Best Couples Counseling in Calgary

The best couples counseling in Calgary are Virtuous Circle Counselling, Alberta Counselling Centre, Solasta Counselling, Living Well Counselling Services, Be Well Psychology, and McAtee Psychology. These were chosen based on couples therapy expertise, client accessibility, and value/transparency.

An Ipsos survey found that 82% of people are satisfied with their relationship with their partner/spouse, which is good news. Relationships don't always go smoothly, though, and it's normal to go through highs and lows, and these can be helped through couples counseling.

Couples Therapy Can Help With Healthy Conflict Resolution

Couples in crisis may find it challenging to make progress, and relationship counseling can be of great assistance. Licensed and qualified therapists can be neutral third parties that facilitate productive conversations.

Even if a couple is having positive experiences, they can still learn important tools for their relationship from a therapist, such as communication skills. This can help improve the overall relationship wellness.

Best Overall for Couples Counselling in Calgary: Virtuous Circle Counselling 

Virtuous Circle Counselling is the best overall option for couples looking for couples counselling and relationship therapy in Calgary. The practice works with heterosexual and LGBTQ+ couples and supports a wide range of relationship structures and experiences, including married and unmarried couples, long-term partners, polyamorous relationships, long-distance relationships, and asexual relationships.

Couples can seek support for communication difficulties, conflict, trust and intimacy concerns, infidelity, separation and divorce, major life transitions, and other relationship challenges. Therapists draw from evidence-based and relationship-focused approaches, including:

• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Gottman Method
• Developmental Model
• Reflective listening and other relationship-focused interventions

With a large team of therapists, couples have more choice when looking for someone whose experience and therapeutic approach fit both partners. Counselling is available in person at multiple Calgary locations as well as online, with appointments available seven days a week.

Virtuous Circle Counselling also offers direct billing with many major insurance providers and lower-cost counselling options, giving couples more flexibility when considering the cost of therapy.

Couples can book a free consultation to learn more about a therapist, ask questions, and see whether they may be a good fit before booking a couples counselling session.

Best for Established Couples Seeking Structured Relationship Work: Alberta Counselling Centre

Alberta Counselling Centre is best for established couples seeking structured relationship work since its registered psychologists primarily use the Gottman Method. This means that they apply practical exercises and communication techniques to address things like conflict, intimacy, and trust, and this may be ideal for couples that want a structured and research-oriented approach, something deeper than general relationship and marriage support.

This practice focuses on Gottman's four problematic communication patterns: contempt, criticism, defensiveness, and stonewalling. These are areas the therapists teach their patients to recognize and change.

They also tailor their treatment plans by using other approaches when appropriate. For example, they may use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), EFT, internal family systems (IFS), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and solution-focused therapy.

Best for Couples Wanting Both Gottman and EFT: Solasta Counselling

Solasta Counselling is best for couples wanting Gottman and EFT since its program uses both, and they can have sessions either in person at the NW Calgary office or online from any location in Alberta. The clinicians include registered:

• Psychologists
• Provisional psychologists
• Social workers

One of Solasta Counselling's strong points is that it has a very transparent pricing structure. There's a page with clear services, prices, and session times; for example, individuals can see a registered psychologist for 50 minutes at $235. This practice also has counseling interns who have reduced rates, as well as free sessions under student counselling interns.

Solasta Counselling has direct billing to most major insurers, as well as sliding scale rates for clients who have financial need. This practice has free consultations, too.

Best for Flexible Scheduling and Multiple Locations: Living Well Counselling Services

Living Well Counselling Services is best for flexible scheduling since there are three locations in Calgary (Kensington, Douglasdale, and Inglewood). This practice has been around since 2008 and has an established local presence.

Couples can receive therapy through its registered psychologists and experienced counselors, whether it's online, on the phone, or in person. This gives them more flexibility for appointment times and locations. As with many of the other practices, interested couples can book a free consultation before committing.

As for the program itself, it can address issues such as:

• Communication problems
• Anger
• Affair recovery
• Intimacy
• Recurring negative relationship patterns

Counseling sessions cost approximately $140 to $200 for a 60-minute session, but rates can differ between therapists.

Best for Couples Looking for Psychology-Based Care and Multilingual Support: Be Well Psychology

Be Well Psychology is best for couples looking for psychology-based care and multilingual support because it mainly uses the Gottman Method and attachment-based approaches to address things like:

• Communication breakdowns
• Trust ruptures
• Intimacy concerns
• Parenting disagreements
• Decisions about separation

This practice has appointment availability not just during the daytime, but also in the evening and on weekends. What's most important is that therapy is offered in English, Hindi, and Punjabi. This allows non-English-speaking couples to comfortably receive support in their native language, whether their relationship is struggling or is currently healthy.

The sessions start at $235 per hour, but the exact rate will depend on the clinician and service. Interested parties can also schedule a free 20-minute consultation first.

Best for Neurodivergent Couples: McAtee Psychology

McAtee Psychology is best for neurodivergent couples because it uses a neurodivergent-informed approach. Its program is specifically designed with clear structure, visual tools, and gentle pacing so individuals don't get overwhelmed. This practice has helped over 2,500 clients ranging from children and teens to adults, couples, and families.

McAtee Psychology uses EFT and the Gottman method, and it focuses on attachment and communication work. This is done through its registered psychologists, provisional psychologists, and social worker. Not only are neurodivergent couples welcome, but so are mixed-neurotype couples. They can work on issues such as:

• Conflict
• Betrayal
• Burnout
• Parenting changes
• Relocation
• Major life transitions

Couples can spend $245 for 50 minutes of counseling, and they can either attend in-person Calgary sessions or online ones across Alberta. They can also first schedule a free consultation.

Find the Right Fit for Couples Counseling

As with one-on-one therapy, finding the right fit for couples counseling is essential. With these various choices in Calgary that have free consultations, it's entirely possible to find a practice and even a specific therapist that suits your relationship's needs.

Check out more of our pages now if you want to keep reading interesting articles.

This article was prepared by an independent contributor which helps us continue delivering quality content to our audiences.