Communication difficulties
Conversations may feel unproductive, defensive, tense, or disconnected, even when both partners want to be understood.
Couples & Marriage Therapy
Reconnect, communicate, and move forward together.
Couples therapy provides a respectful, structured space to better understand the patterns affecting your relationship, strengthen emotional connection, and work toward the changes that matter to both of you.
Support for your relationship
A place to work on the relationship, together
Relationships can be a source of comfort, meaning, and connection—but they can also become strained by conflict, distance, changing needs, stress, or painful experiences. Reaching out for help can be a meaningful first step.
Couples therapy is not about deciding who is right or wrong. It is a collaborative process that helps both partners slow down, understand recurring patterns, communicate more effectively, and make intentional choices about the relationship.
Connect with our officeCommon reasons to reach out
When couples therapy may help
Partners seek counselling at many different points in a relationship—not only during a crisis.
Disconnection or intimacy concerns
Support for partners who feel emotionally distant, want to rebuild closeness, or are navigating changes in intimacy.
Recurring conflict
A space to understand familiar cycles of criticism, withdrawal, escalation, or unresolved disagreements.
Trust and repair
Guidance for couples working through hurt, disappointment, broken trust, or the need to repair after difficult experiences.
Life transitions
Support through parenting changes, blended-family questions, work stress, illness, grief, retirement, or other major transitions.
Strengthening a healthy relationship
Therapy can also help partners build skills, deepen understanding, and invest in their relationship before concerns become larger.
Evidence-based care
Building a stronger foundation for connection
Couples therapy at Carreira Psychology draws on established approaches that help partners better understand emotional needs, communication patterns, and ways of relating to one another.
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy helps partners identify the patterns that create distance and develop new ways of reaching for, responding to, and supporting one another.
The Gottman Method
The Gottman Method offers practical, research-informed tools for improving communication, managing conflict, strengthening friendship, and supporting shared goals.
Your first steps
What to expect in couples therapy
Every relationship is different. Therapy is tailored to the concerns, priorities, and goals that you and your partner bring to the process.
Begin with your story
Early sessions create space to understand each partner’s perspective, the relationship history, current concerns, and what you hope will change.
Understand the pattern
Together, you will explore the cycles that leave each partner feeling unheard, disconnected, frustrated, or alone.
Practise new ways forward
Sessions focus on more open communication, emotional responsiveness, practical skills, and changes that support your shared goals.
Your care team
Meet the clinicians supporting couples
Contact our office to discuss your concerns and find the clinician and appointment format that may be the best fit for your relationship.
Registered Psychologist & Clinic Supervisor
Dr. Chris Carreira, Ph.D., C. Psych.
Dr. Carreira provides couples with a secure, supportive environment to rebuild connection, restore intimacy, and navigate relationship stress.
Meet Dr. Carreira
Registered Psychotherapist
Kristina Jurkovic, RP, Ph.D.
Kristina provides psychotherapy to couples as well as adolescents and adults, with a compassionate, collaborative approach to care.
Meet KristinaRelated support
Explore other services
Personal Support
Individual Therapy
One-to-one support for anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, and life transitions.
Learn moreFamily Support
Family Therapy
Support for family conflict, parenting concerns, grief, and communication breakdowns.
Learn moreFlexible Access
Online Therapy
Secure virtual therapy sessions for clients who prefer to access care remotely.
Learn moreA healthier relationship can start with one conversation.
Contact our office to learn more about couples therapy or request an appointment with our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Real stories from real people who found clarity, healing, and growth through compassionate care with Dr. Chris Carreira.