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Improving Communication counselling in BC

Couples counselling differs from individual counselling in that the relationship is considered to be the client. Patterns of communication are explored in a non-pathologizing way, discovering underlying emotions that fuel negative interactions.

Book a free consultationSee improving communication counsellors
  • 15 counsellors
  • In person or online

Signs

What improving communication can feel like

Every relationship has hard conversations. It may be time to reach out when communication keeps breaking down, the same fights keep coming back or you often feel unheard.

  • The same argument keeps coming back
  • Feeling unheard or misunderstood
  • Small comments turning into big fights
  • Avoiding hard topics to keep the peace
  • Shutting down or going quiet in conflict
  • Raising your voice more than you want to
  • Feeling more like roommates than partners
  • Saying sorry without anything changing

How counselling helps

What working on it together looks likeHow counselling helps

  1. Early on

    See the pattern

    With your counsellor, you look at what happens in a hard talk, step by step, and notice the feelings under the words, like hurt or fear.

  2. As you go

    Slow things down

    You practise ways to pause when a talk heats up, take a break and come back, so you can listen and speak without the argument taking over.

  3. Over time

    Talk in new ways

    You try new ways to ask for what you need and to repair after a fight, and build a way of talking that feels safer for both of you.

Where

In person in Burnaby, Vancouver and Surrey, or onlineWhere

About

More about improving communication

Couples counselling differs from individual counselling in that the relationship is considered to be the client. Patterns of communication are explored in a non-pathologizing way,  discovering underlying emotions that fuel negative interactions. It offers the opportunity to process unresolved hurts and betrayals, making way for a more secure bond. To allow for more productive communication, skills can be developed, restoring a sense of affection and gratitude towards one another.

Research shows that strong relationship bonds, characterized by a secure attachment style, can sometimes act as a buffer against the stresses of life. Couples counselling aims to develop bonds through restructuring how couples interact. In couples counselling, care is taken to avoid siding with one partner, where equal involvement builds a connection to discover and overcome barriers.

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Couples and relationships

More topics we help withMore topics

See every topic we help with

Counsellors who help with improving communicationCounsellors for improving communication

See all 15All 15

  • Colleen Marcoux

    Counselling Therapist

    • English
    • Online
    View profile

  • Erin Green

    Counselling Therapist

    • English
    • Victoria
    View profile

  • Thao Tran

    Counselling Therapist

    • English, Vietnamese
    • Online
    View profile

  • Afsah Ahmad

    Counselling Therapist

    • English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu
    • Surrey · Online
    View profile

  • Basil Dimou

    Counselling Therapist

    • English
    • Online
    View profile

  • Carolina Rosa-Crespo

    Counselling Therapist

    • English, Portuguese
    • Coquitlam
    View profile

FAQs

Common questions about improving communication counsellingCommon questions

Can't find your answer? Ask us a question.

  • You might find it helpful if talks often end in hurt, silence or the same fight. You do not need to wait until things are at their worst. Many people reach out simply because they want to feel closer and more understood. If you are unsure, our free 15-minute consultation by phone or video is a chance to ask questions and see how it feels.

  • Yes, you can start on your own. Changing how you speak and listen can shift a relationship, even when the other person is not in the room. Your counsellor can help you understand your side of the pattern and practise new ways to respond. You decide what to share and when.

  • No, your counsellor does not decide who is right. The focus is on the pattern between you, not on blaming one person. Each of you gets space to share your side, as much or as little as you like, and to feel heard. This can make it easier to talk about things that feel hard at home.

  • Yes, you can meet online from anywhere in BC, or in person in Burnaby, Vancouver or Surrey. Online sessions can work well when partners have busy schedules or are in different places. Our intake team suggests counsellors who fit what you need, your language, your budget and where you want to meet.

  • It may be, depending on your plan. Many extended health plans cover Registered Clinical Counsellors and Canadian Certified Counsellors (RCC/CCC), so check your own plan to see what it includes. We also offer sliding scale rates for eligible people, and our fees and funding page explains your options.

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