Business Details
33 Years
experience
Gottman Certified Relationship Counselling in Langley, BC
At Best Marriages, we specialize in helping couples and individuals build stronger, more fulfilling relationships through evidence-based therapeutic approaches. Founded in 1993, our team of Gottman Certified Therapists brings decades of combined experience in addressing relationship challenges, including communication breakdowns, infidelity, and emotional disconnection. We offer a range of services, including couples counselling, individual therapy, and intensive multi-day marathon sessions designed to provide focused, transformative support. Our approach integrates the Gottman Method, a research-backed framework developed over 40 years of studying successful relationships, alongside complementary modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy. With locations in Langley, BC, and services available across Western Canada, we prioritize accessibility through in-person and virtual options.Our team includes master trainers certified by the Gottman Institute, ensuring clients receive guidance from some of the most highly trained professionals in the field. We emphasize personalized care, recognizing that no two relationships are identical, and avoid blame-focused strategies in favor of fostering mutual understanding and growth. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our structured programs, such as the Extreme Marriage Makeover and Affair Recovery workshops, which combine practical tools with emotional support to help clients rebuild trust and rekindle intimacy. By addressing both immediate conflicts and underlying patterns, we empower individuals and couples to create lasting, meaningful connections.
Services
Gottman Couples Therapy
Affair Recovery
Individual Counselling
Intensive Marathon Sessions
Relationship Workshops
Online Therapy
Family Counselling
Trauma Recovery
Communication Coaching
Pre-Marital Counselling
Details
- Year established: 1993
Highlights and features
- Certified Gottman Therapists with over 30 years of combined experience in relationship counselling
- Offer intensive multi-day marathon sessions for focused, transformative support
- Integrate evidence-based methods like CBT and Emotionally Focused Therapy with the Gottman Method
- Provide both in-person and virtual counselling to serve clients across Western Canada
- Emphasize personalized, non-judgmental approaches that avoid blame and foster mutual growth
Associations and certifications
- Gottman Institute
What people say
Effective communication tools
Transformative relationship improvements
Compassionate therapists
Successful conflict resolution
Renewed intimacy
Services
Gottman Couples Therapy
Gottman Couples Therapy applies research-backed strategies to improve communication, resolve conflicts, and rebuild trust in relationships. This approach helps couples understand personality differences, develop emotional connection, and implement practical tools for lasting change. Sessions focus on addressing specific challenges like the 'Four Horsemen' (criticism, contempt, defensiveness, stonewalling) while fostering friendship and shared meaning systems. Therapists guide couples through structured exercises to enhance intimacy and navigate gridlocked issues effectively.
Affair Recovery
Affair Recovery programs support couples navigating the aftermath of infidelity through compassionate, structured therapy. This service addresses emotional trauma, rebuilds trust, and explores underlying relationship dynamics that contributed to the breach. Therapists facilitate honest dialogue about accountability, forgiveness processes, and establishing new boundaries while emphasizing healing for both partners. The program incorporates education about relationship patterns and strategies to prevent future betrayals.
Intensive Marathon Sessions
Intensive Marathon Sessions provide concentrated therapy over multiple consecutive days, ideal for couples requiring focused intervention. These extended sessions allow deeper exploration of complex issues, including unresolved conflicts and trauma, through continuous engagement without weekly interruptions. The format accommodates both local and out-of-town clients, offering personalized treatment plans that combine Gottman Method principles with tailored therapeutic techniques to accelerate progress and create lasting change.
Individual Counselling
Individual Counselling addresses personal challenges impacting relationships, including anxiety, depression, and trauma. Therapists employ evidence-based modalities like CBT and Internal Family Systems to help clients develop self-awareness, emotional regulation, and healthier relational patterns. This service supports singles seeking growth and partners in couples therapy who need additional personal development to strengthen their relationships through improved communication and emotional resilience.
Relationship Workshops
Relationship Workshops deliver Gottman Institute-developed content through interactive seminars covering communication skills, conflict resolution, and intimacy-building techniques. Participants learn to identify and address destructive patterns while practicing exercises designed to strengthen friendship systems and shared values. These weekend programs combine educational presentations with practical application, providing couples tools to maintain connection and navigate challenges long after completing the workshop.
People
Darren Wilk
Co-Founder & Registered Clinical Counsellor
Darren Wilk has specialized in marriage and family therapy since 1988. As a Senior Consultant for the Gottman Organization, he trains therapists in the Gottman Method and co-founded Best Marriages. His expertise includes intensive couples workshops and relationship recovery strategies.
Lawrence Stoyanowski
Co-Founder & Certified Gottman Therapist
Lawrence Stoyanowski has practiced marriage therapy since 1991 and co-founded Best Marriages. A Certified Gottman Therapist since 2006, he integrates research-based methods to help couples rebuild communication and trust through practical, science-backed approaches.
LaVerna Wilk
Registered Clinical Counsellor
LaVerna Wilk specializes in couples therapy using the Gottman Method. With experience since 1988, she focuses on helping partners move from gridlock to connection while emphasizing emotional safety and practical skill development for lasting relationship improvements.
Duncan O'Mahony
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Duncan O'Mahony combines therapeutic expertise with personal experience in high-pressure environments. As a former professional athlete, he understands relationship stressors and applies Gottman principles to help couples navigate communication challenges and emotional barriers effectively.
Stefan Kurschat
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Stefan Kurschat specializes in couples counselling with a compassionate, non-judgmental approach. He focuses on creating safe spaces for partners to address conflicts, rebuild trust, and rediscover connection through empathetic listening and Gottman Method techniques.
Questions
What is the Gottman Method of couples therapy?
The Gottman Method is a research-based approach developed over 40 years of studying successful relationships. It focuses on improving communication, resolving conflicts, and rebuilding trust through practical tools and structured exercises tailored to each couple's needs.
Do you offer online counselling options?
Yes, we provide both in-person and virtual counselling services to accommodate clients across Western Canada and beyond, ensuring accessibility for those unable to attend our Langley location.
How do intensive marathon sessions work?
Intensive marathon sessions involve consecutive days of extended therapy, typically 6 hours daily, allowing focused exploration of complex relationship issues without weekly interruptions. This format suits local and out-of-town clients seeking accelerated progress.
What areas do you serve?
While based in Langley, BC, we serve clients throughout Western Canada, including Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey, and Alberta, through in-person sessions, virtual counselling, and regional workshops.
How can I book an appointment?
First-time clients can call 604-539-5277 to schedule an initial consultation. Existing clients may use Janeapp for booking follow-up sessions, with flexible options for in-person or virtual appointments.
What is your cancellation policy for intensive sessions?
A 50% deposit is required at booking for intensive sessions, with full payment due 3 weeks prior. Cancellations must provide 3 weeks' notice to receive a full refund, as therapists reserve exclusive time for these programs.
