Meet Tanya Schecter:
Dedicated to helping you create a more joyful and connected life. BOOK A FREE CONSULT
Meet Tanya Schecter, RCC, CCC, CRLT
About Me
I’m someone who’s lived a full life. I’ve come to therapy after decades of doing relationship-building work with individuals and groups, knowing that therapy and counselling is where my heart lies.
As a mom, wife, and daughter, I’ve been in the relationship trenches. Divorced once, I’m now happily married to an amazing man. Before that, as a single mom, I managed to raise my son through unexpected and often challenging twists and turns to be a thriving, happy, capable, and successful young man.
Having grown up in a family that was rife with inter-generational trauma and dysfunction, my current happiness didn’t come easily. Like many, I’ve had to do the hard work and dig deep to wrestle with my past, come to terms with it, and learn new, more relational ways of being.
From first-hand experience, I know how important good relationships are to our well-being, happiness, and satisfaction. Because I personally know how transformative good relationships can be (including the one you have with yourself), I’m passionate about helping people create great ones for themselves!
My Approach
Our relationships, with others and ourselves, are the source of our greatest joy and our deepest anguish. How we navigate them is largely dependent on the toolbox we own and the challenges we encounter. I believe that while we’re all naturally creative, resourceful, and whole, everyone needs help along the way and that our healing and growth occurs most effectively in partnership.
I also believe that while we’re all part of a system in which we’re both actors and acted upon, we’re ultimately the authors of our own stories, able to envision and bring to life the outcomes we desire. To do so, however, we need more than just a script: we need appropriate tools.
As a therapist, these two beliefs profoundly impact how I show up. I’m a staunch advocate for:
- Understanding the environment you live in, including hidden forces that influence you and the invisible impacts your actions have in creating your current reality, and
- Providing you with new tools while expanding your emotional and interpersonal capacities so you can create the outcomes you yearn for.
My Commitment to You
No matter whether we’re doing individual or couples therapy, I’ll support you, meeting you where you are while helping you heal, learn, and grow so you get to where you want to be. It’s my passion and privilege to help you along your journey of creating a life filled with nourishing, joyful relationships, starting with the one you have with yourself.
Credentials
Education
- M.C. – Masters of Counselling, City University of Seattle
- M.A. – Masters of Arts (Educational Technology), Concordia University
- M.A.– Masters of Arts (Political Science), McGill University
- B.A. – Bachelor of Arts Honors (Political Science), Queen’s University
Publications
-
- Mending Broken Hearts: A Therapist’s Guide to Post-Infidelity Repair
- Lead from Your Heart: The Art of Relationship-based Leadership
- Race, Class, Women, and the State: The Case of Domestic Labour in Canada
Certifications
- Clinical Trauma Professional Training – Level 1 (CCTP), Janina Fisher
- Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT): Attachment-based Interventions to Treat Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression, Sue Johnson
- Gottman Training – Level 1, Gottman Institute
- Gottman Training – Level 2, Gottman Institute
- Relational Life Therapy, Relational Life Institute
- Leadership, Co-Active Training Institute
- 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, YYoga
- 80 Hour Hot Yoga Teacher Training, YYoga
- ProSci Change Management, AdPro
- MBTI (Myers-Briggs), Psychometrics
- Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i), Emotional Intelligence Training Company
- Co-Active Coaching, Co-active Training Institute
Training Completed
- Esther Perel’s Transformative Approach to Couples Therapy in Action
- Complete IFS Therapy Immersion: Integrating the Internal Family Systems (OFS) Model Across Clinical Applications
- Transcending Trauma: Treating Complex PTSD with Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Gaslighting: Help Clients Escape and Rebuild from a Narcissist’s Emotional Abuse
- Healing the Hidden Wounds of Trauma and Disconnection
- Acceptance & Commitment Therapy: 2-Day Intensive ACT Training
- Narcissistic Abuse In-Depth Workshop with Ramani Durvasula
- Relational Trauma: Psychodrama and Experiential Interventions for Treating Childhood Wounds in Adult Clients
- EMDR and Telehealth Mastery Course: Advanced EMDR Trauma Treatments via Telehealth & In-Person
Process Work and Leadership - Neufeld – Level 1, Gordon Neufeld Institute
- Alpha Children, Gordon Neufeld Institute
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does couples counselling actually work?
Yes, couples counselling is highly effective when both partners are ready to engage. I integrate evidence-based approaches, including Relational Life Therapy (RLT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, and Internal Family Systems (IFS), to help couples improve communication, rebuild trust, and deepen their connection. RLT, in particular, focuses on radical honesty and mutual respect to transform relationship dynamics. The earlier you start to work on your relationship, the better the outcomes tend to be, and it’s never too late to seek support. I work with couples at all stages, whether you’re navigating a current crisis or simply wanting a stronger, healthier relationship.
Q: Do we have to wait until things are really bad before starting couples therapy?
Not at all! In fact, the couples who tend to get the most out of therapy are those who come in before they’re in crisis. You don’t need to be on the verge of separation to benefit. Many couples seek support to improve daily communication, navigate a life transition like having children or blending families, or establish a stronger foundation. Think of couples counselling as less like an emergency room and more like a personal trainer for your relationship. In my Vancouver and online practice, I work with couples at every stage, from those facing serious challenges to those who just want to invest in their relationship while things are still good.
Q: What's your approach to couples and family therapy?
My approach is warm, direct, and grounded in research. I draw on Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Relational Life Therapy (RLT), adapting to what each couple or family actually needs rather than following a rigid formula. I believe lasting change happens when people feel genuinely seen and safe enough to be honest. That means I don’t simply sit back and observe. As a therapist and trained co-active coach, I’m an active, engaged presence in the room. I’ll challenge patterns that no longer serve you, celebrate the strengths you already have, and help you build something that feels real and sustainable, not just surface-level.
Q: What happens in the first therapy session?
Q: How much does couples or family therapy cost in Vancouver?
Session fees for couples and family counselling in Vancouver typically range from $250 to $375 per session. Many extended health benefit plans cover a portion of therapy costs, depending on your provider and plan. I offer a free initial consultation so you can ask questions and get a sense of fit before committing. If cost is a concern, I encourage you to reach out – I’m happy to discuss your options.
Q: What's the difference between couples/relationship counselling and family therapy?
Couples/relationship counselling focuses on the relationship between two partners and addresses communication, intimacy, conflict, trust, and shared goals. Family therapy brings together two or more family members to work through dynamics that affect the whole unit, such as parenting challenges, blended family adjustment, or conflict between parents and children or between siblings. Both approaches look at relationships as a system rather than focusing on one individual. I offer both services in person in Vancouver and online across Canada and can help you figure out which is the right fit for your situation.
Q: Do you offer online couples and family counselling in BC?
Yes, I offer secure, confidential video sessions for couples and families throughout British Columbia and Canada. Research shows that online therapy is just as effective as in-person counselling, and it removes common barriers like commute time, scheduling conflicts, and geography. Whether you’re in Vancouver or elsewhere in BC or Canada, you can access the same quality of support from the comfort of your own home. In-person sessions are also available in Vancouver and Whistler for those who prefer to meet face-to-face.
“Tanya’s gift to us has been accountability. She specializes in supporting the creation of action steps to follow awareness. I haven’t enjoyed the process but I’ve loved the results; and so has my wife! We thwarted the clutches of divorce with tools, practices, exercises, and actions to start creating a whole new marriage – one we both want.”
Daniel S., Vancouver Island
“Tanya gently supported me in a calm yet challenging style. I appreciated our connections via Zoom in which I felt seen and heard. Today, I’m coping with loss and the letting go of things I cannot change with Daily Self Care practice as well as intentional quiet times. It has been a huge piece of the puzzle that was missing. The point of therapy for me in this chapter was achieved and I’m both feeling and looking better. Thanks kindly, Tanya.”
L.G., Vancouver
“I have worked with several therapists before you and found the work we did together to be a level above. Working with you has been a great experience. Tanya, you always find the right words to help me find the perfect solution. Your wisdom, personality, professional knowledge, and patience helped me a lot. I look forward to working together again in the future. Thanks again!!!”
Jacob Ashkenazy, Vancouver
“Tanya, I really appreciate the level of support that you provided me with. You provided me with encouragement to keep pursuing my goals and helped me access needed resources on my healing journey. I always knew you had my back and really cared about making sure that we were able to connect and make progress. It felt like you cared about me as if I were family. You were always willing to meet me where I was at – you gave me “homework” to do that stretched me, while supporting me through it. Working with you really empowered me and allowed me to see the agency I have in my life. Tanya gave me tools to not only persevere through my tough times, but grow as a result of them.”
Arielle, Kamloops
“My teenage daughter and I saw a few counsellors before Tanya. By the time we came to Tanya, my daughter suffered from severe anxiety and felt hopeless. Our relationship was strained, and I doubted myself as a parent. After working with Tanya, my daughter was back in school, had goals, and more importantly had hopes for herself moving forward – something I hadn’t seen in years. Tanya also worked with me and my daughter to give us better tools and skills for managing our relationship – we’re now closer than we’ve ever been and enjoy one another again. If you had asked me six months ago, I never would have thought this was possible.”
K.J., Prince George
Imagine a Life Where You Feel Empowered and Confident
Picture yourself overcoming challenges, building stronger relationships, and feeling more at peace.
At Quoin Counselling, we believe in your potential to achieve this and more.
Tanya Schecter's latest book is out and available for purchase
Mending Broken Hearts: Drawing on research, Relational Life Therapy, and the author's own work, Mending Broken Hearts provides a step-by-step treatment plan and specific skills for therapists. With these tools, the therapist will help couples to not only recover from infidelity, but transform their relationship into one that's more relational, more connected, and more satisfying. The end goal is a relationship grounded in intimacy and safety
Tanya Schecter's book is out and available for purchase
Lead from Your Heart: This insightful guide offers practical strategies and heartfelt wisdom to help you lead authentically, connect deeply with others, and create positive change in your personal and professional life. Embrace the journey of leading from your heart and unlock your true potential.
Your privacy matters to us. We’ll keep your email confidential and never share it with third parties.