Couples therapy is often spoken about as if it’s one standard service—but in reality, it can vary widely depending on a therapist’s training, depth of specialization, and ongoing education.

Many therapists offer couples counselling after attending a workshop or short course. These trainings can provide helpful tools and frameworks, but they don’t usually include the extensive supervision and structured skill development needed to work consistently with complex relationship distress. In many cases, couples work is added onto a broader individual therapy practice rather than being a focused specialty.

At the other end of the spectrum are therapists who pursue advanced, structured training in specific couples therapy models, such as the Gottman Method Couples Therapy. Becoming a Certified Gottman Therapist involves foundational and advanced training, supervised consultation, and ongoing case review. It also represents a significant investment of time and resources—typically around $5,000 or more in training alone—reflecting the depth of specialization required to practice the model well.

I am the only Certified Gottman Therapist in Atlantic Canada. I have completed additional advanced training in other leading couples therapy approaches, including Relational Life Therapy, the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy, and an externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).

Why this matters is that couples therapy is not just about communication skills or conflict management techniques. It involves understanding deep relational patterns, attachment injuries, and emotional reactivity as they happen in real time between partners. A well-trained couples therapist is actively tracking these dynamics and intervening in ways that help couples move out of stuck, repetitive cycles.

This doesn’t mean there is only one effective way to do couples therapy. Many skilled therapists bring meaningful support from different training backgrounds. But it does mean couples therapy is a specialized area of practice—and it’s reasonable for clients to ask about a therapist’s training and experience in this work when choosing someone to support their relationship.

At its best, couples therapy offers more than tools or advice. It provides a structured, skilled process for helping couples understand what is happening between them—and how to change it.