Couples Counselling & Relationship Therapy in BC

Rebuild trust. Reconnect emotionally. Repair what matters.

Relationships can hold both deep love and deep pain. At Tidal Trauma Centre, we help couples who feel stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed by conflict to find clarity and connection again. Whether you're seeking in-person couples counselling in Surrey or online relationship therapy across BC, our trauma-informed approach is designed to support your healing, growth, and next steps—whatever they may be.

This Is the Starting Point for All Couples Therapy at Tidal

We offer relationship counselling through two formats:

This page will help you understand our approach, what to expect, and how to decide which path feels right for you and your partner.

Why People Start Couples Therapy

You don’t need to be in crisis to start.

Most couples wait too long—until one or both people are burned out, shut down, or halfway out the door. But couples therapy can be just as effective earlier on, when the relationship still has space for repair.

We work with couples navigating:

  • Emotional distance or growing disconnection

  • Communication breakdowns and recurring arguments

  • Life transitions like new parenthood, illness, or grief

  • The aftermath of betrayal, rupture, or trauma

  • Uneven emotional labour or caregiving burnout

  • Desire for deeper emotional intimacy

  • Deciding whether to stay, separate, or reimagine the relationship

We also support couples who are generally doing well but want to tune up their connection or build stronger communication skills.

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Counselling can be helpful for your marriage or relationship even if you attend individually.


Some clients begin therapy alone—especially when their partner is hesitant, unavailable, or unsure. Working one-on-one with a relationship-focused therapist can help you:

  • Understand your own patterns, needs, and emotional responses

  • Recognize the role you play in recurring conflicts or disconnection

  • Learn communication strategies that can shift the dynamic, even if only one person changes

  • Explore whether and how you want to stay in the relationship

  • Build skills that improve the health, resilience, and longevity of your partnership

You don’t have to wait for both of you to be ready. The work can begin with one person—especially when it’s approached with honesty, courage, and curiosity.

Our Approach to Relationship Therapy

You won’t find judgment here. You’ll find honesty, clarity, and space to begin again.

We work with couples through a trauma-informed, nervous-system aware lens. That means we pay attention to the emotional undercurrents—not just the surface issues.

Depending on your needs, your therapist may draw from:

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) — for building safe emotional connection

  • Attachment-Based Therapy — to explore early relational patterns and how they show up today

  • Somatic Therapy — to regulate body-based reactivity and shutdown

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) — to help each partner understand their protective parts

  • Practical communication tools — to reduce escalation and rebuild trust

Every relationship is different. We tailor each session to the pace and style that feels right for both of you.

In-Person vs. Online Couples Therapy: What’s the Difference?

Both formats are equally effective. It’s about what works for your life, schedule, and nervous system.

🏠 Surrey Couples Counselling

  • Sessions held in our quiet, private Cloverdale office

  • Ideal if you live in Surrey, Langley, or nearby

  • Calm, neutral environment that supports focus and reflection

  • Option to attend joint or individual sessions in person

💻 Online Couples Counselling

  • Accessible from anywhere in British Columbia

  • Join sessions from the same device or separate locations

  • Great for long-distance couples, co-parents, and remote communities

  • Especially helpful for couples navigating anxiety, chronic illness, caregiving, or logistics barriers

We support both traditional and non-traditional partnerships, including queer couples, neurodiverse relationships, polyamorous structures, and culturally diverse constellations.

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Signs Couples Therapy Might Help

You might benefit if:

  • You feel more like roommates than partners

  • Small issues spiral into big blowouts

  • You’re having the same argument over and over

  • One of you feels shut down while the other feels too much

  • You’re unsure how to support each other emotionally

  • You’re feeling lost, and don’t know how to bring it up

  • You’re still trying—but nothing seems to work

Therapy won’t “fix” your partner. But it can change the dynamic between you.

What If One of Us Isn’t Sure?

It’s okay if you’re not on the same page yet.

Sometimes one partner is more ready, while the other feels unsure or skeptical. We work gently to create space for both perspectives. In some cases, it makes sense to start with individual sessions to explore your readiness and goals.

Couples therapy can also be helpful when:

  • You’re unsure if you want to stay together

  • You’re preparing for a conscious separation

  • You want to co-parent with more care, clarity, and cooperation

What Is Trauma-Informed Couples Counselling?

Trauma-informed couples counselling is a type of couples counselling that takes into account the impact of past traumas on the relationship. Trauma can include events such as physical or emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, or exposure to violence. Trauma can also include experiences such as a serious illness or accident, the loss of a loved one, or a natural disaster.

A trauma-informed approach to couples counselling recognizes that trauma can affect how individuals interact with their partners and can lead to difficulties in communication, trust, and intimacy. It also recognizes that individuals may have different coping mechanisms and reactions to trauma.

A trauma-informed couples counsellor will work with both partners to understand the impact of past traumas on the relationship and develop strategies to address these issues. This may include helping couples to understand how past traumas have affected their communication, trust, and intimacy and teaching couples new communication skills that take into account the impact of trauma.

The trauma-informed approach also values safety and respect, the therapist will create a safe space for both partners to talk about their experiences without fear of judgment or retraumatization.

Trauma-informed couples counselling can be beneficial for individuals and couples who have experienced trauma and are struggling to maintain a healthy relationship. It can also be beneficial for couples who are not aware of the impact of past traumas on their relationship but are experiencing communication, trust, and intimacy issues.

It's important to note that not all therapists are trained in trauma-informed couples counselling, so it might be important to find a therapist who has experience working with trauma and is trained in this approach.

FAQs About Couples Counselling at Tidal

Do you offer LGBTQ+ couples therapy?
Yes. We’re an affirming, inclusive practice. Our therapists are experienced in working with a wide range of gender identities, sexual orientations, and relationship structures, including queer, trans, non-monogamous, polyamorous, and neurodiverse partnerships.

What if one of us is unsure about attending?
That’s common. Couples therapy doesn’t require both partners to be equally enthusiastic at the start. We work at a pace that builds safety and trust—without pressure. Sometimes one person begins alone, and the other joins later when the process feels safer.

Can I start couples therapy by myself?
Yes. Many people choose to begin individually to explore their relational patterns, emotional reactions, or goals before inviting their partner into the work. This can be especially helpful if your partner is not ready or available.

Can we work with different therapists individually and still do couples therapy?
Yes. In some cases, your couples therapist may recommend individual support as well. We can help coordinate care if both partners want to see different therapists alongside joint sessions.

What if we’re not sure we want to stay together?
That’s a perfectly valid reason to seek support. Therapy can be a space to explore this question honestly—without pressure to stay or separate. We can also support couples in consciously ending a relationship with clarity and care.

Do you offer premarital counselling or relationship tune-ups?
Yes. Couples therapy isn’t just for crisis. Many partners come in proactively to strengthen communication, explore shared values, or build tools before making long-term commitments.

How many sessions does couples therapy usually take?
That depends on your goals, your relational history, and how ready both people are to engage. Some couples attend for a few months. Others choose longer-term work. We’ll collaborate with you to determine a rhythm that feels sustainable and effective.

Is online couples therapy as effective as in-person sessions?
Yes. Many of our clients report deep connection, meaningful insight, and strong progress through virtual sessions. Online therapy offers flexibility, comfort, and accessibility—without sacrificing emotional depth.

Can we switch from online to in-person (or vice versa)?
Absolutely. You’re welcome to move between formats based on your needs and location. We aim to make therapy accessible, responsive, and consistent—no matter how you choose to meet.

How do we know if a therapist is the right fit for us?
Fit is everything. That’s why we offer free consultations. We’ll help you find someone who aligns with your values, goals, and relationship dynamics. If it doesn’t feel right, we’ll work with you to find someone else on our team.

You Deserve a Relationship That Feels Safe to Be In

Whether you’re trying to stay together, trying to part ways, or simply trying to understand each other again—we’ll walk with you.

Fill out a New Client Form to get paired with one or more couples counsellors. If you’re ready, book a free consult or appointment.


We’ll help you find the right therapist for your marriage, and the right path, for the relationship you’re in right now.