Couples Counselling in Thornhill & Vaughan

Couples Counselling FAQs

• 1We only ever argue about the kids. Is that couples therapy?

  Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons couples come to us. Conflict about parenting is rarely only about parenting. It usually sits on top of something about fairness, respect, or feeling alone in the work. Because we are a child and teen practice, we can hold both parts at once: the relationship between the two of you, and what is happening with your child.
• 2Our child is already a client here. Can we still book couples counselling?

  Yes, and it is common. You would see a different therapist from your child's, and that separation protects your child's confidence in their own sessions while keeping both pieces of work clean. The two clinicians can coordinate at a high level with your consent, but nothing your child says in their sessions is shared with you through ours.
• 3How can couples therapy improve our relationship?

  Couples therapy provides a safe space to address communication issues, rebuild trust, and strengthen emotional connections. Working with a trained therapist, partners can identify the pattern that keeps repeating and develop practical strategies for navigating conflict rather than cycling through it.
• 4What should we expect during a couples counselling session?

  Both partners discuss their perspectives and concerns with the guidance of a therapist. The therapist facilitates the conversation, helps identify what is underneath the surface disagreement, and keeps it from tipping into the argument you would have had at home. Sessions are tailored to your specific goals.
• 5Do you use the Gottman Method, EFT, or something else?

  We draw on both the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy, the two approaches with the strongest research base for couples work. Gottman-informed work is good at identifying the repeating conflict cycle; EFT works on the emotion underneath it. Most couples get some of both, and we will tell you which we are leaning on and why.
• 6What if one of us is reluctant to come?

  That is normal and it is worth naming early rather than working around. Often the reluctant partner is not against the relationship. They are against being blamed for an hour a week, which is a reasonable thing to want to avoid. We are explicit about not running sessions that way. If it helps, the reluctant partner can come to the free consultation only and decide afterwards.
• 7How many couples therapy sessions are usually needed?

  It varies. Some couples working on one specific issue find what they need in a handful of sessions; couples rebuilding after a betrayal or a long period of disconnection generally need longer. Your therapist will give you an honest read after the first few sessions rather than committing you to a package up front.
• 8How much does couples counselling cost, and is it covered by insurance?

  Couples counselling is $200 for a 50-minute session. Most workplace insurance plans cover sessions with Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Social Workers. We do not direct-bill; we provide a receipt you submit to your insurer. Many plans hold a separate allowance per person, so some couples can claim against both partners' plans. Full rates are on our fees page.
• 9Is couples counselling effective for partners who are not married?

  Yes. Couples therapy is useful at any stage: dating, common-law, engaged, or long-term. We also offer pre-marital counselling for partners who want to have the harder conversations deliberately before the wedding rather than discovering them afterwards.
• 10Should we book virtual or in-person couples sessions?

  For most concerns, virtual sessions are as effective, and they remove the two things that most often end couples therapy: coordinating two commutes and arranging childcare. The exception is fast-escalating conflict, where a therapist can do more in a room. We will give you our read after the first conversation, and switching later is straightforward.