Collaborative, client-centred couples counselling. In-person in Edmonton and St. Albert, or virtual across Alberta. Registered Psychologists and Registered Provisional Psychologists are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCCs) are regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA). In-person and virtual sessions.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Couples Counselling Is Right for You

Maybe you have been having the same argument for months, and each time it circles back to the same hurt with nothing resolved. Or maybe things have gone quiet between you and your partner, and the silence feels heavier than the fighting ever did. You might be wondering whether what is happening in your relationship is serious enough to bring to a therapist, or whether it is just a rough patch that will pass on its own.

That uncertainty is common. Many people sit with it for a long time before searching for something like this page. Some notice they have started keeping more to themselves, editing what they say, or feeling lonely even when they are sitting next to their partner. Others find that small disagreements escalate quickly, leaving both people feeling misunderstood and defensive. Sometimes the issue is not conflict at all, but a slow drift apart that neither person knows how to name.

These patterns do not mean your relationship is broken or that either of you has failed. They often reflect the ways stress, unmet needs, and life circumstances press on a partnership over time. Many couples experience these dynamics at some point, and they are not signs of a permanent problem.

If you are considering whether talking with someone could help, this page may be a useful starting point. It explains what couples counselling involves, what the research says, and how to get started if you decide the time is right.

Who This Service May Be a Good Fit For

Couples counselling at Wholesome Psychology may be relevant for partners who are:

• Experiencing recurring conflict that does not seem to resolve
• Noticing changes in closeness, connection, or intimacy
• Working through trust concerns after a difficult period
• Adjusting to a major life transition such as a move, career change, new baby, or blending families
• Exploring premarital or pre-commitment conversations
• Trying to decide how to move forward with greater clarity and mutual respect
• Feeling disconnected or uncertain about the direction of the relationship

Couples counselling is not limited to married partners. It may be relevant for dating, engaged, married, common-law, or long-term partners, including couples from different backgrounds and relationship structures.

When a Different Starting Point May Be More Appropriate

Couples counselling may not be the right first step in every situation. A different starting point may be more appropriate when:

• There is an immediate safety concern, active violence, or acute risk. In these situations, crisis support is more appropriate than therapy.
• One or both partners are experiencing a severe mental health crisis that needs individual stabilization first.
• A court-ordered assessment or forensic evaluation is needed. Psychological assessments are a separate service.
• One partner requires individual support before engaging in conjoint work. Your therapist can help determine this.

Crisis Resources

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact one of the following resources:

• 911 for immediate danger
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)
• Family Violence Info Line (Alberta): 310-1818 (24/7, toll-free)
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What Couples Counselling Is

Couples counselling provides a structured, neutral space where two partners can talk through the patterns shaping their relationship. A therapist works with both of you to understand what is happening, identify recurring dynamics, and build skills or conversations that support the goals you set together.

Sessions may focus on communication, conflict patterns, trust, emotional connection, intimacy, parenting stress, life transitions, or decisions about the future of the relationship. The pace and direction are guided by both partners, not imposed by the therapist.

Couples counselling is not a legal service, a court-ordered evaluation, or a substitute for medical care. It is also not a crisis intervention. If you or your partner are in immediate danger, please contact emergency services.

This service does not include psychological assessments, which are offered as a separate service.

Confidentiality is reviewed at the start of services. In couple work, confidentiality may operate differently than in individual therapy. Your therapist will explain how information sharing, documentation, and contact between sessions are handled. A more detailed explanation of confidentiality and its legal limits appears below.

The scope of couples counselling is defined by professional standards set by each clinician’s applicable professional body, including the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) for psychologists, the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA) for Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCCs), and the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) for registered social workers. Your therapist works within these standards and will let you know if a concern falls outside their scope of practice.

Signs Relationship Distress May Be Affecting You

You may recognize some of these experiences in your own relationship:

• Conversations that quickly escalate into arguments, even over small things
• Feeling like you are walking on eggshells around your partner
• Pulling away or shutting down during disagreements rather than talking things through
• A growing sense of distance or disconnection, even when you are together
• Difficulty trusting your partner after something hurtful happened
• Avoiding certain topics because raising them feels pointless or risky
• Feeling unheard, dismissed, or invisible in the relationship
• Noticing that resentment has built up over time without a clear way to address it

These experiences are common reactions to stress, unmet needs, and accumulated hurt within a relationship. They do not mean the relationship is beyond repair, and they do not define you or your partner. Many couples find that structured support helps them understand these patterns and work toward something different.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. Use the Match with a Therapist tool to find a clinician whose experience fits your situation. You can also browse therapist profiles or call the admin team at 780-904-4880 for guidance.
• Book your first session. Your first session includes a discussion of confidentiality, consent, and the goals you want to focus on. There is no expectation to share everything at once. The therapist will also explain how couple-specific confidentiality works.
• Build your plan together. Based on what you share, the therapist works with you and your partner to develop a plan tailored to your situation. This is a collaborative process; your input matters at every step.
• Ongoing sessions. Follow-up sessions are typically weekly or bi-weekly, adjusted based on your goals and what feels manageable. Sessions are 50 minutes.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews progress regularly and adapts the plan as your needs change. There is no fixed number of sessions required.

You can learn more about the intake process on the Getting Started page.

Evidence and Approaches

The following summaries describe what research suggests about couple therapy approaches. The specific approach used in your sessions will depend on your therapist's training and your goals as a couple.

Couple Therapy for Relationship Satisfaction

What it helps with: Recurring conflict, communication difficulties, emotional disconnection, and relationship satisfaction.

Evidence summary: A large-scale meta-analysis found that couple therapy had a substantial positive effect on relationship satisfaction, with meaningful impacts on communication, emotional intimacy, and partner behaviours (Roddy et al., 2020). Gains were generally maintained over short- and long-term follow-up.

Limitations: This meta-analysis included a range of therapy formats and designs. Individual outcomes vary, and effect sizes may differ depending on the type and severity of relationship concerns.

Couple Therapy for Depression

What it helps with: Depressive symptoms in the context of relationship distress, particularly when the relationship may be contributing to or maintaining depression.

Evidence summary: A Cochrane systematic review found low-quality evidence suggesting that couple therapy may be as effective as individual psychotherapy for improving depressive symptoms (Barbato et al., 2018). The same review found that couple therapy was more effective than individual psychotherapy at reducing relationship distress. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend considering behavioural couples therapy for people with depression whose relationship difficulties may be contributing to their symptoms (NICE, 2022).

Limitations: The Cochrane review noted that evidence quality was low to very low across most comparisons, with limited data comparing couple therapy to medication. The NICE recommendation is based on UK-based evidence and service delivery context.

Behavioural and Communication-Focused Approaches

What it helps with: Destructive conflict patterns, communication breakdowns, and difficulty expressing needs constructively.

Evidence summary: The Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) identifies behavioural and cognitive-behavioural couple therapies as approaches shown to help distressed couples by improving communication and problem-solving (CPA, 2021). Clinical trials referenced in the CPA fact sheet suggest that the majority of couples report improved satisfaction by the end of treatment, with some studies showing gains maintained at two-year follow-up.

Limitations: The CPA fact sheet is a public education resource, not primary research. Effect sizes are not reported. The evidence referenced does not specify which populations benefit most.

What Results to Expect

Recovery and change in relationships are not linear. Some couples notice meaningful shifts within a few sessions. Others benefit from longer-term work, particularly when the concerns have been present for a long time or when trust needs to be rebuilt gradually.

Several factors influence outcomes, including the nature of the relationship concerns, each partner's readiness to engage, current life circumstances, and the fit between the couple and their therapist. No therapy guarantees a specific outcome, and couples counselling does not guarantee reconciliation or any particular result.

Therapeutic fit matters. If the relationship with your therapist does not feel right, you can work with the admin team to find a different clinician. Changing therapist or approach is always an option, and it does not reflect poorly on anyone involved.

Some people find relief from just 2-3 sessions, particularly for specific communication concerns. Other goals may take more time to address. Your therapist will review progress regularly so the plan continues to serve you well.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you and your partner share in therapy is confidential. Your therapist is bound by the standards and ethical guidelines of their applicable professional body, including the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) for psychologists, the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA) for Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCCs), and the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) for registered social workers.

In Alberta, therapist-client confidentiality is governed by the Health Information Act (HIA) and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). These laws protect your personal and health information and define how it may be collected, used, and disclosed.

There are legal limits to confidentiality. Your therapist is required to break confidentiality in the following situations:

• There is a risk of serious harm to you, your partner, or another person
• There is suspected abuse or neglect of a child (mandatory reporting under Alberta law)
• A court order requires disclosure of records or information

In couple work, confidentiality may operate differently than in individual therapy. Your therapist will explain at the outset how information shared in sessions is handled, including whether information disclosed by one partner in individual contact can be raised in joint sessions. These boundaries are discussed and agreed upon before detailed personal sharing begins.

You are welcome to ask questions about confidentiality before sharing anything personal. Your therapist will explain these limits clearly during the first session.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to describe everything that has happened in our relationship in detail?

No. You and your partner share at your own pace. Your therapist will not pressure either of you to disclose more than you are ready to discuss. Many couples begin by focusing on current patterns and day-to-day concerns rather than detailed history. Over time, you can decide together what is useful to explore more deeply.

Is what we share in sessions kept private?

Yes, with a few legal exceptions. Your therapist is required to break confidentiality if there is a risk of serious harm to you or others, suspected child abuse or neglect, or a court order. In couple work, your therapist will also explain how information shared individually by one partner is handled in joint sessions. For a fuller explanation, see the Confidentiality and Privacy section above.

How many sessions will we need?

There is no fixed answer. Some couples find that a few focused sessions are enough to work through a specific concern. Others benefit from longer-term support, particularly when the issues are long-standing or involve rebuilding trust. Your therapist will review progress regularly and adjust the plan with you. Some people find relief from just 2-3 sessions.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Therapeutic fit is one of the most important factors in how helpful counselling feels. If the match does not feel right for you or your partner, the admin team can help you find a different clinician within the practice. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Can we access couples counselling online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available for couples located anywhere in Alberta. The same confidentiality standards apply. Video-based sessions use a secure platform, and your therapist will discuss how to set up a private space for virtual appointments.

What if one of us is unsure about coming to counselling?

It is common for partners to arrive with different levels of readiness or different expectations. Early sessions can be used to clarify what each person hopes to get out of the process and to decide whether the format feels workable. Counselling does not require both partners to be equally certain at the start.

Do we need a referral?

No referral is required. You can book directly through the online booking system, use the Match with a Therapist tool, or call the admin team at 780-904-4880.

Meet Your Clinicians

Wholesome Psychology's team includes Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, Certified Canadian Counsellors, Mental Health Therapists, and Student Therapists. All psychologists are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). Registered Provisional Psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior Registered Psychologist. Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCCs) are regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA).

Many clinicians on the team have experience working with relationship concerns, communication difficulties, and couples navigating transitions or conflict. You can browse individual profiles on the Our Therapists page or use the Match with a Therapist tool for guidance. The admin team is also available at 780-904-4880 to help you find a clinician who fits your situation.

Children and Youth

Relationship distress between partners can affect the broader family, including children and adolescents. Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents, and young people. Therapists working with younger clients use age-appropriate approaches and work closely with caregivers to support the child's wellbeing.

If you have concerns about how relationship difficulties may be affecting your children, your couples therapist can help you think through whether additional support for younger family members might be useful. Related services include child counselling and family counselling.

Getting Started

If you are considering couples counselling, here are several ways to take the next step:

• Book a session online
• Match with a therapist
• Call: 780-904-4880
• Email: info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Learn more about getting started

New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Starting the conversation is enough.

References

• Barbato, A., D'Avanzo, B., & Parabiaghi, A. (2018). Couple therapy for depression. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (6), CD004188. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004188.pub3
• Canadian Psychological Association. (2021). "Psychology Works" fact sheet: Relationship distress. https://cpa.ca/psychologyfactsheets/
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (n.d.). Couples counselling: Where to go when you're looking for help. Retrieved May 5, 2026, from https://www.camh.ca/
• College of Alberta Psychologists. (2023). Standards of practice. https://www.cap.ab.ca/
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2022). Depression in adults: Treatment and management (NICE Guideline NG222). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng222
• Roddy, M. K., Walsh, L. M., Rothman, K., Hatch, S. G., & Doss, B. D. (2020). Meta-analysis of couple therapy: Effects across outcomes, designs, timeframes, and other moderators. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 88(8), 691-709. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000514