Couples Counselling

Support for your relationship

Every relationship goes through hard seasons. Couples counselling gives you both a structured, supportive space to understand recurring conflicts, rebuild trust and feel like a team again. Antonio Guzman, RCC, has advanced training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and more than 30 years of counselling experience, including extensive work with relationship and family challenges.

Couples come to us for

• Communication breakdowns and the same argument on repeat
• Feeling distant, more like roommates than partners
• Rebuilding after an affair or another breach of trust
• Parenting, blended family and in-law stress
• Big transitions: a move, a new baby, illness, job loss or retirement
• Differences around money, intimacy or values
• Deciding whether to stay together, or how to separate with care
• Pre-marriage and pre-commitment check-ins

What is the Gottman Method?

The Gottman Method was developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman from decades of research observing couples. It focuses on three things that help relationships last: friendship and fondness, handling conflict in a constructive way, and building a shared sense of meaning. It gives couples practical tools, not only insight.

In sessions, you might work on:

• Spotting the patterns the Gottmans call the "Four Horsemen" (criticism, contempt, defensiveness and stonewalling) and what to do instead
• Starting difficult conversations more gently, so they are less likely to escalate
• Recognizing when one of you is overwhelmed, and taking a break that actually helps
• Repairing after an argument
• Rebuilding trust and closeness after a betrayal

The Developmental Model of couples therapy

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Antonio also draws on the Developmental Model of couples therapy created by Drs. Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson. It sees relationships as moving through stages, from the early closeness of falling in love to learning to be two separate people who still choose each other. Seen this way, conflict is often a sign that a couple is ready to grow, and sessions help each partner build the skills to get there.

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What to expect

Getting started

Your first sessions focus on getting to know you as a couple: your history together, what is working, and what brought you in. Assessment may also include a short individual conversation with each partner and questionnaires, so Antonio understands both perspectives before you set goals together.

90-minute sessions

Couples sessions are 90 minutes. That leaves time for both partners to be heard and to practise new ways of talking in the room, rather than only talking about them.

How many sessions?

It depends on what you are working on. Some couples come for a focused set of sessions around one issue, while others work together over several months. Sessions are often weekly or every other week at first, then spaced out as things settle.

In person, online, in English or Spanish

Sessions take place in Suite 412 of the Duncan Building, 119 W Pender St, or online, or a mix of both. Antonio offers couples counselling in English and Spanish.

Marriage counselling, relationship counselling, couples therapy

These are different names for the same work. Whether you are married, common-law, dating or long-distance, couples counselling is for any committed relationship, and 2SLGBTQ+ couples are warmly welcome.

When couples counselling may not be the right fit

If there is violence in the relationship, or one partner feels afraid of the other, joint sessions may not be safe. Antonio can talk with you individually about safer options. If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. VictimLinkBC offers confidential support 24 hours a day at 1-800-563-0808.

Related support

Sometimes one partner also wants individual support alongside couples work. See counselling at The Qi Station, or learn about Adlerian therapy, which looks at how family patterns shape the way we relate.

If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 9-8-8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline) or go to your nearest emergency department.