What is couples therapy?
Couples therapy brings both partners into the same sessions to work on the relationship itself. The therapist follows the pattern that plays out between you, such as how an argument starts and how it ends.
Named models give sessions a structure. The Gottman Institute describes its Level 1 training as research-based assessments and interventions for couples who struggle. ICEEFT trains therapists in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).
Both partners need to feel at ease in the language of the session. The listings above can be filtered by language, so you can look for sessions in the language each of you prefers.
Each profile on First Session has a short intro video. Watch two or three together and agree on who to book.
What to know about couples therapy in Quebec City
Online and in-person
A 2022 trial in Frontiers in Psychology assigned 30 couples to a six-session program, delivered face to face or by videoconference. Therapeutic alliance did not differ between groups, and outcomes improved in both.
The authors call videoconferencing a viable alternative to face-to-face care. Out-of-province therapists on First Session are insured to provide online therapy in Quebec, which extends your options beyond Quebec City.
Credentials in Quebec
The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) reports that in Quebec the title psychotherapist and the practice of psychotherapy are reserved, as of February 2024. A person who is neither a physician nor a psychologist needs a permit from the Ordre des psychologues du Québec (OPQ).
Quebec's job information site lists membership in the OTSTCFQ, the order for social workers and couple and family therapists, as a requirement for couple and family therapists. Each profile shows the therapist's designation.
Cost and insurance
The OPQ says each psychologist sets their own rates. As a guideline, it puts a 50-minute psychotherapy session at $120 to $180.
The OPQ also says most group insurance plans offer at least partial reimbursement of these fees. First Session lists fees on each profile and provides receipts for reimbursement.
Free help if you are separating
Quebec.ca says couples with dependent children can receive up to 5 hours of government-funded family mediation for a separation. Mediation is a separate service from couples therapy.
How to choose a couples therapist in Quebec City
1Look for couples work as a main focus
A bio that lists couples work as a main area says more than a general counselling focus. Look for a named model, such as the Gottman Method or EFT, and for how long the therapist has worked with couples.
2Ask about training in the model
The Gottman Institute trains therapists through Levels 1 to 3 before certification as a Certified Gottman Therapist. ICEEFT's route to EFT certification starts with a four-day externship, then Core Skills training of four 2-day events over about a year. Ask what stage the therapist has reached.
3Choose together with the intro videos
Tone matters when two people share one therapist. Watch the intro videos side by side and notice which therapist each of you would speak to openly.
4Use the free consultation
Book the free 15-minute consultation with both partners present. Ask how the therapist handles disagreement between partners, which language the sessions run in, and what a first month of sessions looks like.
Looking for something more specific?
Filter by specialty in Quebec City
Therapists in Quebec City
Anxiety therapists in Quebec City
Depression therapists in Quebec City
EMDR therapists in Quebec City
Nearby cities
Therapists in Quebec
Therapists in Montreal
Couples therapy in other cities
Couples therapists in Montreal
Couples therapists in Laval
Couples therapists in Quebec
Couples therapists in Ottawa
Helpful reading
How much does therapy cost for Canadians?
How to find a therapist covered by insurance in Canada
Online vs in-person therapy
How we vet our therapists and counsellors
Psychiatrist vs psychologist vs social worker vs psychotherapist
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