%20(4).png)
Things couples often worry about.
If any of these sound familiar, you're not alone, and none of them have to stop you from reaching out.
"Going to therapy
means we've failed."
The reality: Going to therapy means you're willing to fight for something that matters. The couples who struggle in silence are the ones who wait too long. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not failure.
"The therapist will
take my partner's side."
The reality: A couples therapist doesn't have a side. Suzanne's role is to help both partners feel heard and understood, not to referee, not to assign blame, and not to decide who's right.
"What if only one of us
wants to go?"
The reality: It's harder, but not hopeless. Individual therapy can help you understand your own patterns in the relationship and shift what you can from your side. That change sometimes brings a reluctant partner in over time.
"We're too far gone
for this to help."
The reality: That's not something anyone can know before the work starts. Couples who come in and do it honestly, even when things feel very difficult, often surprise themselves. The free consultation is a low-stakes way to find out.
What couples therapy
actually is.
Most couples who come to therapy aren't giving up on each other. They're doing the opposite, they care enough about the relationship to try something different. The same argument. The same distance. The same feeling of reaching for each other and somehow missing. Couples therapy is the space to change that pattern.
​
"Couples therapy isn't about deciding to stay or go. It's about finally understanding each other, and finding a way through that feels like yours."
​
Our therapist doesn't take sides. She doesn't decide who's right or whose version of events is accurate. Her job is to help both of you feel genuinely heard, and to help you understand each other in ways that two people stuck in the same loop often can't manage on their own.
​
Some couples come in crisis. Some come because they want to build something stronger before things break down. Some come because they're not sure the relationship has a future but they want to find out honestly. All of that is welcome here.
Get to Know Us
You might be here because...
· You keep having the same fight, and neither of you knows how to break the cycle.
· Something happened such as an affair, a betrayal, a breach of trust, and you're not sure if you can come back from it. But you want to try.
· You've started feeling more like roommates than partners. The closeness has faded and you're not sure how to get it back.
· A major life event such as a new baby, a job loss, a health diagnosis, a move, has put enormous strain on your relationship.
· You love each other but you don't know how to talk to each other anymore, and every conversation seems to end the same way.
· You're dealing with a difference in intimacy, desire, or physical connection that neither of you knows how to address.
· You're navigating a blended family, cultural differences, or different parenting styles, and it's creating tension neither of you expected.
· Things aren't broken, but you want them to be better. You want a stronger, more connected relationship before the cracks appear.
Common challenges we work with.
Couples therapy at Mindful Balance covers a wide range of relationship challenges.
If yours isn't listed here, get in touch, this isn't exhaustive.
-
Communication breakdown
-
Recurring conflict
-
Infidelity & trust repair
-
Emotional disconnection
-
Intimacy & desire
-
Sex therapy
-
Relationship transitions
-
Grief & loss as a couple
-
Parenting conflict
-
Blended families
-
Financial stress
-
Life stage transitions
-
Separation & divorce
-
Family mediation
-
Pre-marital counseling
-
Domestic conflict
-
Cultural & values differences
-
Long-distance relationships
-
Relationship anxiety
-
Rebuilding after crisis
Couples of all kinds are welcome here: married, common-law, dating, same-sex, different-faith, polyamorous, long-distance. Every relationship is welcome.
Not sure if couples therapy is right for your situation?
Who you'll be working with.
What sessions look like.
1. Start with a free 15-minute call
​
Both partners are welcome on the initial consultation call. It's a chance to talk briefly about what's going on, ask questions, and make sure this feels like the right fit — with no obligation to continue.
​
2. The first session is slower than you might expect
​
Suzanne will want to understand your history as a couple, what's brought you here, what's worked, and what hasn't. The first session is about building enough safety that the real conversations can happen. You won't be pushed to go anywhere you're not ready to go.
​
3. Sessions are typically 60-minutes, every 1–2 weeks
​
Couples sessions allow both partners time and space to talk. The frequency and duration are adjusted as the work progresses.
​
4. Video or phone: your choice
​
Sessions happen over secure video or by telephone, both PHIPA compliant. Both partners can join from the same device or separately, which is useful when schedules differ or one partner is travelling. All you need is a private space where you can speak freely.
​
5. Individual sessions may be part of the process
​
Depending on what you're working through, Suzanne may recommend that one or both partners also have individual sessions alongside the couples work. This is always discussed openly, always your decision, and never done without your knowledge or agreement.
​
Common questions.
Does couples therapy work if only one of us wants to go?
It's harder, but not hopeless. Individual therapy can still help you understand your own patterns in the relationship and what you can change from your side. Sometimes that shift is what eventually brings a reluctant partner in. It's worth starting somewhere rather than waiting for both of you to be ready at the same time.
Are we too far gone for therapy to help?
That's genuinely not something anyone can know before the work starts. What we do know is that couples who come in and do the work honestly, even when things feel very difficult, often surprise themselves. The free consultation is a low-pressure way to find out whether there's something worth working with.
What if we decide to separate during or after therapy?
Couples therapy isn't a promise that the relationship will survive, it's a commitment to doing the work honestly. Sometimes that work clarifies that the healthiest path forward is separating with care and respect. Suzanne can also support a conscious uncoupling process if that's where you end up, including family mediation if children are involved.
Can we join the session from different locations?
Yes, both partners can join from separate devices and locations. This is particularly useful for couples with different work schedules, who travel frequently, or who are in a long-distance relationship.
Is couples therapy covered by insurance in Ontario?
Many group benefit plans cover sessions with a Registered Social Worker, which Suzanne is. Whether couples therapy specifically is covered depends on how your plan categorizes it, it's worth calling your insurer and asking if "psychotherapy provided by a Registered Social Worker" is covered. Visit our Fees & Insurance page for more detail.
Do you work with all types of couples?
Yes. Suzanne works with married couples, common-law partners, dating couples, same-sex couples, couples with different cultural or religious backgrounds, and polyamorous relationships. Every relationship structure is welcome here, without judgment.