When couples decide to pursue therapy, it’s a sign of commitment — not just to the relationship, but to growth, healing, and understanding. Choosing the right therapist is crucial to the success in couples therapy, but that is not the only aspect you should be thoughtful about. Selecting the right session format is just as important. A key consideration is session length, and more therapists and couples alike are discovering the benefits of 90-minute sessions over the traditional 60-minute format.
Here’s why 90-minute couples therapy sessions can offer a more powerful, productive experience:
More Time to Go Deeper
Couples therapy often deals with complex emotional patterns, communication issues, past traumas, and deeply rooted misunderstandings. Oftentimes with couples counseling, there is simply not enough time to fully process and understand each other within that hour-long session. A 90-minute session gives space to:
- Fully explore both partners’ perspectives
- Identify underlying emotional patterns
- Begin resolution work within the same session
That extra half-hour allows your therapist to guide you more deeply into the heart of the issue, rather than merely skimming the surface.
More Balanced Participation
In shorter sessions, one partner may take up most of the conversation — not out of selfishness, but simply due to the time constraints. Longer sessions create more room for both people to speak, reflect, and feel heard. This space also allows for more room to repair and reconnect when a rupture occurs.
Better for Emotionally Intense Moments
Therapy does not follow a neat, linear path. Sometimes sessions involve emotional breakthroughs, moments of anger or sadness, and frequently conflict that arises in real time. A 90-minute format provides the necessary cushion to not only delve into these moments more thoroughly, but also creates the space for them to occur more organically in the first place. That means more opportunities for understanding, alignment, and repair within the same session.
Allows Integration of Skills and Tools
Beyond talking through issues, therapy often involves learning new communication tools, doing guided exercises, and practicing emotional regulation techniques. A 60-minute session may allow for discussion and practice, but may not have enough time to fully move through an entire exercise. A 90-minute session opens the door for integrating these tools in real time, increasing the likelihood of long-term success.
This is especially valuable because much of the couples therapy work happens outside of the therapy space. Essentially it’s important to be able to apply the skills and insights in between sessions. With 90-minute sessions, couples will have more in-session practice and likely feel more confident about their ability to generalize what they have learned.
Fewer Sessions May Be Needed Overall
Ironically, while 90-minute sessions are longer and cost more, they can lead to quicker progress. The depth you’re able to reach in longer sessions means you may need fewer sessions in the long run — saving time, energy, and money.
Final Thoughts
Every relationship is unique, and so are the needs of each couple. While 60-minute sessions can be effective, the added time of a 90-minute session often results in more profound breakthroughs, deeper emotional healing, and stronger relational tools. For couples who are serious about making lasting change quickly, that extra 30 minutes can make all the difference.
If you would like to learn more about couples therapy services at Wildflower, please give us a call or complete our online inquiry form. We are looking forward to hearing from you!
