Relationship, Marriage & Couples Therapy
Spoiler alert – relationships can be tough! Maybe you’re feeling a little unseen, unheard, or just plain over it. Maybe the communication’s off, the trust feels shaky, or you’re carrying some old hurts that won’t go away. Or hey – maybe things are actually going pretty well, and you just want to strengthen your connection before a big step like marriage or a life transition. Wherever you’re at, you don’t have to figure it all out alone. At Rebound Total Health, we help couples navigate the messy, beautiful, complicated parts of relationships – so you can feel more connected, supported, and understood.
What can couples therapy help you with?
Every relationship has its “stuff” – and no two couples have the same set of challenges. That’s why our therapists don’t do one-size-fits-all. We’re here to help you and your partner tackle whatever’s getting in the way of connection – including the sticky, messy, and not-so-fun parts like:
- Trust that’s been shaken
- Infidelity and the aftermath
- Big life transitions (hello – moving, marriage, or baby #2)
- Communication that keeps going in circles
- Arguments that never actually get resolved
- Parenting stress (aka “did we seriously just argue over screen time again?”)
- Separation or divorce
- Intimacy hurdles (yep, we go there)
- …and all the things that don’t fit neatly on a checklist
Whatever you’re facing, you’re not alone. We’ve got the tools – and the heart – to walk with you through it!
Our Therapeutic Approach to Couples therapy
No two couples are exactly alike – so we don’t treat them like they are.
Your relationship is unique (yes, even the weird inside jokes and recurring arguments about laundry), and your therapy should reflect that. Our therapists are trained in a range of proven approaches, including the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and even Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for couples.
We use practical, research-backed tools to help you:
- Communicate like you actually understand each other
- Resolve conflict without it turning into a three-day standoff
- Strengthen emotional and physical intimacy
The first goal? Helping you feel more connected and supported in everyday moments.
Then, we go deeper – exploring the old wounds, stuck patterns, and emotional walls that might be keeping you from really seeing and hearing each other.
Our hope? That you leave therapy with not just tools – but a deeper understanding, healing, and a renewed sense of “us.”
What to Expect when Starting Couples Therapy
Couples therapy isn’t just a place to vent – it’s where teamwork (and real change) starts.
You’ll meet with your therapist online (no awkward waiting room vibes here), and we encourage both of you to join from the same space if possible – ideally with open minds, honest hearts, and maybe even a little curiosity.
Now, we get it – some couples show up hoping for a referee to blow the whistle during every argument. And while your therapist will help you navigate conflict, they’re not just here to keep score. Think of them more like a guide: someone who helps you both feel heard, understood, and appreciated, while keeping the bigger picture in focus – your relationship.
In sessions, we’ll work together to:
- Build collaboration and shared goals
- Spot patterns (the helpful and not-so-helpful ones)
- Explore what’s really going on beneath the surface
- Practice new tools in real time
We’ll ask good questions, introduce activities, provide space to reflect, and yes – sometimes lovingly challenge you. You might even leave with some take-home reflection or small exercises to try between sessions.
One thing you can count on? We’re not here to take sides. Your therapist is on Team Relationship – here to support both of you in moving forward, together!
Couples therapy can support...
Whether you’re dealing with trust issues, intimacy struggles, constant conflict, or communication breakdowns, we’re here to help you untangle the tough stuff and reconnect with what brought you together in the first place.
We help couples build healthy patterns before the stress of marriage, big transitions, or life’s curveballs show up. It’s one of the smartest (and kindest) things you can do for your future together.
We’re here to help you navigate this transition in a way that feels healthy, respectful, and true to your values. Together, we’ll work on finding real, meaningful ways to cope with all the complicated emotions that come with separation – so you can move forward with clarity, compassion, and strength.
Whether you’re exploring polyamory, navigating layered dynamics, or untangling outside pressures from family, culture, or society, we’re here to help you define what a meaningful, healthy connection looks like on your terms.
Your therapist offers a supportive, open, and nonjudgmental space where you can be honest, explore freely, and build relationships that align with your values – whatever shape they take.
Every relationship has its everyday ups and downs – but for LGBTQ+ couples, there can be a few extra layers to handle.
Whether it’s outside pressure from family, society, or those pesky judgments, we’re here to help you navigate it all – with empathy, respect, and zero judgment. Your therapist is your ally, offering a safe, open space to be your true selves and grow stronger together.
Think of couples therapy like relationship yoga – the earlier you start stretching, the less likely you are to pull something later. Getting support early on isn’t a red flag; it’s a power move. All couples pick up funky habits over time (we’re only human!), but the longer those patterns stick around, the harder they are to shake. Starting therapy while you’re still dating is like giving your relationship a head start – so why not set yourselves up for something awesome?
You don’t have to be head-over-heels to work on being great co-parents. Maybe the romance is in the rearview, but raising kids together? That’s still very much a team sport and every good team needs a game plan. Whether it’s navigating communication hiccups, value clashes, parenting curveballs, or just figuring out how to be friendly-ish again, we’ve got your back. Co-parenting is tough… but it doesn’t have to be messy.
What are some strategies to help support my relationship?
Speaker Listener Activity
Communication is tricky – and you’re not the only couple figuring it out!
The Speaker-Listener activity is a simple way to slow things down and really hear each other. Once a week, one person shares (kindly!), and the other just listens – no interrupting, no “Yeah, but…”.
The listener’s only job?
- Understand, not respond
- Validate something
- Take ownership of one small thing
Then switch! Start with easy topics – save the big stuff for later. It’s all about building better habits, one calm convo at a time.
Bid Towards
Every little “Hey, look at that!” from your partner is actually a chance to connect. These tiny moments are called bids – small ways we reach out for attention, affection, or just a little “I see you.”
When your partner says, “Wow, it’s nice out today,” you’ve got two options:
Bid toward them: “Yeah! Let’s open the windows.”
Or bid away: say nothing and keep scrolling.
Choosing to bid toward – even in small, everyday ways – builds connection, boosts intimacy, and keeps your friendship strong. Little things really do add up!
Don’t wait for things to get harder. The longer disconnection, miscommunication, or resentment sits, the deeper it digs in. But the good news? You don’t have to keep feeling stuck. Couples who get support don’t just survive - they actually thrive! Whether you’re dating, co-parenting, married, or figuring it out as you go, our therapists at Rebound give you the tools to grow together (not apart). Book your first session today!
Frequently Asked Questions about Couple Therapy
Couples therapy at Rebound ranges from $150 to $275 per 50-minute session, depending on the therapist you work with. We also offer affordable therapy options for those with little or no benefit coverage. We offer couples therapy in person at our Dundas office and virtually across Canada.
It can be! Many extended health benefit plans cover therapy with a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) or Registered Social Worker (RSW).
The annoying answer is that every insurance plan is different. Before booking, check your benefits or call your insurer and ask whether they cover the specific designation of the therapist you want to see.
We’ll give you a receipt to submit. You send it off, they hopefully give you money back. Everybody wins. If you’re not covered by your insurance, talk to us – we may have some affordable options available!
Usually, no. Private couples therapy with a Registered Psychotherapist or Registered Social Worker is generally not covered by OHIP.
Your extended health benefits may cover some or all of the cost, though, so it’s worth checking before assuming you’re paying entirely out of pocket.
Ah, the therapist’s favourite answer: it depends.
Some couples come in with one specific thing to tackle and only need a handful of sessions. Others are trying to untangle years of resentment, trust issues, communication problems or hurt. We’re probably going to need more than three Tuesdays for that.
You and your therapist will figure out what you’re actually trying to change and go from there. Couples therapy doesn’t have to be forever.
Weekly or biweekly is a pretty common place to start.
But there isn’t a magical schedule where Session #7: Congratulations! Your relationship is fixed.
How often you come depends on what you’re working through, how much support you need and, realistically, what works with two people’s schedules. Your therapist can help you figure out a rhythm that makes sense.
First, don’t drag them there kicking and screaming. Not exactly the collaborative energy we’re going for.
Instead, figure out what the hesitation is. Maybe they think the therapist will automatically take your side. Maybe talking about feelings sounds like their personal nightmare. Maybe they think agreeing to therapy means admitting the relationship is doomed.
Try asking them to come for one session or a free consultation instead of committing to therapy forever.
Still a hard no? You can come to individual therapy on your own. You can’t control your partner, but you can absolutely work on your side of the relationship.
YES. You do not need a ring, a joint mortgage or matching Costco cards to qualify for couples therapy.
Dating? Come on in. Engaged? Yep. Married? Obviously. LGBTQ+ relationship? Absolutely. Polyamorous? Yep. Co-parenting? We can work with that too.
If there’s a relationship you care about and something you want to make better, that’s enough.
Online couples therapy is a very real option, and for some couples, it’s honestly way easier to make happen consistently.
No commute. No finding childcare just to get across town. No sitting in Hamilton traffic silently furious at each other before arriving at couples therapy. A beautiful start.
We offer in-person couples therapy in Dundas and virtual couples therapy across Canada, so pick the option that makes it easiest for both of you to actually show up and do the work.
For most people looking for help? Not much.
Couples therapy and couples counselling are both commonly used to describe therapy focused on your relationship. Marriage counselling is basically the same idea, except, shockingly, it usually refers to married couples.
We work with relationships at all stages, so you don’t need to figure out the “correct” term before contacting us. Dating, engaged, married, separating, co-parenting or somewhere in the it’s complicated zone, we can help.
Don’t just look for a therapist. Look for someone who actually works with couples.
Couples therapy is its own beast. You’ve got two people, two histories, two communication styles and whatever weird fight you’ve somehow been having about the dishwasher since 2019.
Look at their experience with couples, the issues they work with and the approaches they use. Our couples therapists may use approaches like the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) depending on the therapist and what your relationship actually needs.
But credentials aren’t everything. Both of you need to feel comfortable with the therapist. That’s why we offer a free 15-minute consultation. Tell us a little about what’s going on, and we’ll help match you with someone who makes sense for the two of you.
Couples Counselling on the Bounce Back Blog
How Sexual Aftercare Can Strengthen Intimacy
Taking the next step: Moving in together!
Should we start couples counselling?
Are you ready to begin therapy with Rebound Total Health?
