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Risa Ganel, LCMFT

info@togethercouplescounseling.com
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Together Couples CounselingTogether Couples Counseling
  • Services
  • Online Courses
    • Calming Your Fear of Conflict
  • About
  • Speaking
  • FAQs
  • Blog

Do you only work with married couples?

I’m glad to work with people who are in committed relationships, whether married or not.

Will you work with me even if my partner doesn’t want to attend therapy?

Absolutely. I can work with you to help effect change in your relationship even if your partner won’t attend.

How long are the sessions?

The first session is an hour and sessions after that are 45-50 minutes. I also offer 90 minute sessions (prorated) which can be helpful if you want to delve deeper into issues and move more rapidly through the process.

How many sessions should we expect to need?

The average is about 8 sessions. Typically, couples feel better after the first two or three sessions, experiencing some relief just knowing they have someone to support them through their struggles. However, the goal is to have lasting change, and that typically occurs after 10-12 sessions. The number of sessions needed is unique to each couple or individual, and depends on the issues they seek to address. It’s not uncommon for clients to come and go from therapy as needed, based on the ups and downs of life. That’s what I’m is here for!

Do we pay, or does our insurance company pay?

Clients pay a deposit up front to reserve their first appointment time, which is then applied to their first session. All fees are then collected at the end of each session by credit card. I do not participate in any insurance plans.

Are sessions in person or online?

Currently, due to COVID-19, all sessions are conducted through secure video conferencing. When it is safe to resume in person sessions, I will again meet with clients in person at my Columbia and Severna Park, Maryland offices.

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  • “Even though I’ve been in therapy, I realized there is so much to each piece that having support and practicing with others gave me more confidence. Now I can speak up for myself more instead of saying everything is fine when it’s not.”

    Class participant
  • “I learned that keeping silent was colluding with the dysfunction around me. Risa gave me permission to speak up in my personal life. It was empowering. What I have inside is of value and deserves to be shared and heard. I don’t have to worry about what others think. I’ve always measured what others think before saying anything and silenced myself, how ridiculous! At work I could speak up but not at home. I walked away identifying what held me back, the way I handle conflict was destructive and that’s all I ever knew how to do, so I avoided it and then it boiled over. It was easy for me to talk about what I DON’T want, but after this class I know what I do want and have skills to do it differently.”

    B.D.
  • “Sharing experiences and hearing others ask questions who have the same struggles as I do was extremely helpful. I became more confident and felt more secure in starting to speak up for myself with my husband.”

    T.P.
  • “I recommend working with Risa to all of my friends. If you are ready to be held accountable and hear it like it is, she is the BEST.”

    Husband of couples therapy client
  • “I used to feel like there was no hope and that nothing would change. I’m more at peace because I know there are ways to make changes that come from within me!”

    A.L.
  • This was exactly what I needed, I just didn’t know it! I knew I had conflict with my husband and by the second class I realized this was going to be different than I thought. It opened things up for me in a way I never would have guessed. This is just the beginning of my journey!

    A.L.
  • Risa helped my husband and I get to the point where we realized that we either need to stop talking about our marriage and actually fix it, or end things. We hit rock bottom at one point, but somehow we pulled each other out of the weeds. Slowly, we started liking one another again, and fell back in love. We ended up moving to a wonderful new house and recently had a baby and he is the love of our lives. So, I guess this is an overdue thank you. You are an incredible therapist, and I will never forget the snowy afternoon that I called and you asked if I just wanted to talk for five minutes. I can’t express how much that meant.

    S.S.
  • Risa has been positive, professional and knowledgeable about every issue that I have brought to our sessions. Her approach to our work together has been realistic, kind and compassionate. She communicates in a warm and direct manner, asking the right questions and providing valuable insight at just the right times. She is a gifted and genuinely caring professional, and I feel lucky to have her on my side. I have learned so much and have benefited tremendously from our time together.

    R.N.
  • I was made to feel comfortable right from the start which made it much easier for a guy like me to talk about our problems. Therapy opened our lines of communication and we no longer got overly emotional when we talked about difficult subjects. We learned to manage our time better and now have more time to take care of our relationship.

    K.B.
  • After 10 sessions with Risa, I no longer felt as frustrated. I came to appreciate who my husband is and how he is different from me. We learned to respect one another’s ideas and opinions and I was reminded of all the positive reasons I married him. I no longer think about divorce and am much happier overall. And our sex life improved dramatically! Therapy with Risa really helped save my marriage.

    S.M.
  • We’ve worked with Risa for 13 sessions now and if we hadn’t gone to counseling with her, we’d be living separate lives. I don’t think about divorce anymore. I’m wearing my wedding ring again, too! I’m so glad my husband didn’t give up on us and that we have worked with Risa.

    D.W.

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