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Best Couples Therapists in East Providence, RI (2026)

129 couples therapists ranked by RP ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →

The short answer

  1. 1

    Best overall in East Providence: Paula M. Smith, Ph.D., LMFT-A, M.Div., RP Score 73/100; 4.3★ from 13 Google reviews; open 7 days a week.

  2. 4

    Most-reviewed: LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Providence, 171 Google reviews at 4.5★, the most of 129 ranked; ranked #4.

Rankings can't be bought. Psychologists can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank

129 East Providence couples therapists are ranked here by RP Score, from eight published factors. 75 open Saturdays and 39 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 5.0★ across 129 rated practices.

Most of this list also appears on the Couples therapists in Providence ranking. See Couples therapists in Providence

Top 10 couples therapists in East Providence at a glance

Ranked by the RP Score from public listing data, not by treatment outcomes; Sponsored placements are shown separately and never change rank.

Top 10 couples therapists in East Providence at a glance
RankBusinessRP ScoreGoogle ratingBased inHoursBest for
1Paula M. Smith, Ph.D., LMFT-A, M.Div.734.3★ (13)Pawtucket, 4 mi awaySat · Sun · EveningsOverall
2Yael Bat-Shimon, LMHC, Certified Imago Therapist695.0★ (8)Pawtucket, 4 mi awaySat · Evenings—
3The Center For Growth, Inc / Therapy in Providence665.0★ (15)Providence, 2 mi awaySat · Sun · Evenings—
4LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Providence654.5★ (171)Providence, 1 mi awaySat · SunMost reviews
5Rafael Torres, Psychiatrist645.0★ (34)Providence, 1 mi awaySat · Sun—
6Corey Potter, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner645.0★ (28)Providence, 1 mi awaySat · Sun—
7Thriveworks Counseling & Therapy Providence634.7★ (81)Providence, 3 mi awaySat · Sun · Evenings—
8Fatih Kokdere, Psychiatrist635.0★ (15)Providence, 1 mi awaySat · Sun—
9ME Psychotherapy, LLC634.5★ (22)Providence, 2 mi awaySat · Sun · Evenings—
10Cassandra Pierre, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner625.0★ (7)Providence, 1 mi awaySat · Sun—

The 129 best couples therapists in East Providence, ranked

Ordered by RP Score, a 0–100 score from eight published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.

Ranked by the RP Score from public listing data, not by treatment outcomes; Sponsored placements are shown separately and never change rank.

Scores below: based on 7 of 8 factors; recency not yet collected. Hatched segments mark factors we don't have yet.

  1. Ranked #1 in East Providence

    #1 Paula M. Smith, Ph.D., LMFT-A, M.Div.

    Based in Pawtucket, 4 mi away

    73/100RP Score

    Ranked #1 because of specialty focus and its Google rating: listed on Google as “Marriage or relationship counselor”, 4.3★ from 13 Google reviews.

    • 4.3★ from 13 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon 9 AM–8 PM · Tue 9 AM–6 PM · Wed–Thu 9 AM–8 PM · Fri 9 AM–6 PM · Sat–Sun 9 AM–5 PM
    Address
    1005 Main St #1208, Pawtucket, RI 02860
    View profile for Paula M. Smith, Ph.D., LMFT-A, M.Div.(401) 782-7899

  21. #21 401 Counseling, LLC

    Based in Providence, 2 mi away

    61/100RP Score

    Ranked #21 because of its Google rating and proximity: 5.0★ from 130 Google reviews, 2 mi from East Providence.

    • 5.0★ from 130 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Thu 9 AM–9 PM · Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    295 Angell St, Providence, RI 02906
    View profile for 401 Counseling, LLC(401) 428-5765

  23. #23 Becc Nelson, LMFT

    Based in Cumberland, 13 mi away

    59/100RP Score

    Ranked #23 because of specialty focus and its Google rating: listed on Google as “Marriage or relationship counselor”, 4.7★ from 10 Google reviews.

    • 4.7★ from 10 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Thu 11 AM–5 PM · Fri–Sun closed
    Address
    9 Old W Wrentham Rd, Cumberland, RI 02864
    View profile for Becc Nelson, LMFT(401) 721-5228

How we ranked East Providence couples therapists

We scored 129 East Providence couples therapists on eight factors, weighted as shown. A practice is ranked when its specialty is confirmed and it has 3 or more Google reviews or a claimed profile. A practice with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency. Other unknown factors are left out, not counted as zero. Scores last refreshed November 9, 2026.

Paid placement never changes a rank or score. Sponsored businesses are paid, labelled, limited to 3 and shown above the ranking, outside it.

Read the full method: formula, sources and exclusions

RP Score factors and weights
FactorWeightComputed fromIn East Providence data
Reputation25%Google star rating, adjusted for how many reviews back itMeasured
Review volume5%Number of Google reviews, compared with the most-reviewed practice on the listMeasured
Recency5%Share of Google reviews from the last 12 monthsNot yet collected
Availability10%Weekly open hours, Saturday, Sunday, and round-the-clock or same-day availabilityMeasured
Specialty focus25%How clearly the practice does this specialty (its Google category and name)Measured
Proximity15%Based in the city scores highest, less the farther away it isMeasured
Claimed profile10%The practice has claimed its Ranked Psychologists profile (free or paid earn the same)Measured
Partnered5%The practice links to Ranked Psychologists from its own website with our badge, checked periodicallyMeasured

How to choose a couples therapist

  1. Check the license with the state or provincial board that issued it; most boards publish a free online lookup.
  2. Make sure couples and marriage counseling is a regular part of their work, and ask what approach they use and why.
  3. Ask what training they have in couples work specifically (for example the Gottman Method or Emotionally Focused Therapy).
  4. Ask about fees, insurance and the cancellation policy before the first session. In the US, if you are uninsured or paying yourself, you can ask for a good faith estimate of expected charges.
  5. Check practical fit: in-person or online sessions, evening times, and how soon they have an opening.
  6. After a few sessions, ask yourself whether you feel heard. Changing to a different provider is common and fine.

Questions to ask a couples therapist

  • Are you accepting new clients, and how soon could I start?
  • Which license do you hold, and in which state or province?
  • How much of your work is couples and marriage counseling?
  • Do you also see each partner on their own?
  • What do you charge per session, and do you take my insurance or provide a superbill?
  • Do you offer online sessions?
  • What is your cancellation policy?
  • What do you keep confidential, and when would you have to share information?

Terms explained

PhD / PsyD
Doctoral degrees in psychology. A PhD usually has a stronger research focus, a PsyD a stronger clinical focus; both can lead to a psychologist license.
Licensed psychologist
A person licensed by a state or provincial psychology board to practice psychology. The title is protected by law.
Psychological associate
In some states and provinces, a master’s-level practitioner licensed or registered by the psychology board, often with supervision requirements.
LPC / LMHC / LCPC
US licenses for professional or mental health counselors (the name differs by state). They provide counseling and therapy.
LCSW
Licensed clinical social worker: a master’s-level social worker licensed to provide therapy.
LMFT
Licensed marriage and family therapist: licensed to treat individuals, couples and families with a focus on relationships.
RP / RCC
Registered psychotherapist (Ontario) and registered clinical counsellor (British Columbia): Canadian titles for licensed therapy providers.
PSYPACT
An interstate agreement that lets psychologists licensed in a member state provide telepsychology to clients in other member states once they hold the required authorization.
Telehealth
Sessions held by secure video or phone instead of in person. The provider generally needs to be licensed where the client is located.
CBT
Cognitive behavioral therapy: a structured talk therapy that works on the links between thoughts, feelings and behavior.
DBT
Dialectical behavior therapy: a form of CBT that teaches skills for managing intense emotions and relationships.
ERP
Exposure and response prevention: a form of CBT used for OCD.

Couples therapists in East Providence: frequently asked questions

Who is the best couples therapist in East Providence?

By RP Score, the highest-ranked couples therapist in East Providence, RI is Paula M. Smith, Ph.D., LMFT-A, M.Div. with an RP Score of 73/100. It has 4.3★ from 13 Google reviews. It is open 7 days a week. Yael Bat-Shimon, LMHC, Certified Imago Therapist (#2) and The Center For Growth, Inc / Therapy in Providence (#3) follow. We ranked 129 couples therapists on eight factors, last updated November 9, 2026.

How many couples therapists are there in East Providence?

RankedPsychologists ranks 129 couples therapists serving East Providence, RI. Counts are as of November 2026.

What should I do if I need help right now?

In crisis or thinking about suicide? Call or text 988 (US and Canada), any time. In an emergency, call 911. This site cannot help in an emergency.

Which couples therapists in East Providence work on weekends?

75 of 129 ranked couples therapists post Saturday hours and 39 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are Paula M. Smith, Ph.D., LMFT-A, M.Div. (#1), Yael Bat-Shimon, LMHC, Certified Imago Therapist (#2) and The Center For Growth, Inc / Therapy in Providence (#3). Posted hours are office hours; many practices also offer evening or online sessions by appointment.

What Google rating do East Providence couples therapists have?

The median Google rating among 129 rated couples therapists in East Providence is 5.0★, with a median of 6 reviews. LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Providence has the most, 171 reviews, and ranks #4. We adjust ratings for review count, so a few five-star reviews cannot top the list.

How does RankedPsychologists rank couples therapists?

Each couples therapist gets a 0–100 RP Score from eight published factors, led by reputation (25%), specialty focus (25%), proximity (15%) and availability (10%). A practice with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency; other factors we cannot measure are left out. Only practices with a confirmed specialty and 3 or more reviews, or a claimed profile, are ranked.

Do couples therapists outside East Providence count in this ranking?

Yes, if they are within 20 mi of the East Providence city center, our service radius for couples therapists. Each listing shows where the practice is based and how far away it is. Proximity is 15% of the RP Score, so a nearby practice gets a small edge.

Can couples therapists pay to rank higher on RankedPsychologists?

No. The RP Score never reads payment status, and this ranking has 0 paid placements. Up to 3 Featured practices may appear above the list, labelled Sponsored and showing their honest rank.

How are couples therapists in East Providence ranked?

Each practice gets an RP Score from 0 to 100 from 8 published factors, including its Google rating, how clearly it focuses on couples and marriage counseling and how close it is. Sponsored placements are shown separately and never change rank. The score does not measure treatment outcomes.

Do both partners need to come to couples therapy?

Most couples therapists prefer to see both partners, at least at first, but many will start with one. Ask how they handle individual sessions. If there is violence or fear in the relationship, tell the therapist privately; many do not offer joint sessions in that situation.

Can I see a couples therapist online?

Often, yes. Licensing generally follows where you are during the session, so the provider needs to be licensed or authorized there. In the US, psychologists in PSYPACT member states can offer telepsychology to clients in other member states; counselors and social workers have their own rules. In Canada, ask whether the provider is registered in your province.

What if I need help right now?

Do not wait for a consultation. Call or text 988 (US and Canada) if you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, at any time. In an emergency, call 911.

Update log for East Providence

  1. November 2026: RP Scores recalculated for 129 couples therapists serving East Providence.

More couples therapists and East Providence pages