Couples counseling, also known as marital therapy or relationship therapy, is a specialized type of therapy that targets marital couples or couples in romantic relationships. Couples counseling often follows many of the theories and interventions of family therapy models, helping couples problem-solve, improve communication, and target other areas of concern that lead to dissatisfaction and discord in the relationship. A couples or marital therapist who is trained in these types of interventions guides the couple in identifying their needs and presenting concerns and then helps the couple to develop a greater understanding of one another and of areas of deficit in the relationship. Many couples seek couples therapy in order to improve one or more areas of concern or if there are more advanced or serious issues in the relationship, such as one or both partners considering separation or divorce.