Couples Counselling in Calgary
Evidence-based couples counselling for Calgary couples, delivered online across Alberta with limited in-person sessions by appointment. Sessions use Emotionally Focused Therapy and the Gottman Method, the two approaches with the strongest research behind them, and cost $175 for 50 minutes or $240 for 80 minutes, with a free 15-minute consultation to start.
Most couples wait years longer than they should before seeking help, and arrive when the pattern between them has hardened: the same fight on repeat, a distance that neither can cross, or trust that has been broken. None of those disqualify a relationship from repair. They are the normal starting points for the work.
What Couples Come In For
Recurring conflict that escalates fast and resolves nothing. Emotional distance, loneliness inside the relationship, or feeling more like roommates than partners. Rebuilding trust after infidelity or other betrayal. One partner who shuts down and one who pursues, each convinced the other is the problem. Differences over parenting, money, in-laws, or intimacy that have become battlegrounds. Deciding whether to stay together, with help making that decision honestly. And couples who are doing reasonably well and want to strengthen things before a wedding, a baby, or a move.
How Couples Counselling Works
The first session is with both of you together, to understand how the relationship works, where it hurts, and what each of you wants from counselling. From there, sessions focus on the cycle between you rather than on who is right. Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) works on the attachment bond underneath recurring fights, helping each partner see the fear and longing that drive the other's behaviour. The Gottman Method contributes research-based tools for managing conflict, repairing after arguments, and rebuilding friendship and intimacy. Our guide to how couples counselling works describes the process in detail.
When Trauma Is Part of the Picture
Many couples find that ordinary communication advice doesn't hold because one or both partners carries trauma that turns small conflicts into threats. Jason's background in complex trauma means that pattern is recognized early and worked with directly, rather than being mistaken for stubbornness or lack of effort. Where it helps, individual trauma work can run alongside the couples sessions.
Anger and Withdrawal in Men
A particular focus of this practice is men who get angry or shut down with their partner and don't understand why. Both reactions are usually attachment fear in disguise, and both respond well to counselling once the fear underneath is named. Men who have been reluctant to try counselling often find this framing changes their mind.
Rates and Insurance
Couples sessions are $175 for 50 minutes or $240 for 80 minutes. The 80-minute session is recommended for the first appointment and for couples working through betrayal, because fifty minutes is rarely enough to open something painful and close it again safely. The initial 15-minute consultation is free. Receipts are provided; some extended health plans cover couples counselling with a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) or Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), so check whether your plan covers counselling and whether it covers couples sessions specifically.
Online and In Person in Calgary
Most couples sessions take place by secure video, which lets both partners join from home or, when schedules differ, from two locations. Limited in-person sessions are available by appointment at the Calgary office at Mayfair Place, 6707 Elbow Drive SW. Daytime and evening appointments are available Monday to Friday, with Saturday mornings, and couples elsewhere in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba are welcome online.
About Jason Chang
Jason Chang, MA, is a Canadian Certified Counsellor and Registered Clinical Counsellor trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy and the Gottman Method, with a clinical background in complex trauma and attachment. Read more about Jason.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does couples counselling cost in Calgary?
At Clarity Counselling, couples sessions are $175 for 50 minutes or $240 for 80 minutes, with a free 15-minute initial consultation. Rates across Calgary generally range from about $150 to $250 per session depending on the practitioner's credentials.
Is couples counselling covered by insurance?
Sometimes. Coverage depends on your plan and on whether it includes counselling with a CCC or RCC. Some plans cover couples sessions under one partner's benefits; others cover only individual therapy. A receipt is provided after every session for you to submit.
What if my partner won't come?
Start on your own. Individual sessions focused on your side of the pattern often shift the dynamic at home, and a reluctant partner frequently agrees to join once counselling stops being an ultimatum and starts being something you're already doing.
Does online couples counselling work as well as in person?
Yes. Research comparing video-based and in-person couples therapy shows similar outcomes, and many couples attend more consistently when sessions fit around work and childcare.
How many sessions will we need?
It varies. Couples working on a specific conflict pattern often see change within eight to twelve sessions. Recovery from infidelity or long-standing distance usually takes longer. Progress is reviewed together regularly so you always know where things stand.