What Is the Success Rate of Couples Therapy?

When couples begin therapy it’s natural to wonder, “does this actually work?”. The idea of opening up about painful patterns or long-standing conflicts can feel risky. You may be asking yourself, “Will therapy really help us?”. The answer depends on many factors — but research, especially from the field of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), gives reason for hope. 

What research tells us

Studies on EFT, one of the most empirically supported approaches to couples therapy, consistently show that around 70–75% of couples move from distress to recovery, and about 90% show significant improvement in their relationship satisfaction. These are strong outcomes for any form of psychotherapy, and they speak to the potential for change when partners commit to the process. 

That said, therapy is not a quick fix. Like any meaningful change, it requires effort, openness, and the willingness to look at difficult emotions and patterns together.

What “success” really means

Success in couples therapy doesn’t always mean staying together — though many couples do. For some, success means learning to communicate in ways that feel safer and more connected. For others, it means developing a deeper understanding of one another, even if the relationship ultimately ends. Therapy can help both partners leave a relationship with clarity and less resentment, carrying forward a better understanding of what they need in love and connection.

Why some couples improve more than others

Therapy tends to be most effective when both partners are motivated to understand rather than blame. Couples who enter therapy before resentment has calcified — before emotional distance becomes too wide — often have an easier time rebuilding. 

The skill of the therapist also matters. A skilled couples therapist helps partners slow down, identify the emotional patterns that drive conflict, and guide them toward new experiences of connection. The therapy space becomes a laboratory for trying out new ways of relating in real time.

A process, not a performance

Couples therapy is a process of discovery. It’s less about fixing each other and more about understanding the emotional dance you are both part of. Even small moments of new understanding — seeing your partner’s vulnerability where you once saw only defensiveness — can begin to shift the entire system. 

When this happens, partners often describe a renewed sense of closeness and safety that feels both unfamiliar and deeply right.

The Takeaway

While no therapy can guarantee outcomes, couples therapy — and particularly Emotionally Focused Therapy — offers a structured, evidence-based path toward deeper connection. With effort and guidance, many couples are able to move from cycles of blame and distance to a relationship that feels more secure, open, and resilient. 

If you’re wondering whether couples therapy could help you, reach out to the Manhattan Therapy team. Whether you’re in crisis or simply feeling disconnected, beginning the process is often the first sign of hope.

Get in touch with the Manhattan Therapy team if you’d like to explore your relationship on a deeper level.