Couples Counselling Calgary

Counselling and ongoing support for couples in any stage of their relationship.

Every relationship is susceptible to challenges. We all experience seasons full of celebration and more difficult seasons of disappointment and pain. Counselling can help you identify where you are stuck, help you process relationship roadblocks, and support you in moving forward. 

Couples counselling is not just for when rough patches feel extreme. Every once in a while a situation or argument may arise that is difficult to come to terms with in a relationship.

Counselling provides a comfortable and emotionally safe space for couples to learn to navigate conflict effectively.

Think of it as a check-in or “tune up” session to help you get back on track. At Core Psychology, we offer couples counselling to help you navigate these difficult seasons and emerge with a stronger, healthier relationship.

Reasons to Seek Couples Counselling

Every relationship experiences ups and downs. You may be considering couples counselling if you're experiencing issues such as:

• Communication breakdowns

• Infidelity

• Disagreements on parenting styles

• Loss of intimacy

• Unresolved or recurring conflicts

• Life transitions such as expanding your family, moving, job loss, or major illness

• Infertility

• Feeling disconnected or unappreciated

• Different approaches to money, religion or social life

Therapy provides a safe space for you and your partner to work through your challenges and develop the tools to move forward.

What to Expect from Couples Counselling

Our couples counselling sessions are designed to help you and your partner identify the areas of your relationship that need improvement, process your emotions, and develop the skills to move forward. Our team of experienced therapists will provide a comfortable and safe environment for you and your partner to explore new perspectives.

The Process

The process begins with an initial consultation where we learn about your relationship history, current challenges, and goals for counselling. From there, we work together to develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your specific needs. Our approach combines proven methods, such as the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and concepts from Esther Perel. We believe that each couple is unique and requires a personalized approach to their therapy.

Our Approach

At Core Psychology, we take a personalized approach to couples counselling and use a combination of evidence-based methods to help you and your partner build a stronger, healthier relationship. Our methods include:

• The Gottman Method: This approach emphasizes the development of skills in communication, conflict resolution, repair, and intimacy.

• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): This therapeutic approach places a strong emphasis on the importance of emotional bonding and attachment between partners.

• Concepts from Esther Perel: These concepts focus on desire, sexuality, and intimacy in relationships.

By integrating these methods, we are able to provide tailored treatment plans that address your unique needs and goals. Our compassionate and experienced therapists will guide you through the counselling process and provide you with the tools and strategies needed to improve your relationship.

Benefits of Couples Counselling

Whether you are in distress, or simply want to be proactive in setting up a strong foundation for your relationship, couples counselling can be a transformative experience that strengthens your relationship and enhances your quality of life.

By working with a skilled therapist, couples can expect to reap numerous benefits, including:

• Finding flow and ease in their relationship

• Co-creating the life they desire together

• Learning how to prioritize one another and becoming familiar with the feeling of being prioritized by their partner

• Developing safeguards to maintain the strengths and values of their relationship

• Increasing connection and intimacy

• Improving communication and conflict resolution skills

• Finding strength in alignment and complementary differences in parenting philosophies

• Gaining clarity about lifestyle as it relates to hobbies, time spent together, time spent alone, and navigating socially

• Dreaming together and taking active steps toward realizing shared visions

• Parting amicably, if necessary, and in a way that supports each partner in transitioning to a new chapter of life.

At Core Psychology, our goal is to help you and your partner achieve your goals and build a strong, resilient relationship that can weather life's challenges together. We are committed to helping you strengthen your relationship. Contact us today to schedule your first session and take the first step towards a healthier, happier partnership.

Additional Reasons Couples Seek Counselling

When it comes to relationships, there are times when the best course of action is to seek outside help to figure out what the next steps should be. Two common reasons that couples seek counselling are to figure out if they should stay together or not, or to separate amicably.

Sometimes, despite a couple's best efforts, their relationship may no longer be a healthy or fulfilling fit for one or both partners. In this case, counselling can provide a safe and supportive space to explore difficult emotions and make informed decisions about the future of the relationship.

Couples counselling can be an effective way to assess the strengths and weaknesses of a relationship, identify areas for growth, and determine whether or not it's in both partners' best interests to continue the relationship.

On the other hand, for couples who have already made the difficult decision to separate, counselling can help:

• Facilitate an amicable and respectful separation.

• Help the couple navigate the legal, logistical, and emotional aspects of separating.

• Provide guidance and support for co-parenting if applicable.

At Core Psychology, we are here to support you and your partner in any stage of your relationship.

Our goal is to help you navigate the complexities of your relationship and reach a place of clarity and peace, whether that means staying together and strengthening your bond, or parting ways with mutual respect and understanding.

Common outcomes and responses following couples counselling:

• "We're better equipped to handle conflicts": Couples often leave counselling with a better understanding of how to handle conflicts in a healthy and productive way. They learn new communication skills and strategies to manage disagreements, which can reduce tension and increase feelings of trust and understanding.

• "We feel more connected to each other": One of the most common outcomes of couples counselling is increased emotional intimacy. By learning to express themselves in a safe and supportive environment, partners often report feeling more connected and attuned to each other's needs and emotions.

• "We have a clearer vision for our future together": Counselling can help couples to identify their shared values, goals, and priorities, and develop a plan for the future. Couples may leave counselling feeling more confident and committed to building a strong and fulfilling relationship together.

Clinicians who work with Couples