Couples Counselling in Edmonton
Every couple hits hard patches
The question is whether you work through them or let them define you.
Maybe you've been having the same argument for years without resolving anything. Maybe the distance between you has been growing so slowly you didn't notice until it felt enormous. Maybe something happened — a betrayal, a loss, a major life transition — and you haven't been able to find your way back to each other since.
Couples counselling doesn't have to be a last resort before separation. It's what couples who take their relationship seriously do when things get hard. The earlier you get support, the more options we have. At Forge Psychology, we understand the specific dynamics that come up for men in relationships. We understand the communication differences between men and women and we won't make you feel "ganged up on".
What Couples Counselling Looks Like at Forge Psychology
Sessions will focus on:
- Understanding the specific patterns that are driving conflict in your relationship
- Breaking the cycles of criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling — what researchers call the "Four Horsemen" that predict relationship breakdown
- Building genuine friendship and fondness as the foundation of a lasting relationship
- Navigating conflict in a way that moves things forward rather than leaving both partners feeling worse
- Rebuilding trust and commitment after it's been damaged
- Creating shared meaning — a relationship that feels purposeful and connected, not just functional
This Isn't Just About Stopping The Fighting
The goal of couples counselling isn't to make conflict disappear — some conflict is healthy and necessary. The goal is to change how conflict happens, so it becomes something you move through together rather than something that damages you every time.
It's also about rebuilding what drew you together in the first place. A lot of couples in distress have lost sight of their friendship — the ease, the humour, the genuine enjoyment of each other. That can be rebuilt. It takes work, but it can be rebuilt.
Meet the Therapists Who Lead This Work
Ignacio Astete: Registered Provisional Psychologist that will help you find common ground and get back to what connected you together in the first place. He is trained in EFT to help you build new relationship patterns that stick — not just in the room, but at home.
Dan Taylor brings over 20 years of experience working with couples through conflict, disconnection, betrayal, and major life transitions. He has seen every version of relationship struggle — and knows what it takes to move through them. His direct, no-nonsense style works particularly well when one partner is skeptical whether counselling can actually help.
Chelsey Stasuik is a registered psychologist that is trained in the Gottman Method — bringing a structured, research-backed approach to couples work. She helps partners understand each other more clearly and build the skills that turn conflict into connection rather than damage.
You Relationship is Worth Fighting For
Most couples wait an average of six years after problems begin before seeking help. Six years of accumulated hurt, distance, and resentment that didn't have to build up that way.
If something feels off — even if you can't fully articulate what it is — now is the right time to get support. Not when things are catastrophic. Now.
Questions Men Ask Before Coming to Couples Therapy
We keep having the same fight over and over. Can couples counselling actually help?
Yes. Recurring arguments are one of the most common reasons couples start counselling. The fight is usually not really about the dishes, money or in-laws. It's about an underlying need, like feeling respected, appreciated, or heard. In couples counselling at Forge Psychology, we help you spot the pattern you both get stuck in, understand what's driving it, and practise new ways to respond so the same argument stops repeating.and the fact that you don't know why is exactly where we'll start.
My partner doesn't want to go to couples therapy. What should I do?
Reluctance is very common, and it doesn't mean your relationship is doomed. Many partners worry that therapy will mean being blamed, judged or ganged up on. It often helps to frame counselling as a way to make things better for both of you, not to prove who's right. You can also start with individual sessions to work on your side of the dynamic. A single consultation call with our team can also answer your partner's questions before they commit.
How do I bring up couples counselling with my partner without starting a fight?
Choose a calm moment, not the middle of an argument, and lead with what you want rather than what's wrong. For example: "I love you and I want us to feel closer. I think talking to someone could help us." Avoid framing it as a punishment or a last resort (ex: "You're impossible! We need therapy because of you!"). Some couples find it easier to agree to "just one session" first. We're happy to speak with either partner beforehand to explain how sessions work.
I feel like I carry all the mental load in our relationship. Can counselling help with that?
Yes. Unequal division of household tasks, childcare planning and emotional labour is a frequent source of resentment, and it often builds quietly for years. Counselling gives you a structured space to make the invisible work visible, talk about expectations without blame, and reach agreements you both actually follow through on. The goal is a partnership that feels fair to both people, not a scorecard.
We feel more like roommates than partners. Is that normal, and can it be fixed?
It's very common, especially after children, career stress or years of routine. Emotional distance usually develops gradually as couples stop turning toward each other in small daily moments. Counselling helps you rebuild connection, restart honest conversations about needs and intimacy, and create small rituals that bring warmth back. Many couples who feel like roommates can rebuild closeness with the right support.
Can couples counselling help us recover after infidelity?
Yes, many couples do rebuild trust after an affair, though it takes time and commitment from both partners. Counselling provides a safe structure to process hurt and anger, understand what happened, and decide together whether and how to move forward. Recovery usually moves through stages: stabilizing the immediate crisis, understanding the context, then rebuilding trust and intimacy. Your counsellor won't take sides; the focus is on helping both of you heal.
Will the therapist take sides?
No. A couples counsellor's "client" is the relationship, not either individual. Our role is to make sure both partners feel heard and understood, even when you see things very differently. If either of you ever feels the sessions are tilting one way, we encourage you to say so. That feedback helps the process work better for both of you.
How long does couples counselling take to work?
It depends on your goals and how long the issues have been building, but many couples notice changes in communication within the first few sessions. Short-term work for a specific issue might take 8 to 12 sessions. Deeper patterns or recovery from betrayal often take longer. Sessions at Forge Psychology are typically 50 or 80 minutes, and we'll check in regularly on progress so you always know where you stand.
Is couples counselling right for every relationship?
Couples counselling helps with most relationship difficulties, including communication breakdowns, conflict, trust issues, intimacy, parenting stress and life transitions. However, it is not recommended when there is abuse, coercive control, or a partner feels unsafe, because joint sessions can increase risk. In those situations, individual support is the safer first step. If you're unsure whether couples counselling is appropriate, contact us confidentially and we'll help you find the right starting point.