Marriage and/or Relationship Issues Internal Family Systems

Marriage and/or Relationship Issues

Entering into a relationship means merging your life with another person, understanding his or her flaws, quirks and beliefs. With marriage rates declining and divorce statistics set at 50%, it is clear that people are increasingly challenged by marriage and relationship issues, and many lack effective ways to address them. So how can we bridge the gap to understanding our partners better and enjoying romantic bliss?

Many factors affect the interpersonal relationship between two partners who are a couple and sometimes it's hard to see the cause of conflict or friction in a relationship. While some people find divorce to be the best or only option, other people speak to counsellors and psychologists  in a bid to try salvage the relationship.

Signs that indicate a need for couples counselling include poor communication in a relationship, affairs, living past one another, inability to resolve marriage of couples' issues, and acting out negative feelings. When divorce seems like the only option, or if a couple is staying together for the kids' sake, that's a sure sign that therapy is needed.

Therapists do not necessarily  believe that all marriages can be salvaged, but counselling can often help even some of the most challenged relationships.  Through talk therapy, the couple will discover again why they fell in love and what they can do to get back to that place in their marriage. They use a range of effective, proven methods to help couples in any situation to restore intimacy and move past the hurt and wounds to a safe and comfortable place.

The concrete tools used by marriage therapists provide guidance in a supportive and encouraging setting and empower clients to restructure their thoughts and emotions. It helps the couple to work with each other, instead of on one another, helping each individual to find the person he or she is at the core level and to build a happy union.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who works with  couples you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.

Internal Family Systems, Marriage & Couples Counselling

Marriage & Couples Counselling offers a wide range of approaches that incorporate a variety of models to work in different situations. Some of the most common approaches in couples counselling are Imago therapy, emotionally focussed therapy, and Gottman approach.

One of the first undertakings of marriage & couples counselling is to set goals for the therapy. Establishing healthy communication within the relationship is one of the key components in any of the approaches make up their union, because this is what helps couples to better understand one another and the patterns that  Couples will be led to examine their communication styles and explore their attachment experiences. Healing past hurts and trauma is essential in building healthy future relationships.

If you are looking for a therapist who offers Marriage & Couples Counselling, please browse our list of practitioners below..

Note: You may narrow your search by selecting more than one filter below.

Bryan Milonja

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
*Offering virtual sessions only. In my practice I work with adults (individuals, couples, families). My specialty areas include complex trauma & PTSD (with a focus on the impact of emotional/physical/sexual abuse... Read more

Mary Wilkerson

MCP, RCC
Step into a nurturing space for your transformative journey. As someone who's lived the roles of wife, mother, and teacher, I deeply understand life's challenges. My focus is on supporting individuals through... Read more

Roya Vojdani

M.A., RCC
    • Blog on profile
    • Online booking
Life is a journey full of twists and turns, but you don't have to face it all alone. Depression, anxiety, trauma and other emotional struggles take away from the joys of everyday life and might leave you feeling... Read more

Kim Watt

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Everybody needs some extra support at times to work through the problems, hurdles, challenges, and chaos that we find ourselves experiencing. I have a strong interest in working with adults who are experiencing... Read more

Maryam Goldan

MCP, RCC
    • Online booking
You can heal. I can help. Feeling overwhelmed? Anxious? Isolated? Does it seem like everyone around you is finding happiness while you silently struggle? Then it’s time to break free from negative patterns... Read more

Brenda Casey

B.A. Hons, RCC
    • Video on profile
PLEASE NOTE: Telephone counselling available, though couples counselling only conducted in person.                    ... Read more

Ashleigh Keizer

M.A., RCC
    • Video on profile
    • Blog on profile
    • Online booking
Finding the “right” counsellor can feel like a big task! My hope is that as you read through this space, you might feel that I am someone who can sit with you and help navigate some of the... Read more

Ben Bjorgaard

Ph.D. (cand), RCC
By addressing troubling thoughts and feelings, self-sabotaging behaviors, and traumas, life can be made more manageable, productive, and fulfilling. Feelings such as grief, shame, anxiety, sadness, and anger often... Read more

Jennifer Vishloff

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Many of the clients I’ve worked with feel overwhelmed by their emotions. On the outside they are able to be successful through a lot of hard work, but inside they feel like they’re barely holding it together... Read more

David Nisbet

M.A., RCC
David is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master of Arts Degree in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. He has extensive experience and knowledge working with... Read more

Erica Steward

M.A., RCC
    • Video on profile
    • Online booking
With a deep-rooted belief in the capacity for healing, personal growth, and transformation, I am honoured to offer my support on your unique journey. People often reach out to me when they feel stuck, struggle with... Read more

Shea Talbot

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
My passion to be a counsellor was sparked by witnessing the challenges faced by close family and friends dealing with mental health issues growing up. I believe that each person has the power within themselves to make... Read more

Jung-Hwa Suh

M.A., RCC
Jung is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist. She has over 25 years of experience of working with individuals, couples, children and families. Jung believes that... Read more
    • Video on profile
    • Article(s) on profile
Who am I? I’m a psychotherapist in private practice in West Vancouver. I conduct in-person, FaceTime, Skype, and Zoom sessions Mon-Fri. I work with individuals, couples, and families in the following practice... Read more

Sara Kammerzell

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
For over twenty years, Sara has helped people grow through turbulent times in their lives so that they can reclaim their full vitality and live the life they were born to live.  She strives to connect with... Read more

Rissa Neufeld

M.Sc., RCC
    • Online booking
Hello! I'm a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) here in BC and also practice as a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) across Canada where those credentials are accepted. My practice went online during the pandemic... Read more

Steven Lake

M.Ed., CCC
Dr. Lake has a PhD in Educational Administration. He has a personal interest in emotion and crisis management and created a Model Of Effective Crisis Management for his dissertation. His Master's degree is in... Read more

Zakia Ovington

M.Couns., RCC
    • Online booking
As a dedicated therapist at Future Focus Therapist, my practice is centered on fostering emotional well-being, nurturing authentic self-leadership, and facilitating trauma recovery. I understand that each client's... Read more

Marilyn Kwong

Ph.D., R.Psych
I am a Registered Psychologist (#2043) with specialized training in helping people with their emotions and relationships in a deep and experiential way. Relationships have a huge influence on how we feel about... Read more

Joy Schellenberg

M.A., RCC
Are you tired of feeling stuck or dissatisfied with how your life is going?  Maybe you’ve been struggling for awhile. You’re fed up or overwhelmed and you don’t know where to turn. It... Read more

Jamie Johnson

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
As a man, therapy might not be your preferred use of time, yet a growing part of you is curious about what could be. Throughout your life, you’ve felt minimized and closed off from your potential. Maybe you’... Read more

Ashley Shankar

M.S.W., RCSW
I’m a cis South Asian woman. My Masters in Social Work from the University of British Columbia has granted me the opportunity to work extensively in diverse community mental health settings. I work with... Read more

Daphne Georghiou

MFT, RCC
Get help from a seasoned, clinically trained psychotherapist in Vancouver, with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals, couples and families cultivate inner balance and create a path to finding joy in... Read more

Jude Weir

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Counseling is about transforming relationships and lives - it might be about the relationship we have with ourselves or with others. Maybe it's about addressing specific problems so you can move... Read more

Nicole Persall

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
Nicole Persall is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and holds a master's degree in Counselling Psychology. Nicole provides online counselling to individuals and... Read more

Nicole Paley

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Drawing from the latest research on neuroscience, mindfulness and attachment theory, I'm a warm, client-centered therapist who views therapy as an opportunity to compassionately work with what's creating... Read more

Delyse Ledgard

M.A., RCC
    • Video on profile
    • Article(s) on profile
    • Blog on profile
    • Online booking
To be understood, seen, feel the comfort of another’s presence is the heart of therapy.  With over 30 years of experience, I have encountered and worked with people from all walks of life helping... Read more

Maria Boublil

MCP, RCC
    • Online booking
Therapy is about achieving lasting change that improves your quality of life now and in the future. You may be looking for a therapist to talk to, but more importantly, you are looking for someone who can help you... Read more

Natalie Hansen

M.A., RCC
    • Blog on profile
    • Online booking
Walking with you through life's challenges Natalie is a caring and competent Individual and Couples Therapist in Uptown New Westminster. With over 17 years of counselling experience and a Master... Read more

Carly Goodfellow

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
*I am pleased to offer online Videoconferencing for counselling and hypnotherapy appointments.* You are not alone. Are you struggling with your feelings day after day? Do you feel life is harder that it... Read more