Relationship Counselling in Vancouver & Port Moody

Relationship counselling in Vancouver and Port Moody supports all relationships, including romantic partners across relational structures (heteronormative, queer, monogamous, and polyamorous relationships), friendships, and familial relationships. Our approach recognizes that isolation is the biggest common denominator amplifying difficult impacts of mental health concerns, and there aren’t many areas of our lives more impactful to our wellness than our relationships. Through various therapeutic approaches including Transformative Justice, Internal Family Systems, Emotion-Focused Therapy, and the Gottman Method, we help you develop communication skills, build trust, and create relationship tools unique to your personalities and contexts. Sessions can be virtual across BC or in-person at our Vancouver and Port Moody locations.

Throughout the counselling process, your therapist will act as a facilitator, sometimes interrupting harmful dynamics from playing out and encouraging alternative ways of relating to show up. This helps create a safer and more supportive environment for open communication while pointing out dynamics they see in session as you engage with each other. Your relationship counsellor will offer various exercises and techniques tailored to the specific needs of the relationship, such as role-playing and guided discussions, along with relationship tools and strategies for addressing communication issues, managing conflict, and strengthening emotional bonds through activities outside of therapy.

Not at all! Relationship counselling can benefit any partners, friends, or family members seeking to improve communication, deepen their connection, or address specific relational goals, even if no immediate issues are present. In fact, being proactive about how your relationships are developing can help mitigate the possibility of irreparable relational breakdowns and set you up with relationship tools to support each other through whatever might come your way. Many couples, friends, and families use relationship counselling as a preventive measure to strengthen their bonds.

Yes. In cases of active abuse where there are safety concerns involved, especially when folx are living with one another with no alternatives for physical distance during the process, relationship counselling can increase the likelihood of harm. In these situations, we recommend individual counselling processes with counsellors who have specific training and experience. If you are unsure whether or not your relationship constitutes as abusive, please connect with your counsellor who will help guide you through processing your particular situation. 

It depends! Your particular relationship needs and goals, external events occurring in your lives, and how much time you dedicate to the work outside of session changes how long relationship counselling takes. Typically, we see our clients accessing relationship counselling ranging from a few months to over a year. Your therapist will work with you to establish a timeline that fits your situation.

We use several evidence-based approaches including Transformative Justice (addressing harm and conflict without punitive measures), Internal Family Systems (understanding different “parts” within each person and how they interact), Emotion-Focused Therapy (emphasizing emotional connection and attachment), and the Gottman Method (research-based approach focusing on nine components of fulfilling relationships). Our relationship counsellors have specialized training in most, if not all, of these approaches and will tailor the work to your specific needs and goals.

Counselling is always best as a voluntary process because commitment and engagement are such important parts of the work. That being said, it doesn’t mean you can’t share information! In fact, it can make the conversation a whole lot easier when you have a starting point for discussion. 

This is such a common question that we actually made a free guide for you to send directly to the person/people you’re hoping to invite into relationship counselling. Download it here.

Absolutely! Communication issues are one of the most common reasons people seek relationship counselling. We help you develop effective communication skills, learn to express needs and feelings clearly, practice active listening, and break negative communication patterns. Through various exercises and techniques, you’ll learn to communicate in ways that foster understanding, empathy, and connection rather than defensiveness or conflict.

Yes, we provide secure, confidential virtual relationship counselling sessions to clients throughout British Columbia. Virtual sessions can be particularly helpful for busy schedules, when partners are in different locations temporarily, or during times when in-person sessions aren’t possible. Many clients find virtual relationship counselling just as effective as in-person sessions, and you can always switch between virtual and in-person sessions at our Vancouver or Port Moody offices based on your needs and preferences.