Marlee Tansley

I work with adolescents, adults, couples, and families who may be feeling stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of how to move forward. I have a particular interest in supporting couples who are struggling with communication, recurring conflict, emotional disconnection, or feeling like they have lost their way to one another. I also have a special interest in adoption and permanency, including the complex experiences of identity, attachment, belonging, grief, and family relationships that can arise throughout the journey.

My approach is grounded primarily in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which focuses on helping people build psychological flexibility and move toward a life that feels meaningful and aligned with their values. I believe therapy should be a space where you can be honest about what you are experiencing without feeling judged or needing to have everything figured out. Together, we can make sense of what is keeping you stuck, build on your existing strengths, and develop practical ways to respond differently to difficult thoughts, emotions, and relationship patterns.

In couples work, I draw from Gottman-informed approaches to help partners better understand their relationship patterns, strengthen friendship and connection, communicate more effectively, and navigate conflict with greater understanding. I also draw from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), DBT-informed strategies, and trauma- and attachment-informed perspectives to tailor therapy to the people sitting in front of me.

Most importantly, I want clients to feel that therapy is something we do together. You are the expert on your own life, and my role is to offer a compassionate, curious, and collaborative space where we can explore what matters to you and work toward meaningful change.