REBUILDING CONNECTION
Same fight, different night?
There's a way back to each other.
You don't have to navigate this alone.
At Bridge for Families in Kanata, Ottawa, Lee-Anne Boucher, founder of BFF, Tom Tuszynski, and Melissa Dunn are our couples therapists, sitting with partners in the room where the arguing usually happens and helping them say the thing underneath the fight. All three draw on the same core approaches (Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, and Solution-Focused work) to move couples through recurring conflict, communication that has gone quiet or sharp, rebuilding after an affair, and the in-between season of a new baby, a career change, or an empty nest. Tom also supports men navigating the loss of separation and divorce, and Lee-Anne brings decades of experience to individuals and families working through that same transition. Whether you've been together two years or twenty-five, the goal is the same: turn toward each other again instead of away.
At Bridge for Families in Kanata, Ottawa, Lee-Anne Boucher, founder of BFF, Tom Tuszynski, and Melissa Dunn are our couples therapists, sitting with partners in the room where the arguing usually happens and helping them say the thing underneath the fight. All three draw on the same core approaches (Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, and Solution-Focused work) to move couples through recurring conflict, communication that has gone quiet or sharp, rebuilding after an affair, and the in-between season of a new baby, a career change, or an empty nest. Tom also supports men navigating the loss of separation and divorce, and Lee-Anne brings decades of experience to individuals and families working through that same transition. Whether you've been together two years or twenty-five, the goal is the same: turn toward each other again instead of away.
We Understand What You're Going Through
Every couple faces challenges. You may be experiencing:
"These struggles are more common than you think. With the right support, couples can rebuild and reconnect."
OUR APPROACH
Rebuilding Your Relationship Together
Lee-Anne helps couples develop healthier communication patterns, rebuild trust, and reconnect emotionally using evidence-based approaches tailored to your unique relationship.
Whether you're navigating a specific crisis or long-standing patterns, she provides a safe, structured space where both partners can be heard and work toward meaningful change together.
Our circle of care approach means couples are supported by a collaborative team. If one partner also needs individual support, or if children are affected by what's happening in the relationship, care is coordinated across BFF so nothing is missed.
Lee-Anne's approach is:
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): understanding attachment needs
- Solution-Focused and practical: concrete tools for communication
- A safe, neutral space: for both partners to be heard
- Tailored to your relationship: whether dating, married, or separated
MEET YOUR THERAPIST
Lee-Anne Boucher, Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist
Lee-Anne Boucher is the founder of Bridge for Families and brings extensive experience supporting couples through entrenched conflict, painful transitions, and decisions about staying or separating.
Her work centres on the depth required to support both partners: affair recovery, communication breakdowns, the resentment that builds over years, and the practical questions couples face when they're not sure whether to stay or go. As BFF's founder and clinical supervisor, Lee-Anne shaped the circle-of-care approach the whole practice now follows.
Couples come to Lee-Anne when they want someone steady, experienced, and grounded in evidence-based couples work.
Lee-Anne specializes in:
ALSO ON OUR COUPLES TEAM
Tom Tuszynski, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Working alongside Lee-Anne as part of our couples team, Tom Tuszynski draws on the same core approaches (Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, and Solution-Focused work) to help partners name what's getting in the way and build concrete tools to communicate, de-escalate, and move forward.
Tom also walks alongside men navigating the loss of separation and divorce: the grief, the uncertainty, and the work of rebuilding a sense of footing when a relationship ends. His style is steady, collaborative, and focused on the next workable step.
Couples and individuals choose Tom when they want a clear, action-oriented partner in the work.
Tom specializes in:
ALSO ON OUR COUPLES TEAM
Melissa Dunn, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Working alongside Lee-Anne and Tom, Melissa Dunn brings the same core couples approaches (Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, and practical communication work) to partners who feel stuck in the same argument or quietly disconnected. She helps each person name what they need and learn to hear each other without the conversation tipping into conflict.
Melissa has a particular interest in intimacy and attachment, affair recovery, and the way everyday stress (parenting, work, life transitions) wears on a relationship. Her style is warm, respectful, and grounded in helping couples feel genuinely understood.
Couples choose Melissa when they want a collaborative, down-to-earth therapist who makes it easy to open up.
Melissa specializes in:
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How does couples therapy work?
Couples therapy gives both partners a structured, supportive space to express needs and concerns with the guidance of an experienced therapist. At Bridge for Families, our couples therapists (Lee-Anne Boucher, Tom Tuszynski, and Melissa Dunn) work with couples drawing on Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, and Solution-Focused approaches, supporting relationships through conflict, separation, and rebuilding.
How long does couples therapy take?
Most couples see meaningful progress within 8-12 sessions, though some experience improvement in as few as 4-6 sessions. The timeline depends on the complexity of the issues and how long patterns have been in place. The first session is about understanding your situation and figuring out a realistic starting point. There's no commitment to a long course of therapy.
What if my partner doesn't want to come?
It's very common for one partner to be more hesitant about therapy. Individual sessions are available to start working on relationship dynamics on your own. Often, once one partner begins and shares their positive experience, the other partner becomes open to joining. Starting alone can still lead to meaningful changes in your relationship.
Can couples therapy help after infidelity?
Yes. Our couples therapists use specialized approaches for trust rebuilding after infidelity that address the pain of betrayal while creating a path forward. Recovery is possible. Many couples who go through this process come out with a stronger, more honest relationship than they had before. It takes commitment from both partners, but healing is achievable.
Is couples therapy covered by insurance?
Yes. Our couples therapists' services are covered by most extended healthcare plans in Ontario that include psychotherapy or social work coverage, including Veterans Affairs (VAC), Blue Cross, Canada Life, Sun Life, and Manulife. We provide detailed receipts for insurance claims.
Do you work with same-sex couples?
Absolutely. Bridge for Families is an inclusive practice that welcomes all couples regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. Every relationship deserves compassionate, skilled support, and our therapists provide a safe, affirming space for all couples to do their best work together.
What actually happens in an EFT couples session?
Emotionally Focused Therapy looks past the surface argument to the attachment need underneath it: the fear of not mattering, of being left, of getting it wrong. In a typical session your therapist slows the conversation down at the moment it would normally escalate, helps each partner name what they're really feeling, and coaches you both to hear it without going on the defensive. Over time, couples learn to recognize their recurring 'cycle' and step out of it before it takes over.
Can couples therapy help us decide whether to separate?
Yes. Some couples come to us already unsure whether they want to stay together, and that's a valid place to start. Discernment-oriented work gives you space to understand what's keeping you stuck before committing to either repairing the relationship or parting with clarity and less resentment. If you do decide to separate (especially with children involved), Bridge for Families also offers family therapy, so care can stay coordinated through the transition.
We keep having the same argument. Can that really change?
It can. Recurring fights almost always follow a predictable pattern: one partner pushes for connection while the other pulls back to keep the peace, and both end up feeling unheard. Once you can see the pattern as the problem, rather than each other, it loses a lot of its power. We help couples interrupt that loop and replace it with conversations that actually move toward resolution instead of circling back to the same place.
Family & Co-Parenting Counselling
Lee-Anne and Katherine support parents and children through separation, co-parenting, and family change.
Men's Therapy
Tom and Lee-Anne also support men through separation, stress, and rebuilding after a relationship ends.
Anger & Emotional Regulation
When conflict tips into anger, Tom, Melissa, and Lee-Anne help you find the calmer pattern underneath.
Individual Therapy
Six therapists at Bridge for Families offering individual psychotherapy in Kanata, Ottawa.
Take the First Step
Book directly with Lee-Anne to see how she can help your relationship.
Thank you!
We'll be in touch soon.