Vanessa Krause
Registered Psychotherapist
Couples Therapy & Counselling
In-Person and Virtual
Kitchener, ON
Relationships aren't always easy- those we love the most will challenge and hurt us. Maybe you feel misunderstood, disconnected, or like you're growing apart. Or you and your partner find yourselves stuck in repetitive arguments that never see a resolution. Maybe both of you avoid confrontation and you're tired of the heaviness in the air. Therapy can help you break these cycles and make room for meaningful connection.
No Waitlist for New Clients
About my Practice
At Edge of Empathy Psychotherapy, I specialize in supporting couples looking to strengthen or rebuild their relationship. My goal is to support understanding, improve communication, and navigate the challenges that come with a modern relationship. Together, we’ll create a safe—and sometimes uncomfortable—space to address unhelpful patterns and implement tools to create authentic connection.
My approach differs based on the unique needs of individuals and couples, but I have specific expertise and training working with:
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Financial Infidelity
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Premarital Counselling
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Attachment Wounds
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Somatic Awareness
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Family Conflict
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Men's Issues
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Symptoms of ADHD
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Developmental Trauma
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Adverse Religious Experiences
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Life Transitions
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Burnout & Stress
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Addiction
My approach is grounded in the most relevant scholarly research and is trauma-informed. We’ll get to the core of your challenges, break unhelpful patterns, and focus on practical strategies that bring you closer as a couple —without wasting your time (and money) on endless chit-chat. Expect honest reflections, useful tools, and a space where challenging conversations become, gradually, more tolerable.
We don't go to couples therapy to save the relationship we have, we go to create something new.
What to Expect
Starting couples therapy should feel like a big step— opening up to a stranger about your relationship isn’t always comfortable. But my job is to help you both feel supported, not exposed.
It begins with a free 20-minute consultation, where we’ll talk about what’s bringing you to therapy, what you’re hoping to get out of it, and whether we’re a good fit to work together.
If we move forward, the next step is to schedule individual sessions with each of you. Meeting separately allows me to understand your unique perspectives, personal histories, and relationship dynamics. It also ensures that therapy is a safe and productive space for both of you.
Once we’ve laid that groundwork, we come together for ongoing sessions—where the real work begins. Couples often learn skills like:
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Communicating without escalating or shutting down (so arguments don’t spiral into the same old patterns)
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Actually hearing each other (instead of waiting for your turn)
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Expressing needs without guilt or defensiveness
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Rebuilding trust and intimacy, even when things feel disconnected
Whether your goal is to resolve conflict, feel more connected, or to improve intimacy, these first steps set the foundation for real change.
I know therapy can feel uncomfortable. Opening up about your relationship isn’t easy for everyone, but discomfort can indicate something important is shifting. My role is to guide you through dysregulation without letting things spiral into defensiveness or shutdown. You and your partner deserve a safe place to heal your relationship.
Couples Therapy Intensives
A Couples Intensive offers an opportunity to step away from the usual pace of therapy and spend dedicated, focused time working on your relationship. Instead of spreading conversations across multiple weeks, an intensive allows you to dive deeper in a shorter period—creating space for clarity, connection, and real progress. Some couples find that this format helps them break through stuck patterns faster, while others prefer the steadiness of weekly sessions. The right approach depends on your needs, goals, and circumstances.
Why Consider a Couples Intensive?
Research suggests that Couples Therapy Intensives can, for some, lead to meaningful change in a shorter timeframe. With uninterrupted time to explore challenges and practice new skills, couples often experience shifts that might otherwise take longer in traditional therapy.
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More time, fewer cliffhangers. If weekly sessions leave you feeling like you’re always pressing pause, an intensive offers the chance to stay in the work and see where it leads.
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Practice in real-time. It’s one thing to talk about change; it’s another to try it out in the moment with guidance and support.
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Walk away with actual tools. Insights are helpful, but having a clear plan for moving forward can make all the difference.
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A chance to reset. Whether you’re working through resentment, communication struggles, or feeling disconnected, an intensive gives you uninterrupted space to focus on your relationship.
Who Might Benefit?
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Couples feeling stuck in repetitive patterns and looking for a new approach
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Those who have tried traditional therapy but want to explore a more immersive option
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Couples facing a major transition or crisis (infidelity, separation talks, life changes)
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Partners who want to rebuild their connection and feel like a team again
A Couples Intensive isn’t the right fit for every relationship, but for some, it can provide the deep dive needed to gain clarity and create meaningful change.
*Currently offering 1.5hr Mini Intensives and 4hr Intensives subject to availability. Contact me for details!
It's About to get Personal...
Hi, I'm Vanessa!
If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I’m endlessly curious—about people, relationships, and why we do what we do. That curiosity led me to pursue psychotherapy and counselling, where I get to help people untangle life’s messes and make sense of their stories.
Outside my office, you can find me on the pickleball court (yes, I’m that person), baking, thrifting or road-tripping in my beloved camper van with my dog Russell. I used to compete in freestyle wrestling which instilled in me a deep sense of discipline and resilience—qualities I continue to lean on when facing life’s challenges. Recently, I've gotten into watching MMA so no Saturday night session availability from me!
I believe in the power of movement—whether it’s physical or emotional. I keep surface-level chit-chat to a minimum—I’m here to help you do the real work, with warmth, honesty, and a little humour of course!
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." -Rumi
Formal Education
MA (Hons) Arts in Counselling Psychology
Yorkville University (2022)
ADHD & Family Systems Counselling
BA (Hons) in Legal Studies
Minors in Cognitive Science and Sociology
University of Waterloo (2019)
Restorative Justice & Sexual Trauma
Professional License and Associations
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) #11154
Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) #11241654
Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance Member (CADDRA)
Modalities I Draw From:
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Gestalt Therapy
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Imago Therapy
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Somatic Experiencing
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Solution-Focused Therapy
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Interpersonal & Relational Therapy
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Internal Family Systems (IFS)
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Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy (EFT)
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Gottman Method of Relationship Therapy
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Training & Workshops
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Treating Stressed Out Couples: 22 Clinical Interventions to Help Partners Set Healthy Boundaries, Overcome Resentment, and Thrive Amid Day-to-Day Tensions
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CADDRA ADHD and Substance Use Program
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Certified Addictions-Informed Mental Health Professional: A Trauma-Focused Certification Course
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Emotionally Focused Therapy: Attachment-Based Interventions for Couples in Crisis
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Mental Health & Nutrition Certification Course
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Transforming Trauma with Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT)
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Nutrition for Mental Health Certification Course
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Complete IFS Therapy Immersion: Integrating the Internal Family Systems (IFS) Model Across Clinical Applications
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Getting Started with Couples Therapy Intensives: A New Approach for Fast and Effective Results
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Reclamation as a Clinical Intervention -Reclamation Collective
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Acceptance & Commitment Therapy: 2-Day Intensive ACT Training
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Somatic Psychotherapy Skills to Bring the Body into Trauma Treatment
I Wish My Clients Knew...
Your progress isn’t measured by how “happy” you feel. Growth feels uncomfortable before it feels good.
I want you to feel empowered, not dependent on therapy. My goal is to help you build the tools to navigate life beyond our work together.
You won’t shock me. I’ve heard a lot, and my job isn’t to judge—it’s to understand.
I think about how to support you outside of our sessions. My job doesn’t end after our appointment—I reflect, plan, and adjust my approach based on our ongoing work together.
Your communication style was learned somewhere. The way you argue, shut down, or seek reassurance didn’t come out of nowhere. Understanding where it comes from can help you change or work with it.
Therapists grow, too. I take courses, read, and challenge myself personally and professionally, just like I encourage you to do.
I’m not Judge Judy, and this isn’t a courtroom. If you’re here to prove your partner is the problem, you’re missing the point. I’m here to help you break conflict cycles, not pick a winner.
Sex is about more than just sex. It’s tied to communication, trust, emotional connection, and even past experiences. If you’re struggling in this area, it’s not just a bedroom issue—it’s a relationship issue, let's talk about it!
I won’t be offended if you leave. If I’m not the right fit, or things aren't working, I want to help find someone who is.
I celebrate your progress, even if you don’t see it yet. Sometimes, the shifts are small, but I notice them.
You have inspired me, more than you know.
I purposefully maintain a small caseload. This isn’t just about work-life balance—it’s about ensuring I have the emotional capacity to show up fully for each client. You deserve a therapist who isn’t stretched too thin.
Fees
Couples Session & Intensives
*Couples Intensives are subject to availability. Kindly, contact me with your inquiry.
All session fees are exempt from GST/HST (finally!) Payments for sessions can be made via interact e-transfer or a credit card on file.
Insurance
I do not bill directly to insurance companies so it is up to you to ensure your insurance coverage extends to Registered Psychotherapists. You will receive a receipt after your appointment once I've received your payment which you can submit to your insurance company.
Commonly Asked Questions
"I'm not located in Ontario, can I still book a virtual appointment with you?"
I am licenced to see clients virtually in Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland, NorthWest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan and the Yukon.
“What if my partner isn’t sure about coming to therapy?”
It’s not uncommon for one partner to feel hesitant about therapy. They might worry that they’ll be blamed, that therapy means the relationship is “failing,” or that talking about problems will only make things worse. Others simply don’t know what to expect or aren’t comfortable opening up to a stranger about personal issues.
Here’s the thing—therapy isn’t about deciding who’s right or wrong; it’s about breaking patterns that aren’t working. If your partner isn’t ready, pushing them won’t help.
The most important part of the process is to ensure concerns from each partner are addressed. The opportunity to voice these concerns in an individual session first, without their partner present, often provides reassurance about the process.
