A sigh, a pause, or a sharp tone can change a conversation fast. PACT couples therapy helps you and your partner notice these moments and practice helping each other feel at ease. Meet at our Scottsdale office or ask about secure video with select therapists in Arizona, New York, or Hawaii.
Partners don’t always come across the way they mean to, especially when emotions run high. Couples look into PACT for different reasons, from feeling stuck to wanting to stay close as life gets busier.
PACT stands for the Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy. In plain terms, it helps partners notice how they react to each other in the moment and practice helping each other feel at ease.
For an overview of all our couples work, see our couples therapy page. Start with a free 15-minute call, and only one of you needs to be on it.
Couples have been coming to our East Shea Boulevard office in Scottsdale since 2012. If meeting in person is hard, select therapists can see you by secure video in Arizona, New York, or Hawaii.
Stan Tatkin, PsyD, developed PACT. It draws on research about how people form close bonds and how the body reacts to stress.
In PACT, your therapist pays close attention to what happens between you and your partner in the room. That includes your words, along with facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language. The work often focuses on a few ideas.
Couples come to PACT at different points in their relationship. These are a few situations we see, and yours may look different.
You may notice that a sigh or a short reply can change the mood quickly. One of you may get louder while the other goes quiet.
In visits, your therapist may slow these moments down and point out what each of you noticed first. Then you try the conversation again, paying attention to how your partner responds.
Some people seek comfort from their partner when they’re upset. Others need space first. When those two styles meet, both people can end up feeling alone.
PACT looks at how each of you learned to handle closeness and distance. Your therapist may ask about your early relationships to understand these patterns.
An affair or another breach of trust can leave both partners hurt and unsure of the next step. Whether to stay together is a decision you can make later, with support.
Your therapist talks through what happened with both of you, at a pace you agree on. PACT also looks at how each of you responds to the hurt, which may connect to earlier experiences.
Some couples come to PACT while things are good. They want to understand each other’s reactions before small problems grow. Engaged couples may also use PACT to get to know each other’s patterns before marriage.
In the first visit, your therapist gets to know you both. Each of you can share what brought you in and what you’d like to be different. Like all of our couples visits, it lasts 75 minutes.
Your therapist may also ask how you met and what relationships were like in your families growing up. Some couples find these questions surprising at first. They help your therapist understand how each of you learned to handle closeness.
In later visits, the two of you may talk about a real issue while your therapist watches closely. When a conversation starts to get tense, your therapist may pause it and point out what just happened. Then you can try again in a different way.
PACT visits are often active. You may spend more time talking with each other than talking to your therapist.
One partner is often more ready to start than the other. Your partner may wonder what PACT involves, or worry about being put on the spot.
You can start with the free call on your own. Tell us how your partner feels about coming in, and we’ll talk through next steps, which may include individual support for you.
The choice of therapist is yours. Visit our team page to see who uses PACT and read about their training.
PACT training happens in levels through the PACT Institute. You’re welcome to ask about your therapist’s level on the free call.
Both partners should feel at ease with your therapist. If either of you doesn’t, let us know, and we’ll help you look at other options.
Video visits work only when both partners are in a state where your therapist can provide care. PACT relies on seeing faces and body language, so sitting side by side in front of one camera may help.
If you’re afraid of your partner’s reaction, speak with us in private before booking a joint visit. When there is abuse, threats, or control, meeting together may not be safe. We can discuss support for your own needs and safety.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is also available at 1-800-799-7233, and if you’re in danger right now, call 911.
Every couples visit is 75 minutes, including the first. Each visit costs $285 to $490, based on your therapist.
Our office is open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 7 PM, and Saturday, 9 AM to 4 PM. Ask us about your therapist’s hours.
You’ll find us at 8414 E. Shea Blvd., Suite 101, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Select therapists also offer secure video visits for couples in Arizona, New York, or Hawaii.
To book, schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation, call (480) 639-5559, or text 480-794-0890. For more details, see our fees page and FAQ page.
PACT stands for the Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy. “Psychobiological” means it looks at both the mind and the body, including how stress shows up in your face, voice, and breathing.
The two approaches share a goal of helping partners understand each other, and some therapists use both. PACT pays close attention to how you respond to each other in the moment. The Gottman Method often includes structured skills to practice between visits.
PACT is newer than some couples approaches, and research on it is still growing. Your therapist will talk with you about whether it fits your goals and check in on how it’s going.
You may be asked to talk about a real disagreement during a visit. Your therapist guides the conversation and can pause it at any time, and you can ask to slow down.
Most PACT visits include both partners, since the work centers on how you respond to each other. Your therapist will explain how privacy works before any one-on-one time.
Some couples come for a few months to work on one pattern. Others stay longer, for example after a break in trust. You and your therapist will review progress and decide how often to meet.
Online visits may be available with select therapists in Arizona, New York, or Hawaii. Tell us where each of you will be during the visit. We’ll check that your therapist can see both of you in those locations.
Your therapist will explain what stays private and when safety concerns or the law may require them to share information. If you plan to share something one-on-one, ask about this first.
Couples visits start at $285 for 75 minutes. Your exact fee depends on the therapist you choose, and we’ll confirm it before you book.
We do not accept insurance. You pay us directly for your care. We can give you a special receipt called a superbill. You can send it to your insurance plan to ask if it will pay back part of the cost. Check with your plan first. Not all plans cover couples therapy.
Book a Free 15-Minute Phone Consultation
Or call (480) 639-5559, or text 480-794-0890
We offer scheduled therapy visits. We do not provide emergency care. If you’re thinking about suicide, call or text 988. If you’re in danger, call 911.
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