Our Online Couples Therapy Services

Step 1: Your Initial Contact with Turning Tides

Welcome. We're glad you're considering couples therapy. This first step is about connection and understanding what brings you here. There's no pressure, no judgment, just an opportunity to explore whether our approach feels right for you and your partner.

What Happens During Your First Conversation

We begin with a complimentary 20-minute consultation. This is your chance to tell us about your relationship, what's been challenging, and what you hope to achieve through therapy. Kotone will listen carefully to both of you, answer your questions, and explain how our couples therapy process works.

During this initial conversation, we focus on understanding your story. We want to know what brought you together, what matters most to you as a couple, and where things feel stuck right now. There's no right or wrong way to share this. We've supported many couples through similar journeys, and we approach every conversation with genuine care and respect.

What to Expect

• A warm, welcoming environment where both partners feel heard
• Clear explanation of how online couples therapy works and what the process looks like
• Discussion of your relationship goals and what success means to you
• Information about session length (50 minutes), scheduling, and fees
• Explanation of our approach, which draws on Internal Family Systems, somatic awareness, cognitive behavioural techniques, acceptance and commitment therapy, and dialectical behaviour therapy
• Opportunity to ask any questions or express concerns
• No obligation to proceed if it doesn't feel like the right fit

Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Started

Do we both need to be present for the first conversation?

Yes, we ask that both partners participate in the initial consultation. This helps us understand the relationship dynamics and ensures you're both comfortable with the process moving forward. If one partner is hesitant, we can discuss how to approach this together.

What if we're not sure we're ready for therapy?

That's completely normal. Many couples feel uncertain at first. The 20-minute consultation is designed to help you explore this. We can discuss your concerns, answer questions, and help you decide if now is the right time. There's no pressure either way.

How does online therapy work for couples?

We use secure video conferencing so you can both see and hear Kotone clearly. You'll need a quiet, private space where you can speak openly. Many couples find online sessions convenient because there's no travel time, and you can be in your own comfortable environment.

What if we've tried therapy before and it didn't help?

Every therapist and every approach is different. We specialise in care informed by trauma research and work with couples navigating complex relationship patterns. If previous therapy didn't resonate, our approach might feel different. We're happy to discuss what you've experienced before.

Is everything we share confidential?

Yes. What you share in therapy is confidential. The only exceptions are situations involving immediate safety concerns. We'll explain our confidentiality policies clearly during your first conversation.

How much does couples therapy cost?

We offer affordable sessions designed to be accessible. During your consultation, we'll discuss fees, payment options, and whether your insurance coverage may help. We accept Mastercard, Visa, and PayPal. Coverage may be available based on your individual policy with providers like Canada Life, Green Shield Canada, Manulife, SunLife, and Pacific Blue Cross.

What if one partner is more motivated than the other?

This is common. Sometimes one partner is more eager to start therapy. We can work with this dynamic and often find that as therapy progresses, both partners become more engaged. We'll discuss this openly during your first conversation.

How long does couples therapy usually take?

This varies. Some couples see meaningful shifts in a few months. Others work together for longer. We'll develop a plan together based on your goals and what emerges as you work through your relationship patterns.

Reassurance for First-Time Clients

If you've never done therapy before, you might feel nervous. That's okay. We create a space where vulnerability is safe. You don't need to have everything figured out or know exactly what to say. We'll guide the conversation and help you explore what matters most.

Kotone brings over five years of experience supporting couples through relationship challenges, trauma recovery, and life transitions. She's trained in approaches that honour both of your perspectives and work toward genuine healing and connection.

Your Next Steps

Ready to take this first step? Here's how to connect with us:

We Serve All of British Columbia

Whether you're in Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, or anywhere across British Columbia, our online couples therapy is accessible to you. We also work with couples internationally. All sessions are conducted securely online, so you can participate from wherever feels most comfortable.

Take your time with this decision. When you're ready, we're here to support your relationship's healing and growth.

Step 2: Getting to Know Your Relationship

Welcome to Step 2 of your couples therapy journey with Turning Tides Counselling & Life Coaching. This is where we begin to understand your unique relationship, what brings you together, and what challenges you're facing. Think of this step as the foundation for meaningful change.

What Happens During Your First Sessions

Your first online session is about connection and understanding. Kotone will create a safe, welcoming space where both of you can share openly without judgment. Here's what to expect:

• A warm introduction to the therapy process and how online couples counselling works
• An opportunity for each partner to share their perspective on the relationship
• Exploration of what brought you to therapy and what you hope to achieve together
• Discussion of your relationship history, communication patterns, and emotional needs
• An overview of how we'll work together to build a stronger connection

Each session lasts 50 minutes and is conducted through a secure, private video platform. You'll have time to speak, to listen, and to begin understanding each other in new ways.

Our Approach to Understanding Your Relationship

We use a collaborative approach that draws on several evidence-based methods. This means we're not here to judge or diagnose. Instead, we listen carefully and help you both see patterns that may be keeping you stuck.

Our therapeutic approach integrates Internal Family Systems (IFS) work, which helps you understand the different parts of yourself and how they show up in your relationship. We also draw on somatic approaches that recognize how emotions live in your body, dialectical behaviour therapy techniques for managing intense emotions, and cognitive behavioural approaches that help shift unhelpful thinking patterns. Every couple is different, so we tailor our methods to what works best for you.

What We'll Explore Together

During these early sessions, we'll gently explore several areas of your relationship:

Preparing for Your First Sessions

You don't need to prepare anything formal, but here's a helpful checklist to get the most from your experience:

• Find a quiet, private space where both of you can speak freely without interruptions
• Test your internet connection and video camera beforehand
• Have a notebook handy if you like to jot down thoughts or insights
• Think about one or two things you'd like to improve in your relationship
• Be honest about your feelings, even if they're uncomfortable to share
• Come with openness and a willingness to listen to your partner's perspective
• Arrive a few minutes early to settle in and feel grounded

Understanding Your Shared Goals

One of the most important parts of Step 2 is setting goals together. We'll ask you both: What would a healthier relationship look like? What do you want to feel more of? What do you want to feel less of?

Your goals might include better communication, rebuilding trust, feeling more emotionally connected, navigating a specific challenge, or simply understanding each other more deeply. Whatever matters to you both, we'll work toward it together. Goals can shift as you progress, and that's perfectly normal.

How We Track Progress

Throughout your therapy journey, we'll check in on how things are shifting. Between sessions, you'll receive supportive follow-up emails where we can touch base on what you're noticing and how you're doing. This keeps the momentum going and helps you feel supported even when you're not in a session.

After each session, we can provide you with a summary of what we discussed and any insights or reflections that came up. This helps you both remember what you learned and notice changes over time.

Addressing Common Concerns

Will you take sides? No. Our role is to support both of you equally and help you understand each other's perspectives, not to judge who is right or wrong.

What if we disagree on what the problems are? That's actually really common and really valuable information. Often, partners see things differently, and that's where the real work begins. We help you bridge that gap.

Is everything confidential? Yes, with important exceptions. We maintain confidentiality within the couple's sessions. However, if there's immediate danger or harm, we're legally required to take action to keep everyone safe.

What if one partner is more ready for therapy than the other? We meet you where you are. Sometimes one partner needs to feel safe and heard before they can fully engage. We work with that, and change often happens gradually.

How long does Step 2 last? This depends on your unique situation. For some couples, the first few sessions give us a clear picture. For others, it takes a bit longer to fully understand the dynamics. We'll guide you on timing as we go.

What Happens Next

After your initial sessions, we'll move into Step 3, where we'll work actively on building the relationship you want. But first, we need to understand where you are now. That's what Step 2 is all about.

Think of this step as creating a map. We're marking where you've been, where you are now, and where you want to go together.

Ready to Begin?

Step 2 is an invitation to be curious about your relationship and about each other. It's a chance to be heard and to listen. It's the beginning of something meaningful.

Our couples therapy services are available throughout British Columbia, including Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island, the Fraser Valley, Interior B.C., Northern B.C., the Kootenays, and beyond. Whether you're in Vancouver or anywhere across the province, you can access support through secure online sessions.

Coverage for our services may be available based on your individual policy with major insurance providers including Canada Life, Green Shield Canada, Manulife, SunLife, and Pacific Blue Cross. We also offer affordable options to make therapy accessible to you.

Ready to take the next step? Book your first session through our online booking platform and let's begin this journey together.

Book Your First Session

Step 3: Your Therapy Sessions and Treatment Plan

Welcome to the active phase of your couples therapy journey. This is where the real transformation happens. Step 3 focuses on what your weekly sessions will look like, the therapeutic approaches we use together, and how you'll continue your healing work between appointments.

What to Expect in Your Sessions

Each session runs for 50 minutes and follows a thoughtful structure designed to help you both feel safe, heard, and supported.

The Therapeutic Approaches We Use

Our couples therapy draws from several evidence-based approaches, all adapted to fit your specific needs and your relationship's unique story.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) Informed Care

This approach recognises that we all have different parts of ourselves. Sometimes one part wants closeness while another part protects us by creating distance. In couples therapy, we help both of you understand your own inner parts and how they interact with your partner's parts. This creates profound compassion and understanding.

Care Informed by Trauma Research

If either of you has experienced trauma or complex trauma, it affects how you relate to each other. We help you both understand trauma responses, recognise triggers, and build safety together. This isn't about blame; it's about understanding and healing.

Somatic and Body-Based Approaches

Your nervous system holds wisdom. We help you notice what's happening in your body during conflict or connection. Through gentle awareness and grounding techniques, you learn to calm your system and respond more thoughtfully rather than react automatically.

Communication and Connection Skills

We teach practical techniques for expressing yourself authentically and listening with genuine openness. These skills transform how you navigate disagreements and deepen your emotional intimacy.

Attachment-Focused Work

We explore how your attachment styles show up in your relationship. Understanding whether you tend toward seeking reassurance, creating distance, or other patterns helps you both meet each other's needs more effectively.

Mindfulness and Presence Practices

Being truly present with each other is powerful medicine for relationships. We introduce practices that help you both slow down, notice what's actually happening, and respond with intention rather than habit.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Informed Strategies

When emotions feel overwhelming, DBT-informed techniques help you find balance. You learn to validate your own experience while also making choices that serve your relationship. It's about holding both truth and compassion at the same time.

Between-Session Practices and Homework

The magic of therapy happens when you take what you learn into your daily life. Between sessions, we invite you to engage in practices that reinforce your healing and build new patterns.

Daily Connection Rituals

We might suggest a brief daily check-in where you each share something about your day or your feelings. Even five minutes of genuine connection can shift the entire tone of your relationship.

Emotion Awareness Reflections

You might journal about emotions that came up during conflicts or moments of disconnection. This helps you understand yourself more deeply and prepares you to discuss these feelings with your partner.

Reflective Listening Exercises

One partner shares while the other listens and reflects back what they heard, without trying to fix or defend. This practice builds empathy and helps you truly hear each other.

Boundary and Safety Conversations

You'll explore what helps you feel safe in the relationship and what boundaries matter to you. These conversations, guided by what we discuss in session, create the container for deeper trust.

Shared Grounding and Mindfulness Practices

We might suggest practices you do together, like a brief breathing exercise or a mindful walk. These moments of shared calm strengthen your nervous system connection.

Relationship Strengths Inventory

You'll each reflect on what you appreciate about your partner and your relationship, then share these observations. This practice shifts focus toward what's working and builds positive momentum.

Conflict Resolution Practice

Using techniques learned in session, you'll rehearse how to handle disagreements differently. This might feel awkward at first, but practice builds confidence and creates new neural pathways.

Reflective Journaling

You'll keep brief notes about what you're noticing, what feels different, and what challenges arise. This becomes material we explore together in your next session.

How We Track Your Progress

Progress in couples therapy isn't always linear, and it's not always obvious. We track what matters most to you.

Collaborative Goal Setting

Early in therapy, we work together to identify what you want to shift. These might be goals like 'feel more connected,' 'argue less defensively,' or 'rebuild trust.' We revisit these regularly to see how you're moving toward them.

Observing Patterns and Shifts

In session, we notice when you interact differently with each other. Maybe you're making more eye contact during difficult conversations, or you're asking clarifying questions instead of assuming. These shifts matter.

Your Own Felt Sense

The most important measure is how you feel. Do you feel safer? More understood? More hopeful about your relationship? We check in regularly about your internal experience.

Between-Session Updates

Through post-session follow-up emails, we stay connected to your experience. You might share how a practice went or what came up for you. This helps us understand what's working and what needs adjustment.

Relationship Satisfaction and Connection

We might invite you to reflect on specific dimensions of your relationship: communication, emotional intimacy, physical affection, shared values, and conflict resolution. Noticing shifts in these areas shows real progress.

Creating Safety and Trust

Our approach is deeply informed by research on trauma and healing. This means we prioritise your safety and agency throughout the process. You're never pushed to share more than you're ready for. You're never blamed for your struggles. Instead, we work collaboratively to understand what's happening and how to shift it.

Your relationship is unique. Your therapy is too. We adapt our approach based on what you need, what resonates with you, and what actually creates change in your specific situation.

Ready to Begin?

Step 3 is about rolling up your sleeves and doing the work together. It's challenging, yes. But it's also where couples discover they can understand each other more deeply, communicate more authentically, and rebuild the connection they thought was lost.

Our online couples therapy serving all of British Columbia, from Vancouver to Victoria, from Kelowna to Prince George, brings this transformative work directly to you. You can engage from the comfort of your own space, at times that work for your life.

Ready to move forward? Let's get started.

Book Your First Session

Step 4: Progress Evaluation and Completion Planning

You've reached an important milestone in your couples therapy journey. This step focuses on evaluating the progress you and your partner have made together, recognising the growth you've achieved, and planning for the future of your relationship.

Understanding Your Progress

Throughout your sessions, you and your partner have been building new skills and deepening your connection. Step 4 is about taking time to reflect on what has shifted. Have your conversations become easier? Do you feel more understood by your partner? Are you managing disagreements with greater calm and clarity?

Progress in couples therapy shows up in many ways. Sometimes it's obvious, like a reduction in conflict or an increase in affection. Other times, it's more subtle: noticing that you pause before reacting, that you listen more fully, or that you feel safer expressing your needs.

Signs You May Be Ready for Completion

Readiness for completion is deeply personal and unique to your relationship. Here are some common indicators that you and your partner may be approaching a natural conclusion to your therapy:

• You've achieved the primary goals you set when beginning therapy
• You're communicating more effectively and resolving conflicts with greater ease
• You feel emotionally safer and more connected with your partner
• You've developed practical tools and strategies you can use independently
• You understand each other's needs and perspectives more deeply
• You're experiencing fewer recurring patterns that once caused distress
• You feel confident managing future challenges together
• You've healed from specific issues that brought you to therapy

Completion doesn't mean your relationship is perfect. It means you've built a stronger foundation and you have the skills to continue growing together.

Evaluating Your Relationship Health

During your final sessions, we'll have conversations about where you started and where you are now. We'll explore what's working well in your relationship and what you want to continue nurturing. This reflection helps you recognise your own strengths as a couple and reinforces the progress you've made.

These conversations are collaborative. You and your partner will share your perspectives on what has shifted, what you're proud of, and what you want to carry forward into your future together.

Maintenance Strategies for Long-Term Success

The skills you've developed in therapy are most powerful when you continue using them. Here's how to maintain the health and connection you've built:

Ongoing Support Options

Completing therapy doesn't mean you're on your own. Our couples therapy services serving all of British Columbia remain available to you. Many couples find it helpful to return for occasional sessions during major life transitions, such as moving, welcoming children, career changes, or other significant events.

You might also consider:

• Booster Sessions: Brief check-in sessions every few months to reconnect and address any emerging concerns before they grow
• Transition Support: Sessions focused on navigating specific life changes together
• Deepening Work: If you want to continue growing together, you can explore additional therapeutic goals
• Crisis Support: If unexpected challenges arise, we're here to help you navigate them

Our online couples therapy is designed to be flexible and accessible. Whether you need support immediately or months from now, you can reach out to reconnect with your therapist.

Celebrating Your Achievement

Taking the step to seek couples therapy takes courage. You and your partner have invested time, vulnerability, and effort into strengthening your relationship. That commitment matters. The work you've done together has created real change, and that's worth celebrating.

You've learned to communicate differently. You've developed greater understanding of each other. You've built tools that will serve your relationship for years to come. These are genuine accomplishments.

What Happens Next

In your final sessions, we'll create a clear plan for moving forward. This might include a summary of the progress you've made, the key strategies that have worked best for you, and guidance on when and how to seek support if you need it in the future.

You'll leave therapy with confidence in your ability to continue nurturing your relationship. You'll have concrete tools, a deeper understanding of each other, and the knowledge that support is available whenever you need it.

Reconnecting With Your Relationship

As you transition out of regular therapy, focus on what brought you together in the first place. Spend time enjoying each other. Laugh together. Be curious about each other's lives. The therapeutic work you've done has created space for this kind of genuine connection to flourish.

Your relationship is an ongoing journey. Therapy has given you better tools for that journey. Now it's time to walk forward together, knowing you have the skills and understanding to navigate whatever comes next.

Ready to Begin or Continue Your Journey?

Whether you're starting couples therapy or completing this step, we're here to support you. Our trauma informed couples therapy serving British Columbia is designed to meet you where you are and help you build the relationship you want.

Book your first session or a completion consultation today through our online booking platform.

Book Your Session Now

Our couples therapy services are available online across all of British Columbia, including Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Kamloops, and communities throughout the province. Sessions are offered at affordable rates with coverage available through major insurance providers based on your individual policy.