Welcome to the Maine Relationship Institute
Couples and Individual Therapy in Belfast, Maine Using the Crucible® Approach
Creating Connections Across Maine
What Is The Maine Relationship Institute
The Maine Relationship Institute is a Belfast, Maine couples and individual therapy practice, founded by Ben Borkan, LCSW, using the Crucible® approach and Gestalt Therapy.
Sessions serve adults and couples in Maine, plus in-person and online clients in surrounding areas, who want relational growth rather than crisis care.
Our Differentiator
Emotionally Focused Therapy reshapes attachment bonds between partners, whereas the Crucible® approach, developed by Dr. David Schnarch and used at MRI, centers on differentiation- each partner's capacity to hold onto their own self while staying emotionally connected during conflict and intimacy.
Ben Borkan, LCSW, leads every session, applying Schnarch's published framework and its 'Positive Moments of Meeting' concept.
When you are ready, schedule a couples or individual appointment on the scheduling page. We also offer complimentary 15-minute consultations.
Experience The Profound Impact of Counseling
Experience Growth
Meet Benjamin Borkan, Founder & Therapist of The Maine Relationship Institute. Watch the video.
Should I Choose Couples Therapy or Individual Therapy at MRI?
Explore Collaborative Couples Therapy
Create Deeper Connection
Choose couples therapy to work on the relationship together, or individual therapy to work on your own patterns and how you show up in relationships.
This guidance fits adults and couples in Maine or online who are paying out-of-pocket and want relational growth, not crisis stabilization.
Partners who feel disconnected, disagree on parenting, or want more fulfilling sexual intimacy and can attend together are usually best served by the couples track.
Investigate the Self with Individuals Counseling
See Your Place in Relationship
Adults exploring family-of-origin patterns, communication breakdowns, or self-differentiation, whether or not a partner is willing to join, are usually best served by the individual track.
About Ben Borkan, MRI Founder & Therapist
Your Guide
Ben Borkan, LCSW, MRI founder, leads both couple and individual counseling tracks using the Crucible® approach and Gestalt Therapy.
The Crucible® approach centers on differentiation and longer-term growth, so expect ongoing work rather than a brief communication fix. Schedule the track that fits on the couples or individual therapy scheduling page.
We offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation to help you gain clarity.
Parenting
Do you and your partner want to get on the same page parenting your kids, but it’s not working?
Connection
Do you feel disconnected from your partner?
Do you feel like you’ve tried everything to reignite the spark, but aren’t experiencing success?
Sex/Intimacy
Are you seeking more fulfilling sex with your partner?
Does the Maine Relationship Institute Accept Insurance?
The Maine Relationship Institute is a private-pay therapy practice and does not accept health insurance for individual or couples therapy.
Clients pay for sessions directly, which keeps the therapeutic work focused on your goals rather than insurance requirements or limitations.
If your health insurance plan offers out-of-network mental health benefits, MRI can provide a superbill that you may submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.
Because coverage varies by plan, clients should contact their insurance provider directly to understand their out-of-network benefits and reimbursement requirements.
Where Are Sessions Held and Who Leads Them?
Sessions with the Maine Relationship Institute are offered in person at the Belfast, Maine, office or online, depending on the client’s preference and circumstances.
Ben Borkan, founder of the Maine Relationship Institute, leads all individual and couples therapy sessions. This provides continuity throughout the therapeutic process, whether clients choose to meet in person in Belfast or through secure online therapy from another location where Ben is licensed.
Who Our Therapy Is and Isn't Right For
The Maine Relationship Institute is best suited for individuals and couples ready to look beyond a quick fix and engage in deeper personal and relationship growth.
MRI's Crucible Therapy and Gestalt Therapy approaches differ from many conventional, skills-based forms of couples counseling. MRI focuses on communication and conflict resolution and helps each person develop greater self-awareness, emotional resilience, differentiation, and capacity for intimacy.
Because this work is intentionally in-depth and individualized, MRI is a private-pay practice and does not accept insurance, though a superbill may be provided for clients with out-of-network benefits.
This approach is not intended for crisis intervention, immediate short-term problem solving, or situations where one or both partners are unwilling to engage honestly in their own growth; instead, we design our work for people willing to invest time, attention, and personal effort in creating meaningful, lasting change.
Relationship Advice
How The MRI Approach Differs from Other Modalities
Emotionally Focused Therapy centers on couples' work to identify and reshape the attachment-based emotional bonds between partners.
The Maine Relationship Institute uses the Crucible® approach developed by Dr. David Schnarch, which centers on differentiation, each partner's capacity to hold onto their own self and self-soothe while staying emotionally connected during conflict and intimacy.
Differentiation work is longer and more demanding than reassurance-focused approaches, which often lead to resentment when partners don't take responsibility for their own regulation. The MR practice is also out-of-pocket rather than in-network, so it isn't the right fit for shoppers seeking short-term or insurance-covered care.