Family counselling in Kelowna.
When home feels tense, everyone feels it. Family counselling gives your family a calm, neutral space to slow down, understand each other, and find new ways to communicate, so home can feel like a place of connection again.
What is family counselling?
Family counselling (also called family therapy) brings family members together with a trained therapist to work through challenges as a team. Instead of focusing on one person as "the problem," it looks at the patterns between everyone, and helps each person feel heard.
Every family goes through hard seasons. Family counselling may help if:
- Arguments at home are frequent, or end in yelling or silence
- You feel disconnected from your child or teen
- Siblings are in constant conflict
- Your family is going through a big change, like separation, a move or a loss
- Parents disagree on how to handle discipline or parenting
- One family member's struggles are affecting everyone
How family counselling can help
Our Kelowna family therapists support families with:
Flexible support for every family
There's no one way to do family counselling. Your counsellor will help you decide who should attend each session based on what your family needs.
The whole family
Sessions with parents and children together to improve communication and connection.
Parent & child
Focused time to repair and strengthen one relationship, like a parent and teen.
Parents only
Support for parents to align on parenting, boundaries and next steps.
Individual sessions
One-on-one time for a child, teen or parent alongside family work.
A neutral space where everyone is heard
Our counsellors don't take sides. They help each family member feel understood while working toward goals you set together, drawing on evidence-based approaches that may include:
- Family therapy to understand the patterns between family members and change them together
- Communication and problem-solving skills the whole family can use at home
- Parent support for boundaries, consistency and connection
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) tools for managing worry and stress
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills for handling intense emotions
- Mediation & parenting plans for separating families
- Hear the Child reports to give children a voice during separation
Getting started is simple
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Find the right fit
We suggest completing our Best Fit Form. Our office manager will call you to talk about your family and match you with the right counsellor. You can also browse our team page and book directly.
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Start with a free consultation
Ask questions, share what's been happening at home, and get a feel for the counsellor before booking a full session.
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Your first session
Your counsellor will get to know your family, hear from each person, and talk about what you'd like to change. Often the first session is with parents, so you can share background before children join.
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Grow together
You'll set goals as a family, practise new ways of communicating, and build on what's already working.
Meet our family counsellors
Cheryl Koressel, RCC, RMFT
A Registered Marriage and Family Therapist supporting families with family conflict, parenting, ADHD, anxiety and relationships.
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Jessica Alderliesten, MSW, RSW
Helping families, children and parents navigate separation, co-parenting and conflict with calm, empathy and practical support. Hear the Child Report Writer.
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Neelu Toor, RCC
A warm, empathetic counsellor supporting children, teens and families to understand emotions, build confidence and strengthen connection.
View profile →Cozy spaces in Kelowna & West Kelowna
Our offices in downtown Kelowna and West Kelowna are small, welcoming spaces designed to feel more like a living room than a clinic, so every member of your family can feel at ease. Online and phone sessions are also available anywhere in BC.
Downtown Kelowna
1462 Saint Paul Street, Unit 204Kelowna, BC Get directions →
West Kelowna
1385 Stevens Road, Unit 1AWest Kelowna, BC Get directions →
Clear, simple fees
Many extended health plans cover counselling with Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs) and Registered Social Workers (RSWs). Check your plan for coverage details. We can direct bill most providers, or give you a receipt to submit for reimbursement.
Sessions with two or more family members, in person or online.
One-on-one sessions for a parent, child or teen.
Sessions with a master's-level counselling intern through our low-cost program. Call 250-258-2696 to ask about availability.
Frequently asked questions
Does the whole family need to attend every session?
No. Some sessions may include the whole family, while others might be with parents only, a parent and child, or one family member. Your counsellor will help you decide what works best.
What if a family member doesn't want to come?
That's common, especially with teens. Counselling can still help with whoever is ready to attend, and your counsellor can suggest ways to invite reluctant family members in when they're ready.
Will the counsellor take sides?
No. Your counsellor's role is to support the whole family and make sure each person feels heard, including children.
How is family counselling different from individual counselling?
Individual counselling focuses on one person's experience. Family counselling looks at how family members affect each other and helps the family make changes together. Many families use both. Learn more about our individual counselling.
How much does family counselling cost?
Family sessions are $175 and individual sessions are $155. Low-cost sessions with a master's-level intern are $45. Call 250-258-2696 to ask.
Is family counselling covered by insurance?
Many extended health plans cover counselling with RCCs and RSWs. Check your plan's coverage details.
Do you offer online family counselling?
Yes. We offer in-person sessions at our Kelowna and West Kelowna offices, as well as online and phone sessions.
What if someone in our family doesn't feel safe at home?
Safety comes first. If there is abuse or violence in the home, family sessions may not be the right place to start. Please reach out to us privately, or contact VictimLinkBC any time at 1-800-563-0808. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Bring your family closer together.
Reaching out is a meaningful first step. Book a free consultation or fill out our Best Fit Form, and we'll help match your family with the right counsellor.
If you or someone in your family is in crisis, call or text 9-8-8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline), contact Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868, or call 911.