Couples COUNSELLING
Great relationships don’t just happen; they are built by people invested in their connection.
Does this sound like you?
✓ Communication has devolved and you’re either walking on eggshells, or fighting.
✓ Trust has been broken, and rebuilding it seems like a daunting and unfamiliar endeavour.
✓ You’re not sure what moving forward looks like, but you know that things can’t stay the way they are.
✓ Your relationship is anything but ordinary, and you want support from someone who gets it.
What’s possible…
Imagine if everyone felt heard and cared for in the relationship. When conflict arose, you knew how to navigate it constructively and with kindness. Trust was rebuilt and became a solid foundation for the relationship to rest on. The missing spark returned. The quality of your relationship is one of the primary determinants of life satisfaction. Improving that quality is the foundation of our work.
CONNECT WITH ME FOR
COUPLES COUNSELLING
With almost any couples therapist you’ll get communication tools, compassionate space holding, and conflict resolution. That’s the framework.
The work for you, at this point, is to choose someone you vibe with. People often choose to work with me because on top of the training that I’ve done, I have a unique set of lived experiences including trauma, sex work. sexual and gender identity, neurodivergence, and non-monogamy. This means that I’m really comfortable talking about this stuff (no such thing as TMI), and you won’t need to spend several sessions educating me about your outside-the-box life. It also takes a lot to phase me. If you’re worried that you’re too much, your relationship is too complicated, or you’re too intense; I’m your girl.
If you’re not worried about all that, great! I might still be a good fit. The best way to find out is by booking a free consultation with me to see.
here’s what’s inside
01
tailored
approach
No two relationships are alike, and the support you receive shouldn’t be either. My education and experience in an array of therapeutic modalities allows me to employ a unique combination of tools to best support you both.
02
research
based
techniques
Just like a doctor wouldn’t prescribe a drug that hasn’t been tested, your relationship deserves tools and interventions that have been shown to improve your quality of connection, conflict resolution, and overall feelings of satisfaction your relationships.
03
balanced
care
An important factor of couples therapy is for both partners to have equal space, care, and consideration from a neutral third person. Often imbalances in relationships are highlighted in therapy by having a space that has more equity.
here’s how it works
step 1
understanding
the struggle
No two relationships are alike. The first stage involves building a thorough understanding of what’s not working, and how it got to this place, so that we can address the root issues and employ the best strategies.
step 2
experiential
healing
Once we’ve identified the core struggles, we can move though experiential exercises together in session to resolve past hurts, build trust, and show up for one another. This stage also involves tools and strategies for you to employ between sessions.
step 3
anchoring
As things start to get better it’s important to anchor the wins. We employ strategies to maintain communication, build intimacy, and effectively address struggles and challenges as they come up.
Are you ready to begin?
Let me help your relationship thrive, you don’t need to do this on your own anymore.
options for location of sessions
80 min - $210
in person
We will meet at my office at 3701 E Hastings Street for in person sessions.
80 min - $210
online
Similar to an in office session, but you can be in a space of your own choosing and we will have our session on a video call platform.
80 min - $210
in nature
For those who are more comfortable meeting outdoors, walking sessions are conducted in nature. We will choose an agreed upon location, this could be an under utilized hiking trail or park setting, and have our counselling session while walking together.
FAQ’s
-
$210
-
You have the option to pay by e-transfer at the end of your session, or charge to your credit card on file.
-
Sessions could be covered by extended medical insurance. Pacific Blue Cross, Equitable Life of Canada, Greenshield Canada, SSQ Financial Group and ClaimSecure have added members of my professional association, ACCT, to the approved list for reimbursement. Manulife reviews each counsellor on a case by case basis. Check with your policy administrator to confirm if you would qualify. More coverage with additional insurers may be coming soon. Insurance reimbursement is the client’s responsibility and I do not direct bill insurance providers.
-
All of the information that we share together is strictly confidential unless one of the following should occur:
When you may be a danger to yourself or others
When there is suspicion or disclosure of abuse of vulnerable persons, such as a child or elderly person, which has not been previously reported.
When records are subpoenaed by court order
If one of these should occur, every reasonable effort will be made to discuss the circumstances with you prior to the involvement of other professionals.
-
We have a 24 hour cancellation policy. If you need to cancel or change your appointment please e-mail or text to let us know within 24 hours of your scheduled appointment. Sessions cancelled or changed in less than 24 hours are billed the full rate.
-
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at alicia@sidebysidecounselling.ca
Meet Alicia
WELCOME, I’M SO GLAD YOU’RE HERE!
I'm Alicia Graham, RTC and I'm passionate about supporting people through their struggles with a compassionate, and client-centered approach. I believe no struggle is too big or too small — we are all deserving of respect, support, and acceptance.
I would describe my therapy style as trauma informed, somatic, and anti-oppressive. Therapy starts with building trust and setting our course for your unique goals in therapy. Together, we’ll take steps towards those goals at a pace that works best for you. Every client is unique, and I’ll draw from various modalities, informed by your needs and lived experience, to best support you on your therapeutic journey.