum challenges, including anxiety and depression, and in rebuilding connection during demanding seasons of parenting.

We also work with individual parents who want support managing stress, building confidence, and responding more effectively to their child’s needs. For coparents, we focus on improving communication, reducing conflict, and creating consistency and stability for children across households.

Our approach is grounded in family systems and attachment focused work, with an emphasis on supporting the adults so they can better support their children.

What families begin to experience

With support, many couples feel more aligned and less reactive as parents. Conversations feel more productive, and decisions feel shared rather than adversarial. Individual parents feel more confident and less overwhelmed. Coparents experience fewer power struggles and clearer communication. Children benefit from calmer environments and more emotionally available caregivers.

These changes tend to strengthen both the couple relationship and the overall family system.

Take the next step

If parenting has begun to strain your relationship or feel overwhelming, support can help.

You can schedule a parenting focused couples therapy, individual therapy or co-parenting therapy with our team. Parenting does not have to pull you apart. With the right support, it can bring more connection and stability to your family.