Frequently Asked Questions​

Couples counseling with Dr. Colón is designed for Latinx couples or intercultural couples where one member is Latinx, monogamous couples (both heterosexual and same-sex) who want to strengthen their relationship and are willing to commit to the process. It is not intended as a last resort for couples whose first option is separation or divorce, but rather for those who want to improve communication, resolve conflicts constructively, and restore emotional connection.

Before starting, each partner can ask themselves:

“On a scale from 1 to 10, how committed am I to trying this process without seriously considering divorce or separation

during at least the first 3 months?”

If both partners score 6 or higher, this is likely the right space for you.

Beginning Couples Counseling

Couples counseling requires the commitment of both partners. If one partner is not willing to participate, the recommendation is for that person to consider individual therapy with another professional.

No. This space is designed exclusively for couples who want to strengthen their relationship and are not considering separation or divorce as their first option. This does not mean that divorce or separation has not crossed your mind or has been discussed but that your main goal is to give your best try to make the relationship work. Dr. Colón does not mediate or assist couples in a separation or divorce process. 

When communication has become difficult, conflicts keep repeating, or emotional distance is growing. Couples counseling is also very helpful when you want to prevent problems from escalating and strengthen your bond while both partners are still willing to work together. It can be especially valuable when going through or anticipating major life changes, such as medical treatment, job transitions, children leaving home, caring for aging parents, among other issues. 

Language and Communication

Sessions with Dr. Colón can be conducted in Spanish, English, or a combination of both, depending on the couple’s comfort.

Dr. Colón has extensive experience working with bilingual and intercultural couples. Both languages can be used in session so each partner feels comfortable.

What Couples Counseling Is and Is Not

What Couples Counseling Is and Is Not

  • Couples therapy is often tied to the medical model and health insurance language, where the focus is on diagnosing a mental health disorder and guiding recovery from it.
  • Couples counseling, in contrast, is not about diagnosing or treating one partner’s illness. Instead, it provides a professional, evidence-based space to strengthen communication, deepen connection, and work through conflict with both partners at the center.

Couples counseling is sometimes confused with other services too. Here are the practical differences:

  • Couples Counseling with Dr. Colón
    A space with a professional trained in psychology and couples dynamics to work on communication, connection, and conflict resolution.
  • Spiritual Guidance
    Spiritual or pastoral guidance focuses on faith-based support and differs from evidence-based psychological counseling. Although Dr. Colón is comfortable integrating a couple’s spiritual or religious beliefs into the counseling process when desired by the couple, her services do not constitute theological or pastoral guidance. If appropriate, Dr. Colón may work collaboratively with a pastor, clergy member, or spiritual advisor when requested by the couple.
  • Legal Advice

    Helps with laws, contracts, or court matters. Dr. Colón does not provide evaluations for court use, mediation or custody related services. If a couple she works with ends up needing these services, a referral to a forensic psychologist or professional may be considered not to compromise the objectivity in the process. 

That does not disqualify you from couples counseling. If it becomes clear that individual treatment would help, Dr. Colón may recommend working with an additional provider. With your written consent, she can coordinate with them to support your relationship goals. However, the practice is not responsible for identifying, arranging, or scheduling services with another provider.

No. What couples counseling offers is a professional space for the couple to work on their relationship, with the shared commitment that separation is not the first option during the process.

Cost and Billing Information

90 minutes intake session: $300

75 minutes follow up session: $250

Dr. Colón is not paneled with insurance companies in Florida, and services are generally provided on a private-pay basis. However, she may be in-network with certain Capital Blue Cross or Highmark policies. Please contact your insurance provider directly to verify your specific coverage and benefits.

In accordance with applicable laws and regulations, Dr. Colón is unable to provide private-pay services to individuals who are Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries. If you are a Medicare or Medicaid recipient, you will need to seek services from a provider who participates in those programs. Failure to disclose Medicare or Medicaid beneficiary status may constitute insurance fraud and will result in the immediate termination of services.

No. Dr. Colón does not provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement. To create one, she´d be required to assign a mental health diagnosis and show “medical necessity,” which is not the purpose of couples counseling in this practice.

On the other hand, some Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) or similar benefit plans may allow the use of funds for these services. Please contact your plan administrator directly to verify your eligibility and coverage.

Many couples find it empowering: your records stay private, no diagnosis is placed on your permanent insurance file, and we get to focus fully on your relationship rather than on insurance paperwork or labels. It also lets us focus on your partnership, without turning one partner into “the problem.” And it gives us the freedom to work on the goals that matter most to you, without being boxed in by insurance rules.

Yes. Some couples prefer to prepay for a package of 10 sessions at a reduced rate. When choosing this option, you receive a 10% discount, bringing the total to $2,295 instead of $2,550. Other couples prefer to pay for sessions individually as they go. Both options are available—it’s entirely up to you.

Every couple’s journey is different, but research and clinical experience show that around 10 sessions is often a good average for making early progress. Some couples may need fewer, others may continue longer, but 10 sessions can provide a foundational starting point.

No problem. You’ll get a refund for the unused sessions. Here’s how it works:

  • If you don’t complete all 10 sessions, the ones you did attend will be charged at the regular rate (not the discounted rate).

     

  • The rest will be refunded.

 

Both options are equally valid — the right choice depends on what feels best for you as a couple:

  • Prepaying for 10 sessions
     Pros:
     • Can feel like a helpful commitment to your goals as a couple.
     • Locks in a reduced per-session rate if you complete all 10 sessions.
     • Convenient — fewer payments to think about.
     • Based on research, 10 sessions is a reasonable starting point for couples to notice progress.
     Cons:
     • Larger upfront investment.
     • If you stop early, the refund is prorated using the standard rate, so the discount only applies if you complete the package.

  • Paying one session at a time
     Pros:
     • Full flexibility — no upfront commitment.
     • Easy to adjust if your needs or schedule change.
     Cons:
     • Each session is at the standard rate.
     • Some couples find it easier to postpone or pause when there isn’t a prepaid plan encouraging them to stick with a steady rhythm.

The key point: Both options give you full control. You are free to choose whichever payment style feels most comfortable and supportive for your relationship.

The Couples Counseling Process

Every couple is different. Some notice changes within a few weeks, while others choose to continue for several months to consolidate progress.

The first session with Dr. Colón lasts 90 minutes to gain a full understanding of the couple’s history and needs. Follow-up sessions last 75 minutes. Most couples attend weekly, though frequency can be adjusted to fit your needs.

Yes. All sessions take place virtually, offering flexibility and accessibility regardless of location.

Sessions focus on the couple’s current challenges and goals. Dr. Colón is directive and objective:

  • Directive means working with a clear agenda based on the goals established in the first sessions, avoiding going in too many directions at once.
  • Objective means that although she may sometimes point out “in this instance I believe Partner A or Partner B has a valid point”, her goal is not to side with one partner against the other, but to help both understand each other’s perspective without judgment.

Sessions do not allow arguments or disrespect. Work focuses on one central issue at a time, avoiding getting stuck in minute details of “who said what.” The emphasis is on solutions and strengthening the relationship.

Ensure a stable internet connection (ideally wired), have a backup plan like a hotspot, keep your device fully charged or plugged in, and choose a private space free from interruptions.

Improved communication, constructive conflict resolution, restored emotional connection, and strengthened mutual commitment. The goal is for couples to feel more united and better able to face challenges together.

Counseling Model and Approach

Dr. Colón’s work is based primarily on the Differentiation Model by Ellyn Bader, which helps each partner maintain their individuality while also building a stronger, closer relationship. In simple terms: learning to be “two whole individuals” who choose to be together, instead of losing yourself in your partner or pulling away to avoid conflict.

Dr. Colón is also trained in:

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): helpful when one or both partners have experienced trauma such as abuse, accidents, loss, or violence.

DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy): especially useful when one or both partners need help regulating intense emotions, such as impulsivity, anger, or difficulty calming down during arguments.

Absolutely! Dr. Colón considers each couple’s cultural context, language, and unique circumstances so therapy is meaningful and respectful.

Confidentiality and Ethics

Yes. Everything shared in session with Dr. Colón is kept strictly confidential. The only exceptions, required by law, are situations involving imminent risk of harm to yourself or others, or suspected abuse of minors, older adults, or other vulnerable individuals. In those cases, reports are made to the appropriate authorities (such as Children and Youth Services, the Emergency Department, Adult Protective Services, or the police). These measures are taken solely to ensure safety.

While couples counseling may occasionally include individual sessions to address specific concerns, making this a routine practice is not effective, as the main goal is to protect the joint process. If one partner misses a session without a prior agreement that it would be used as an individual meeting, the session will be rescheduled and charged in full if notice was given with less than 24 hours.

Handling secrets in couples counseling is problematic: it risks the therapist forgetting what was private and can create alliances with one partner, threatening loyalty to the couple as a whole.

This does not mean that if something sensitive arises in an individual session, it must be disclosed immediately in the next joint session. Instead, the focus will be on preparing the couple to process the information together in a constructive way.