About couples therapy
Couples therapy helps partners improve communication, handle conflict, rebuild trust after a crisis or make decisions together, including separation. Sessions are usually joint, sometimes with individual meetings. It is not about deciding who is right but about understanding the patterns between you.
Psychologists assess and treat emotional, behavioural and relationship difficulties through psychological therapy. They do not prescribe medication. In many countries clinical practice requires a specific qualification and registration with a licensing body, which Therapy247 checks.
Getting mental health care in the Gambia
Public health system · Ministry of Health public health services
The country has one psychiatric hospital, Tanka Tanka (inpatient and outpatient), and one psychiatric outpatient clinic, both in and around the capital. A community mental health team visits health facilities in rural areas on a schedule. Services are scarce, and patients may have to buy medication themselves.
How to check that a professional is licensed
- Medical and Dental Council of The Gambia. The Medical and Dental Practitioners Act established the Council, which registers and disciplines medical and dental practitioners. Ask a psychiatrist for their Council registration.
Urgent help in the Gambia
If your life or someone else's is in danger, call the emergency number now. These services can help at any time:
- 116 · Ambulance
Information reviewed in November 2026 · Sources: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, extranet.who.int
Signs to look out for
All couples argue. It may be time to seek help when the same arguments repeat without resolution, conversations quickly turn into criticism or silence, you feel lonely within the relationship, affection or sex have faded and that worries you, trust has been broken, or a big change such as a baby, illness or a move has unbalanced things. Considering separation is also a reason to talk.
What helps: treatments and professionals
Couples therapy approaches with good evidence include emotionally focused therapy, integrative behavioural couple therapy, cognitive-behavioural couples therapy and the Gottman method. Couples therapists, psychologists and psychotherapists with couples training usually lead the work, and a sex therapist can help when sexual concerns are central. Therapy can help couples reconnect, or separate with less damage, especially when children are involved.
When to seek urgent help
If there is physical violence, threats, sexual coercion, or you feel afraid of your partner, your safety comes first: contact your local emergency services if you are in immediate danger, and seek specialised support for domestic violence. Couples therapy is not recommended in these situations. Seek urgent help too if anyone has thoughts of suicide or harming others.
What you can do in the meantime
Choose calm moments to talk about difficult topics, rather than in the middle of an argument. Try to describe how you feel and what you need, instead of criticising. Take a break if things escalate and agree to come back to it. Make time for small moments of connection. Reading reliable information on relationships together can also open useful conversations.
What does a psychologist do?
A psychologist spends most of the working day talking with people about what worries them and helping them change it. That includes assessing the difficulty, agreeing goals, and using structured psychological techniques in sessions with adults, teenagers, children, couples or families. Between sessions they prepare materials, write notes, and sometimes coordinate with doctors, schools or other professionals, always with your consent.
When to see a psychologist
It makes sense to see a psychologist when anxiety, low mood, stress, relationship problems, a loss or a difficult change start to affect your sleep, work or relationships, or when you simply want to understand yourself better. If symptoms are very severe, you may need medication, or there are signs of a medical cause, a psychiatrist or your doctor should be involved too.
How to choose
When choosing, check the licence and training, the approach they use and whether they have experience with what you need. Consider practical aspects too: language, price, location or online sessions and availability. The relationship with the professional matters a great deal; if after a few sessions it does not feel right, it is fine to change.
Frequently asked questions
Does the public health system in the Gambia cover psychological care?
The country has one psychiatric hospital, Tanka Tanka (inpatient and outpatient), and one psychiatric outpatient clinic, both in and around the capital. A community mental health team visits health facilities in rural areas on a schedule. Services are scarce, and patients may have to buy medication themselves.
How do I check that a psychologist is licensed in the Gambia?
Medical and Dental Council of The Gambia: The Medical and Dental Practitioners Act established the Council, which registers and disciplines medical and dental practitioners. Ask a psychiatrist for their Council registration.