Learn with Strong & Connected
Couples Therapy Vancouver
If you’re searching for couples therapy in Vancouver, you’re probably not looking for “relationship tips.” You’re looking for a way out of the same painful loop—blow-ups, shutdowns, resentment, distance, or the feeling that you’re living like roommates. Strong & Connected helps couples (especially ages 35–55) rebuild connection with practical, skills-based support—focused on communication, conflict repair, boundaries, and trust.
Important note: Strong & Connected provides relationship coaching and psychoeducation, not regulated “therapy” or psychotherapy services. Many people searching for “couples therapy Vancouver” are really looking for effective relationship help—this page is here to help you make an informed choice about what fits your needs.
What we help with
Couples commonly come to this work when they’re experiencing:
- The same fight on repeat (money, parenting, priorities, intimacy, in-laws)
- Communication breakdown (criticism/defensiveness, stonewalling, escalation)
- Emotional disconnection and resentment (“roommate syndrome”)
- Difficulty repairing after conflict (the argument ends, but the tension stays)
- Trust strain after a rupture (not necessarily a single event—often “death by a thousand cuts”)
If you’re a high-functioning couple in Vancouver—busy careers, family life, constant logistics—this work is built for real life: what happens in the moment when you’re triggered, exhausted, and trying not to say the thing you can’t take back.
My approach: Relational Life Therapy (RLT)-informed coaching
My name is Koby Smutylo and my work is grounded in Relational Life Therapy (RLT)—a direct, skills-based approach developed by Terry Real that combines compassion with accountability. RLT is especially useful when couples feel stuck because it doesn’t just explain your pattern—it helps you change what you do inside the pattern.
In RLT-informed couples coaching, we focus on:
- Repair skills: how to come back together after conflict
- Boundaries: being clear without punishment or withdrawal
- Accountability: owning impact (not just intent)
- Relational communication: saying hard things without attacking; hearing hard things without collapsing
- Pattern change: identifying the “dance” you’re stuck in and practicing a new one
What it’s like to work together
This isn’t endless processing. It’s structured, practical, and measurable.
You can expect:
- A clear map of your cycle (what triggers it, how it escalates, how it ends)
- Skills practice (real-time coaching on how to speak, listen, and repair)
- Homework that actually helps (short, doable exercises that change day-to-day interactions)
- Progress you can feel (fewer escalations, faster repair, more warmth and teamwork)
Many couples notice early improvements once repair becomes a habit and the “losing strategies” (criticism, shutdown, control, scorekeeping) start getting replaced with clean communication and accountability.
Who this is for (and who it’s not for)
A strong fit if you’re:
- A couple in Vancouver (or nearby) who wants effective relationship help without the ambiguity
- Ages 35–55 navigating career/family stress, parenting load, and high emotional stakes
- Ready to practice new skills—not just “talk about talking”
- Motivated to build a calmer home and a stronger bond
Not the right fit if you need:
- Crisis services or immediate safety intervention
- A formal diagnosis, treatment of severe mental illness, or regulated psychotherapy services
- Court-ordered therapy documentation
If you’re unsure what level of care you need, I’ll point you toward appropriate regulated resources in BC.
Vancouver area support (online)
Strong & Connected works with couples across Metro Vancouver, including Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, and Surrey—primarily online for convenience and consistency.
Frequently asked questions
Do you offer “couples therapy” in Vancouver?
I offer RLT-informed couples coaching and psychoeducation, not regulated psychotherapy. This page uses the headline “couples therapy Vancouver” because that’s how many people search when they want real relationship help. If you specifically want regulated therapy, see the external resources below. I am as a trained therapist and believe my approach, which relies extensively on Relational Life Therapy, is a viable path for many Vancouver couples.
What if one of us is more motivated than the other?
That’s common. We’ll set a clear structure so motivation isn’t the deciding factor—skills and agreements are. Often, once the dynamic changes and conflict becomes safer, the less-motivated partner engages more.
How soon should we start?
Most couples wait too long. If you’re asking the question, it’s usually time. The earlier you build repair and boundaries, the less damage accumulates.
Book a consultation
If you’re looking for couples therapy in Vancouver but mainly want: better communication, less conflict, more connection, and a stronger team at home, couples coaching may be the right next step.
The best way to know whether RLT is right for your relationship is to talk it through.
👉 Book a Strong & Connected couples consultation
External resources (BC regulated / directories)
If you want regulated “couples therapy” services in BC, these resources can help you verify credentials and find providers:
BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC)
Province of BC: Psychology regulation (College of Health and Care Professionals of BC)
BC College of Social Workers (BCCSW)
BC Psychological Association (find a psychologist)
Canadian Association for Couple and Family Therapy (BC Branch)
https://camft.ca/BC-Branch-New
Relational Life Institute (RLT)
BCACC, CHCPBC/BC Gov, and BCCSW are good starting points for credential verification and regulated-profession context. (BC Association of Clinical Counsellors)
