Acute couples therapy Copenhagen
Immediate support when your relationship is in crisis
Stabilise conflict, regain clarity and find your next step
Meet Mark
In this video, I explain how I work with couples when a relationship has reached crisis point. My first priority is to help you both slow things down and regain enough stability to think clearly.
I take an active role in acute sessions. I will help you understand what is happening between you, interrupt patterns that are making the crisis worse and establish what needs to happen next.
You can also send me an email
At a glance
Acute couples therapy gives you immediate, focused support when conflict or a relationship crisis has become too difficult to manage together.
I will help you slow the situation down, understand what is driving the conflict and make sure you both have room to speak and be heard.
The immediate goal is stability and clarity. From there, we can decide what needs attention now and what the next step should be for your relationship.
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An experienced psychotherapist offering psychotherapy and EFT couples therapy in Copenhagen
I am a certified psychotherapist (M.A.), the highest professional level recognised in both Denmark and England, and I work from my private practice in central Copenhagen as well as online.
For more than twenty years, I have worked with individuals, couples, and families across multiple countries and cultural contexts. My work integrates depth-oriented psychotherapy with a calm, grounded Danish presence.
Alongside my clinical practice, I have continued advanced training in couples therapy, supervision, and relational work. I am recently completed Master Class Further Training in Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT therapy) for couples.
The importance of supervision
Good therapy begins with good supervision
I regularly meet with experienced senior psychotherapists in Denmark and abroad to reflect on my work, challenge my thinking, and continue developing my skills. This ongoing process supports the quality of my individual, couples, and family therapy, helping me offer thoughtful, ethical, and effective care.
My focus is simple: excellence, integrity, and impact.
Connect with me:
If you want me to call you ASAP, or if you want to book me, use the buttons below.
You are welcome to get in touch. We can clarify what’s the right therapy for you.
You can also send me an email
Common relationship crises I help couples through
A relationship crisis can arrive suddenly after an argument, betrayal or painful discovery. It can also build slowly until you realise that the way you have been coping simply is not working anymore. You may be fighting constantly, barely speaking, questioning the relationship or trying to make major decisions while both of you are emotionally overwhelmed.
You do not need to solve the crisis before coming to therapy. Bring me what is happening now. We will work out what needs immediate attention, what is driving the pattern between you and what can help you regain enough stability to make clearer decisions.
When communication keeps breaking down
You may both be trying desperately to be understood and somehow making things worse. One of you pushes harder, the other becomes defensive or withdraws, and before long you are arguing about the argument rather than the thing that originally mattered.
I help you slow that cycle down while it is happening. We look at what each of you is trying to communicate, what the other person is actually hearing and what happens in the moments when you lose contact with each other.
You do not need another conversation that ends exactly like the last one. We work towards communication that is clearer, safer and actually gets you somewhere.
When emotional overload dominates
In sessions, I have often seen that sometimes the problem is not that you do not care about each other, but that you care so much that your nervous systems are constantly on alert.
One look, one sentence or a small disagreement can trigger anger, panic, defensiveness or shutdown before either of you has time to think.
Acute couples therapy creates enough space to bring the intensity down. We identify what triggers the escalation, how each of you reacts and what can help you interrupt the pattern before another conversation goes over the edge.
The first goal is not to fix your entire relationship. It is to stop the crisis from running the relationship so you can think, speak and listen again.
When trust has been shaken
A betrayal, lie, discovery or broken agreement can change the emotional landscape of a relationship almost overnight. The injured partner may need answers and reassurance while the other feels overwhelmed, ashamed, defensive or unsure how to repair what has happened.
We do not rush towards forgiveness, and we do not pretend trust can be restored because somebody says sorry. First, we make room for what happened, understand its impact and establish what each of you needs if there is going to be a meaningful way forward.
You do not have to know today whether trust can be rebuilt. You need enough clarity to determine whether there is something here that can genuinely be worked with.
When one of you is pulling away
One partner may be asking for space, becoming quieter or saying they cannot keep doing this. The other may respond by reaching harder for reassurance, answers or commitment. The more one person pursues, the more the other retreats — and suddenly both of you feel trapped.
I help you understand what is happening underneath that push-and-pull. Withdrawal does not always mean somebody has stopped caring, just as pursuing does not necessarily mean somebody is demanding too much. Both can be attempts to manage fear, hurt and uncertainty.
Do not wait until the only conversation left is about ending the relationship. If there is still enough willingness to come into the room together, there is something useful for us to work with.
When you are exhausted by the relationship
You may still love each other and be completely exhausted by what the relationship has become. Perhaps every day involves managing tension, anticipating the next argument or recovering from the last one. Eventually even small problems can feel enormous because neither of you has much left.
That exhaustion matters. When couples have been under pressure for long enough, they often stop responding to each other as partners and start responding to the threat of the next conflict. We work on reducing that pressure and understanding the cycle that keeps recreating it.
If the immediate crisis settles and you discover that the relationship needs deeper work, couples therapy Copenhagen can give you the space to work on the underlying patterns rather than repeatedly managing the next emergency.
When you do not know whether to stay together
You may love each other and still seriously question whether the relationship should continue. One of you may want to repair things while the other is unsure. Or both of you may be moving backwards and forwards between hope and wanting out.
Therapy is not a campaign to keep you together. My job is to help you get underneath the panic, anger and exhaustion so you can understand what has happened, what would actually have to change and whether both of you are willing and able to do that work.
You do not need to make one of the biggest decisions of your life while your relationship is on fire.
Get help now. Slow the crisis down, get clear about what you are dealing with and then decide what comes next.
When acute couples therapy may help
When you need support now
Sometimes a relationship reaches a point where waiting feels difficult. Arguments may be escalating, one of you may have withdrawn, or something may have happened that has suddenly changed how safe or certain the relationship feels.
Acute couples therapy gives you a focused space to slow the situation down. We begin with what is most urgent, create enough stability to think more clearly and work out what needs your attention first.
What a relationship crisis can feel like
A relationship crisis does not always look dramatic from the outside. You may still be functioning normally while privately feeling that something between you has become increasingly difficult to manage.
Common experiences include:
- repeated arguments that never seem to resolve
- feeling unheard, criticised or misunderstood
- one partner withdrawing while the other pushes for answers
- a sudden or painful loss of trust
- feeling emotionally exhausted by the relationship
- not knowing whether or how the relationship can move forward
These experiences do not necessarily mean that your relationship is ending. They do mean that the way you are currently trying to manage the situation may no longer be working, and that slowing things down together can help
When communication keeps breaking down
You may both be trying very hard to explain yourselves and still leave conversations feeling unheard. The harder one person tries to get through, the more defensive, angry or withdrawn the other can become.
In the session, we slow those exchanges down and look at what is actually happening between you. The aim is not simply to communicate more, but to understand why communication is breaking down and create a different way of responding to each other.
When trust has been shaken
Trust can change quickly after a betrayal, discovery, broken agreement or something that makes you question what you believed about your relationship. You may find yourself searching for reassurance while simultaneously struggling to believe it.
We do not need to decide immediately whether trust can or should be rebuilt. First, we make room for what has happened, understand its impact on both of you and identify what would need to happen for greater clarity and stability to become possible.
When only one partner can attend
Sometimes only one partner is able or ready to come to therapy. That does not mean there is nothing useful we can do. I often use the session to understand the crisis, your position within it and hear about the responses that may be keeping you stuck.
Working alone does not replace couples therapy, and we cannot do your partner’s part of the work for them. But it can help you separate what belongs to you from what does not and make clearer decisions about how you want to respond.
When you are overwhelmed and unsure what comes next
A crisis can leave you pulled in several directions at once. You may love your partner and be furious with them, want closeness and want distance, or move between wanting to repair the relationship and wondering whether you should leave.
You do not have to resolve those contradictions before coming to therapy. We can work with the uncertainty itself, separate immediate emotional reactions from the larger questions facing your relationship and help you find a more considered next step.
Understanding your own reactions during crisis
Your reactions matter too. We look at what happens inside you when conflict escalates, including anger, fear, shutdown, withdrawal or the need to resolve things immediately.
Understanding your own pattern can help you respond with greater choice rather than being pulled automatically into the same cycle.
When anxiety makes you reach too fast
You may feel desperate for closeness. You may chase connection when your partner pulls away.
When frustration makes you withdraw
You may feel angry or hopeless when your partner cannot meet you emotionally.
When mixed feelings create confusion
You may feel torn between wanting closeness and needing protection.
When you are usually secure but pushed beyond your limits
You may feel grounded most of the time but overwhelmed by the mismatch.
Therapy helps you separate your own pattern from your partner’s neurotype so you can take care of yourself with clarity.
Practical details
Booking an acute session
You can book an acute couples therapy session directly through my online calendar. If you would prefer to speak with me first, you can request a free 30-minute discovery call so we can briefly discuss what is happening and whether an acute session is the right next step.
When a relationship is in crisis, waiting a long time for help can make things harder. I therefore offer same-day and short-notice appointments when availability allows, including some evenings and weekends. If the immediate crisis settles but you decide there is more to work through together, you can continue with couples therapy Copenhagen.
Contact between sessions
You are welcome to contact me between appointments when you need to clarify something practical about our work, such as booking, changing an appointment or something we have agreed you should send me.
Therapy itself belongs primarily in our sessions. If something emerges that needs more substantial therapeutic attention, we can decide whether another couples session is appropriate or whether one of you would benefit from separate individual psychotherapy Copenhagen.
What to expect from your first session
I do not need you both to arrive with a shared explanation of what has gone wrong. You may disagree completely about what happened, who is responsible or even what you want from the relationship. We can begin there.
The first session gives us time to understand what has brought you to therapy, reduce some of the immediate intensity and identify what needs attention first. The purpose is not to solve your entire relationship in one meeting, but to leave with greater clarity about what is happening and what your next step should be.
Payment and cancellations
Sessions are prepaid, and you typically pay bank transfer and invoice. Current prices and payment information are available on my pricing page.
If you need to change your appointment, please let me know as early as possible. Cancellations made more than seven days before the session are not charged; cancellations within seven days and non-attendance are charged in full. If cost is part of your decision about continuing therapy, you can also read about the therapy discounts and bundle options I offer.
Online acute couples therapy
Acute couples therapy is available both at my practice in central Copenhagen and online. An online session can be particularly useful when travelling to the practice would delay getting support, when one or both of you are away from Copenhagen, or when meeting remotely simply works better for you.
The therapeutic focus remains the same online: slowing the situation down, understanding what is happening between you and finding a constructive next step. If acute couples therapy is not quite the service you need, you can also explore my wider therapy services in Copenhagen
Confidentiality
What you discuss with me in therapy is confidential. I handle your personal information in accordance with my professional ethical obligations and applicable GDPR and data-protection requirements.
Confidentiality does have specific legal and professional limits, and I will explain these if they become relevant to your situation. If you are uncertain about privacy, record-keeping or how information is handled when working with a couple, you are welcome to ask me before we begin.
Ready to talk?
Request a free 30-minute discovery call. We can briefly discuss what is happening and whether I am the right person to help.
You can also send me an email
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can I book an acute couples therapy session?
I offer acute appointments when availability allows, including some same-day and short-notice sessions. If your relationship is in crisis, book me now and you can see what the earliest appointment is I can offer.
You do not need to wait until you have worked out exactly what is wrong or what you want to do about the relationship. If things feel urgent now, that is enough reason to reach out.
What happens in the first acute couples therapy session?
We begin with what is happening now. I will help you slow the situation down, understand what has brought the relationship to crisis point and identify the pattern that is keeping you stuck.
The aim is not to solve your entire relationship in one meeting. It is to reduce some of the immediate intensity, establish what needs attention first and give you a clearer sense of what should happen next. If deeper work is needed afterwards, you can continue with couples therapy Copenhagen.
Do you offer a free 30-minute call before I book?
Yes. Go ahead and book a free 30-minute discovery call so we can briefly discuss what is happening and whether acute couples therapy is the right place to begin.
There is no expectation that you need to explain your entire relationship during the call. Give me the essential picture, ask what you need to ask, and we can decide whether booking a session makes sense.
Do you offer discounts or voucher cards?
Yes. I offer several ways of reducing the cost of therapy when you expect to attend more than one session, including bundle options and selected discounts.
The available arrangements can change, so rather than burying the details inside individual service pages, I keep the current options together on my therapy discounts and bundle options page.
Can we have acute couples therapy online?
Yes. Acute couples therapy can take place online when travelling to Copenhagen is difficult, when one or both of you are away, or when getting to the practice would unnecessarily delay receiving support.
The therapeutic work remains focused on the same immediate task: slowing the crisis down, understanding what is happening between you and creating enough stability to work out what needs to happen next.
Are acute couples therapy sessions confidential?
Yes. What you discuss with me in therapy is treated confidentially and handled in accordance with my professional ethical obligations and applicable GDPR and data-protection requirements.
Confidentiality has specific professional and legal limits, which I will explain if they become relevant to your situation. The purpose is to create a space where both of you can speak as openly as possible about what is actually happening.
Can we have therapy in English?
Yes. I work in English with international and English-speaking couples in Copenhagen, including couples where English is the shared language rather than either partner’s first language.
You do not need perfect English or psychological vocabulary. What matters is that we can understand each other well enough to work accurately with what is happening between you.
Can I book an evening or weekend session?
Sometimes. I offer evening and weekend appointments when my schedule allows, and short-notice availability can occasionally arise.
If you need help outside normal working hours, contact me rather than assuming there is nothing available. I can tell you what the earliest realistic option is.
Can I come alone if my partner does not want therapy?
Yes. If your partner is unwilling or unable to attend, working individually can still help you understand the relationship crisis, your own responses and what you can realistically influence.
It does not become couples therapy without your partner in the room, and we cannot do their part of the work for them. But individual psychotherapy Copenhagen can help you become clearer about your boundaries, choices and next steps rather than remaining trapped in the crisis.
What if we feel overwhelmed, angry or unsure about staying together?
You do not need to have decided whether you are staying together before coming to acute couples therapy. In fact, trying to make that decision while you are both overwhelmed can make an already difficult situation even harder.
We first create enough space to understand what has happened, reduce the immediate escalation and clarify what each of you actually needs.
You can then make decisions about the future from greater clarity rather than from the worst moment of the crisis.
You can also send me an email
Your journey with me
Your journey is unique, and you won’t walk it alone. Together, we’ll create a safe space to explore, grow, and find your path forward.
STEP 1
Contact
Reach out by phone or email and briefly share what you are looking for.
STEP 2
Connect
We schedule an introductory meeting to understand your needs and goals.
STEP 3
Plan
Together we create a personalized plan tailored to your situation.
STEP 4
Start
Begin your sessions and move forward with guidance and support.
Contact me
Request a personal call
Your journey is unique, and you do not have to walk it alone.
Fill out your contact information and I will call as soon as possible.
Support when you need it most.
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My approach and values
My mission
My mission is to help individuals, couples and families rediscover connection, communicate with understanding, and build a stronger, more loving relationship that can thrive through any challenge.
My vision
My vision is to create a world where every person in my therapy room feels supported, connected, and empowered to grow, and to step one step closer to your Self.
Explore other services I offer
Individual psychotherapy
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