The New York Times examines the the ability of therapists to help couples in the short term and the long run.
Susan Gilbert writes (excerpt):
To be sure, many couples credit counseling with strengthening their marriages. And therapists say that they could save more marriages if couples started therapy before their relationships were in critical condition.
“Couples wait an average of six years of being unhappy with their relationship before getting help,” said Dr. John Gottman, emeritus professor of psychology at the University of Washington and executive director of the Relationship Research Institute in Seattle. “We help the very distressed couples less than the moderately distressed couples.”