Marriage Counselling in Surrey BC
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Marriage counselling gives a couple a steady place to work on the parts of the relationship that have become hard to talk about at home. Some couples come after years of drifting, some after a specific rupture, and some because they want to get ahead of a pattern they can already feel forming.
At Sojourn Counselling and Neurofeedback in Cloverdale, Surrey, our counsellors work with married and long term partners from Surrey, Cloverdale, Langley and White Rock, and online across British Columbia.
When Couples Come to Marriage Counselling
There is no threshold you have to cross before counselling is worth it. Couples come to us when the same argument keeps repeating, when conversation has narrowed to logistics and children, when resentment has built up quietly over years, and sometimes when one partner is considering whether to stay.
Coming early tends to make the work shorter. Coming late does not make it hopeless. What matters more than timing is whether both people are willing to look at what is happening between them.
What Marriage Counselling Looks Like at Sojourn
Your counsellor will usually begin by understanding the relationship as each of you experiences it, including the history, the strengths, and the moments where things reliably go sideways. Many of our counsellors will also offer a separate session with each partner early on.
From there the work is practical rather than abstract. Sessions tend to slow down a specific moment of disconnection and look at what happened underneath the words. Over time, couples usually find they can have conversations that had become impossible, and repair more quickly when things do go wrong.
Your counsellor is not there to decide who is right. Their job is to hold the process for both of you, fairly, including when it is uncomfortable.
Common Reasons Married Couples Reach Out
Recurring conflict that never fully resolves. Emotional distance, or the sense of living as roommates. Differences in intimacy, desire or affection. Trust that has been damaged. The strain of parenting, illness, caregiving or financial pressure. Difficulty with in laws or blended family arrangements. Retirement, an empty nest, or any transition that changes what the marriage is organised around.
Marriage counselling is also used when one partner is carrying anxiety, depression or trauma that the relationship has been absorbing for a long time.
Marriage Counselling and Long Term Partnerships
Not everyone who comes for marriage counselling is legally married. Common law partners, engaged couples and long term partners work on the same things, and our counsellors work with all of them. We use the word marriage here because it is what many people search for, not to draw a line around who is welcome.
Our Approaches to Marriage Counselling
Our counsellors draw mainly on two well researched approaches; for a plain language look at the evidence, see does couples counselling actually work.Emotionally Focused Therapy works from the attachment emotions underneath the conflict, helping partners recognise the cycle they get caught in and reach for each other differently; you can read how we use it with couples on our Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy page. Gottman Method Couples Therapy works from observable interaction, conflict management and friendship building. Many of our counsellors use both, and we have written a comparison in EFT vs Gottman Method if you want to understand the difference before you book.
Our Marriage Counsellors in Surrey
Jonathan Wieser, MA, RCC-ACS, RMFT. Jonathan holds a Master’s degree with a focus in Marriage and Family Therapy and is a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist. He has completed the Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship and trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy at the advanced level, and has been a Registered Clinical Counsellor since 2010.
Katherine Ouano, MEd, RCC. Katherine works from emotionally focused approaches alongside DBT, CBT and person centred work, and sees individuals, couples and families. She offers evening and weekend appointments.
Tarnia Pickard, MEd, RCC. Tarnia brings more than twenty years of work with children, youth, families and couples, drawing on family systems, IFS, DBT and EMDR. She accepts CVAP clients.
Michael Murie and Sarah Ball, counselling interns. Both see couples and work from systemic and emotionally focused approaches. Intern sessions are $60 for 50 minutes and the first session is free.
View all of our counsellors to compare approaches, availability and fit.
Marriage Counselling Online Across BC
Several of our counsellors see couples online anywhere in British Columbia, which often makes scheduling easier when partners work different hours or live outside Surrey. You can read more about online therapy and telephone counselling, or ask when you book. Book online or telephone counselling.
Start Marriage Counselling in Surrey BC
You can view therapist profiles, approaches and current availability, and book online. If you are not sure who to start with, contact us and we can help you find a good fit.
Sojourn Counselling and Neurofeedback, Unit 211, 17696 65A Avenue, Surrey BC V3S 5N4. Phone 778-381-5868. We see couples from Surrey, Cloverdale, Langley and White Rock, and online across BC.
Related Couples Counselling Services
Marriage counselling sits within our wider couples counselling services at Sojourn. You can read about the two approaches our counsellors use most, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy and Gottman Method Couples Therapy, or compare them in EFT vs Gottman Method. When one partner wants to work on their own attachment patterns, Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy is often a good starting point.
All of our couples counsellors are Registered Clinical Counsellors. If cost is a barrier, our low cost counselling interns see couples at $60 per 50 minute session with the first session free. Full rates and direct billing details are on our fees and insurance page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Marriage Counselling
How long does marriage counselling take?
It depends on what a couple is carrying and how long the pattern has been in place. Many couples notice a difference in the first several sessions, while deeper injuries take longer. Your counsellor will talk with you about a realistic timeframe once they understand your situation, rather than promising a number in advance.
What if my partner does not want to come?
That is common, and it is not the end of the road. Some people start with individual sessions focused on the relationship, and partners often join later once they see what the work actually involves.
Will the counsellor take sides?
No. Your counsellor works for the relationship and holds the process for both partners. If you feel that balance slipping, say so, and it can be addressed directly.
Can we do marriage counselling online?
Yes. Several of our counsellors see couples online across British Columbia, which often makes scheduling easier when partners work different hours.
How much does marriage counselling cost?
Sessions with a Registered Clinical Counsellor are $160 to $175 for 50 minutes. Counselling interns offer sessions at $60, and the first session with an intern is free.
Do you direct bill?
We offer direct billing through TELUS eClaims and a small service fee applies. Payment is otherwise due at the time of the appointment. Though we are not able to direct bill every insurer, plans that cover RCC or RMFT services may still reimburse you, and we provide detailed receipts you can submit to your insurer.
What if we are thinking about separating?
Some couples come to counselling unsure whether they want to stay together. That is a legitimate reason to book. The work can help you make the decision thoughtfully rather than in the middle of a fight.
Contact Us
At Sojourn Counselling and Neurofeedback, we offer both in-person sessions in Surrey (Cloverdale) and online counselling across British Columbia. Book online or telephone counselling.
Contact us today to learn more about our marriage counselling services or to schedule your first session. We offer flexible appointment times and an easy-to-use online booking system to make it convenient for you to get the support you need.
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Or, book your appointment directly through our online booking platform. We’re here to help you take the next step toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.
