Couples Therapy for Stressed and Burned Out Parents
So you’ve made it past those early days, weeks, and maybe even years.
You’ve had moments of finding footing with the general rhythm of parenting life, your occupation, and social life, but you notice tension or disconnection in your primary romantic relationship (like maybe the word romantic isn’t even resonating?).
Your kid(s), as it turns out, have new and different challenges, overpacked schedules, and lots of big feelings, you only have so many hours in a day, and it’s putting a strain on your partnership.
It never seems like “the right time” to start therapy either due to life stressors, general busyness, because the other person said they’d set it up and didn’t, or because you’re scared that you waited too long.
Well, you may be relieved to know that couples often wait longer than perhaps they should, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get started now.
Common Relationship Issues For Parents:
Communication Challenges
Less time for meaningful conversations
Talking mostly about logistics instead of feelings
Feeling misunderstood or unheard
Avoiding difficult topics to prevent conflict
Mental Load & Division of Labor
Unequal distribution of childcare, housework, or emotional labor
One partner acting as the “default parent”
Disagreements about discipline, routines, or priorities
Feeling unappreciated for invisible work
Connection & Intimacy
Emotional distance over time
Reduced or mismatched sexual desire
Feeling more like co-managers than partners
Difficulty prioritizing the relationship amid parenting demands
Parenting Differences
Conflicting values or styles (strict vs. permissive)
Disagreements about screen time, education, or boundaries
One parent feeling undermined in front of children
Conflict Patterns
Recurring arguments about the same issues
Escalation under stress (money, schedules, behavior issues)
Defensiveness, blame, or shutdown
Lack of repair after conflict
Parenting Differences
Conflicting values or styles (strict vs. permissive)
Disagreements about screen time, education, or boundaries
One parent feeling undermined in front of children
Stress & External Pressures
Financial strain
Work–family balance challenges
Caregiving for aging parents (the “sandwich generation”)
Limited social support
Identity & Personal Growth
Loss of individual identity or autonomy
Unequal opportunities for rest, hobbies, or career growth
Feeling stuck or growing in different directions
Mental Health Impacts
Anxiety, depression, or burnout affecting one or both partners
Chronic stress reducing patience and empathy
Difficulty supporting each other emotionally
How Does Couples Therapy Help With Parenting Stress and Burnout?
1. By helping to break stuck conflict cycles. We help to identify recurring patterns and teach effective repair after conflict. We use tools from EFT, Gottman, and ACT to help couples achieve their goals.
2. By strengthening emotional connection over time. Through deep empathy and decoding your ongoing arguments, we help couples reconnect amid long-term stress, parenting demands, and life changes.
3. By aligning values and parenting approaches. Through facilitated values exploration (which helps illuminate where you are and are not aligned and how your values can sometimes complement and sometimes hinder your shared goals) we support respectful collaboration around discipline, boundaries, and family priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Yes. Therapy supports couples navigating ongoing stress, parenting differences, life transitions, and emotional disconnection.
-
Couples therapy helps parents align values, improve communication, and create consistency without blame.
-
Yes. Many couples seek therapy to reconnect, improve communication, and prevent future problems.
-
We do not accept insurance and are considered out-of-network providers. Go here for more information on this and fee-related information.