A new look. Same Dr. Rukavina.    

Couples Therapy in British Columbia

Deep, Focused Couples Therapy with the Gottman Method

For couples who want more than another conversation that goes nowhere

View Current AvailabilitySee How I Work

You keep having the same fight.

You talk, apologize, take space, move on, and try again — but nothing really changes.

You want to feel close again, but keep getting pulled into conflict, distance, or shutdown.

Sound familiar?

You want to feel close again, but keep getting pulled into conflict or distance.

The Gottman Difference

Couples Therapy Should Change What Happens Between You

I combine the structure of the Gottman Method with a deep understanding of trauma, attachment, emotional regulation, and the personal, family, and cultural histories that shape how you respond to each other.

I won’t sit quietly while you repeat the same fight you have at home. I step in, slow things down, and help you see what is really happening between you.

We do not just talk about what keeps going wrong between you. We practise new ways of responding right there in the room, so change does not stay theoretical.

Different relationships need different   kinds of support

Different relationships need different
kinds of support

different

Some couples benefit from steady weekly work. Others need a more immersive or higher-support format, especially when conflict is frequent, trust has been seriously damaged, or stability is difficult to regain between appointments. The assessment process helps confirm the right level of support.

01

Weekly
Couples Therapy

Steady, ongoing therapy for couples

75 minutes | 12+ sessions $450 per session

For couples whose relationship remains relatively stable between sessions and can practise changes and build on progress each week.

02

Marathon Couples Therapy

Focused, immersive couples therapy

Half-day | 2–4 days $1,600/Half-day

For couples facing long-standing conflict, disconnection, or broken trust who need more time than weekly sessions allow.

03

Individual Therapy

Individual therapy in support of the relationship

50 MINUTES | AS NEEDED $300/SESSION

Recommended when personal reactions, attachment wounds, or earlier experiences are interfering with the shared relationship work.

Looking for a higher-touch therapy experience?

For couples who value greater continuity, flexibility, and support throughout the work.

Now accepting

current clients only

Currently Full

04

Concierge Couples Therapy

Higher-touch couples therapy

12-WEEK MINIMUM | WEEKLY OR MARATHON-BASED CUSTOM QUOTE

This service combines a planned schedule of weekly or marathon-based couples therapy with reserved appointment capacity, individualized treatment planning, and limited clinical support between sessions. The structure and fee are tailored to the frequency and format of treatment included.

Best For:

  • Couples who need support between appointments, not only during them
  • Conflict or disconnection that frequently escalates outside sessions

Not sure which format fits?

The assessment process helps confirm the right format and level of support for your needs.

how to begin

limited availability

Couples Therapy Is Not Just About Calmer Conversations

Knowing what to say is not the same as being able to say it when it matters.

We’ll work on:

Slowing down conflict before it takes over

Repairing more quickly after difficult moments

Having hard conversations with more honesty and less defensiveness


Feeling understood, supported, and on the same team again


Rebuilding trust, emotional safety, and connection


Creating a clearer path forward for the relationship


Questions?

Can we book one session to see if we want to continue?

It makes sense to want to know whether the fit feels right. Couples therapy, however, is not typically a one-session consultation. It works best when there is enough consistency to complete the assessment and begin the work.

Because my schedule may be booked several weeks ahead, I recommend reserving 4 subsequent appointments in advance to avoid gaps in the work.

How many sessions should we expect?

Relationship patterns that have developed over years are unlikely to change in just a few sessions. While every couple is different, meaningful change often involves 12–24 weekly sessions or 3–4 marathon treatment days.

Couples with more focused concerns may notice progress sooner. Longer histories of conflict, betrayal, repeated injuries, or disconnection often require more time, consistency, and opportunities for repair.

What if one of us is more ready for therapy than the other?

This is common. Couples therapy can still be helpful when one partner feels more ready, as long as both are willing to participate.

It may not be the right fit when one or both partners have already decided to separate or are unable to engage in the process. In these situations, individual or discernment therapy may be more appropriate. I do not provide discernment therapy.


Can couples therapy help after betrayal or broken trust?

Yes. This work requires care, structure, honesty, and accountability. The goal is not to rush forgiveness or pressure either partner to move on, but to understand what happened, support meaningful conversations, and determine what the relationship needs to move forward.



When might couples therapy not be the right place to start?

Couples therapy may not be appropriate when there is ongoing violence, coercive control, or concern that participating could place either partner at risk; when one partner has already definitively decided to end the relationship and is participating only to appease the other; when information affecting the relationship is being actively concealed; or when the goal is primarily to have the therapist determine who is right or convince one partner to change.

Ambivalence, significant conflict, betrayal, and difficult relationship patterns do not automatically mean couples therapy is not appropriate. Part of the assessment process is determining whether we can work together safely and productively.


What Working Together Looks Like

Connect. Explore. Plan. Begin.

Your starting appointment and assessment depend on the format you are considering. The Begin Here page outlines exactly what to book, what happens next, and when to reserve follow-up appointments.

View Current AvailabilitySEE HOW TO BEGIN