Great Couples Counselling in High River, AB. Therapy to heal relationships.

Relationships are both difficult and rewarding. Like most things of value, however, these intimate connections require intentional work in order to remain healthy and rewarding. Whether you are beginning a relationship or wishing to enhance an existing one, therapy can help you to discover and value each other's "owners manual" , communicate more effectively, and resolve conflict in a more timely and effective fashion.

Whether you're just wanting to clarify that you're in a healthy relationship or you have specific issues to resolve, I can offer a neutral and non-judgemental space while helping you navigate yourself and each other. Working from an Emotionally Focused Therapy and Systems theory framework, I can help you uncover your true needs in a relationship and work through any barriers or obstacles to living a healthy and fulfilling life.

We offer couples counseling and focus on the strengths of each couple to assist them in working better as a team. We help each couple learn to validate each other and encourage open and honest communication with each other. We seek to instill hope and respect into each couple with whom we work. Our therapists offer couples counseling in person in Duluth and Hinckley; as well as, online through E-Services.

I love working with couples. Whether you're busy professionals trying to find balance, or a couple who is struggling to keep a marriage from failing, enhancing communication and reconnecting are essential. Couples often get stuck in negative spirals, so confronting resentment, accepting responsibility, and committing to a better future are essential for couples to change course. At the same time, some couples aren't even certain it's worth it anymore, and discernment therapy, where appropriate can also be very useful. No matter where you are at in your relationship, I invite you to reach out for a free consultation.

You love each other, so why is it so hard? Communication on the surface looks so simple, but it can be hard to do well, especially if you weren't given the tools to be a good communicator. In couples counselling, you and your partner will learn what recurring patterns get you stuck, and what emotions that brings up for each of you. You'll learn to share your emotions and truly hear your partner's deepest feelings. Using an emotion focused model, you will get to practice communicating together to actively learn to get unstuck and connect more. You don't need to worry that I will choose sides; my job is to help you feel safe to express your feelings and share your love again.

Couples counseling offers a space to explore the patterns, dynamics, and emotional needs that shape your connection—whether you're dating, cohabitating, building a life together, or navigating a new chapter. I help couples slow down reactive cycles, improve communication, and better understand each other’s perspectives. My approach is grounded in strengthening emotional safety and connection, helping you move from stuck or disconnected places toward more meaningful, respectful, and fulfilling interactions—so your relationship feels like a place of support, not stress.

Most people want communication skills. Granted, those are needed but improving a relationship, increasing connection and intimacy, and navigating difficult conversations around areas of differing opinions involves yourself - you are your most valuable ally in any relationship. Understanding yourself, your beliefs, reactions and having ways to 'show up differently' in the relationship are your best bet to feeling better about your relationship, no matter what aspect you want to work on. Through my therapy techniques, I invite you to understand yourself in relationship as well as learn more effective ways to know and be known, the incredibly courageous work of intimacy.

Gerard has diverse experience as a psychologist and leader in social services, schools, university, workplaces, and his private practice. Using a theoretical foundation of social learning and cognitive-behavioural training, he is well-versed in various kinds of formal and informal assessment and solution-focussed approaches. He listens carefully to understand your needs and relies on his extensive experience to help you find solutions.

Relationships evolve over time, so naturally, people encounter moments where they might feel disconnected, stuck in cycles of conflict and misunderstanding, and may feel like ending the relationship is the only option. In couples counselling we will collaboratively work on creating safe and supportive environments where you work towards addressing the problems, rather than being against each other. Couples counselling aims to uncover underlying emotions and needs that exaggerate distress, disagreements, and conflict. My approach emphasizes collaboration, care, and consistency.

Are you an emotionally-intelligent couple, or do you allow your negative thoughts and feelings about each other to overwhelm the positive ones? Let Dr Mervin (Paraklesis Counselling) make an innovative assessment of your relationship that will give you an in-depth analysis and inform you as to what it will take (effort and change required) to reach your goals. Dr Mervin’s contemporary therapy approach exposes the myths of outdated methods of couples counselling, and explores post-modernity models that work for you.

Remember the magic when you first met? Wonder what happened and despair at the though of ever getting it back? You can risk hoping again! Together you can master the skills that let you walk a new path of understanding, intimacy and safety. Our Christian Counselling for marriage and relationships gives you the keys back to that magical place of connectedness you've only dreamed of for far too long. 

I help couples by focusing on two goals: (1) Communicating constructively about issues; (2) Having a strong relationship friendship. I help couples achieve these goals by giving them skills from Gottman's Sound Relationship House Model and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). I am trained in Gottman's model and am certified in CBT.

When couples require counselling, it is often because there has been a breakdown in trust and communication. At times like these, it is important to have a third party involved that can promote progress through evidence-based therapeutic techniques. Here at Virtuous Circle Counselling, we offer in-person and virtual sessions to couples in need so that they can find their way to a healthier future.