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.
Couples therapists help partners with communication problems, frequent arguments, infidelity, crises or decisions about the future of the relationship. Sessions are usually joint, sometimes combined with individual ones.
Getting mental health care in Luxembourg
Public health system · Caisse nationale de santé (CNS)
Psychiatric care by doctors is reimbursed by the CNS, and since 1 February 2023 psychotherapy by authorised psychotherapists is reimbursed at 70% for adults on a fixed tariff. Hospital psychiatric departments and outpatient services are also part of the public system. More information
How to check that a professional is licensed
- Ministry of Health and Social Security (with the Collège médical). The title of psychotherapist is protected by the law of 14 July 2015; practice requires ministerial authorisation, and psychotherapists are listed in the ministry's professional register and the Collège médical's register.
- Ministry of Higher Education and Research. The title of psychologist is protected by law and requires authorisation to use it.
- Collège médical / Ministry of Health and Social Security. Psychiatrists are doctors who must be authorised to practise and registered with the Collège médical.
Typical private fees
- Session with a psychologist
- €144 – €148
Official CNS psychotherapy tariff for a 50-60 minute session set in 2023 (144 EUR, indexed to about 147.60 EUR); not a survey of private fees. Sources
Insurance and coverage
The CNS reimburses 70% of the official psychotherapy tariff for adults when the therapist is an authorised psychotherapist; supplementary insurers may cover part of the rest.
Urgent help in Luxembourg
If your life or someone else's is in danger, call the emergency number now. These services can help at any time:
- 112 · Emergencias
- 45 45 45 · SOS Détresse
Information reviewed in November 2026 · Sources: guichet.public.lu, gouvernement.lu, cns.public.lu
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 couples therapist do?
A couples therapist helps two people understand and improve their relationship. Day to day they work with couples on communication, recurring arguments, trust after infidelity, intimacy, life transitions such as parenthood or retirement, and decisions about continuing or separating. They stay neutral, make room for both perspectives, and teach practical skills to talk, listen and repair after conflict.
When to see a couples therapist
Couples therapy makes sense when arguments repeat without resolution, you feel distant or misunderstood, trust has been damaged, sexual or emotional intimacy has changed, or you face a big decision together. It also helps couples who want to separate respectfully. If there is violence, control or fear in the relationship, couples therapy is not appropriate; individual support and safety come first.
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 Luxembourg cover psychological care?
Psychiatric care by doctors is reimbursed by the CNS, and since 1 February 2023 psychotherapy by authorised psychotherapists is reimbursed at 70% for adults on a fixed tariff. Hospital psychiatric departments and outpatient services are also part of the public system.
How do I check that a couples therapist is licensed in Luxembourg?
Ministry of Health and Social Security (with the Collège médical): The title of psychotherapist is protected by the law of 14 July 2015; practice requires ministerial authorisation, and psychotherapists are listed in the ministry's professional register and the Collège médical's register.
How much does a session with a psychologist cost in Luxembourg?
Usually between €144 and €148 per individual session in private practice. Official CNS psychotherapy tariff for a 50-60 minute session set in 2023 (144 EUR, indexed to about 147.60 EUR); not a survey of private fees.