Darren Wilk R.C.C., M.A., C.G.T.

Not Currently Accepting New Clients

Darren Wilk, Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Co-founder of Best Marriages, has been working with marriages and families since 1988.

This includes being a foster parent, providing care as a professional parent, loving and inspiring children with various challenges. He is also a an Advanced Gottman Clinical Trainer which includes regularly presenting Gottman Couples Workshops.  Darren has spent more than 18 years training and mentoring counsellors across Canada in Gottman Method Couples Therapy. Recently he has been asked,  to be one of  a few Master Trainers in the world to present “The Art and Science of Love Couples Workshop” for the Gottman Institute in Seattle. 

Having been certified in Gottman Method Couples Therapy (see www.gottman.com ), Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy and the Prepare/Enrich Program, Darren especially enjoys working with couples. A dynamic therapist and motivational speaker, Darren brings creativity, inspiration and compassion into his counselling, which enables him to connect well with clients of any age. While he draws from a variety of therapeutic models, Darren mainly uses scientifically proven methods of relationship counselling developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman, Dr. Sue Johnson, as well as Choice Theory. These theories combined help couples concentrate on solutions, not problems, acceptance and change, not blame, and what is within their control in order to make changes in their lives.

Recently he has been excited to incorporate methods from Terry Real’s, Relational Life Institute, which focuses on the ‘Us’ aspect of relationships and helps us understand how the triggers of our childhood affect how we currently connect with our partner. Often couples need to make personal changes within themselves in order to maintain the changes from skills they learned in therapy. Darren has found Internal Family Systems, by Richard Schwartz, to be helpful in understanding ourselves and how our immature coping mechanisms can sabotage connection.

This type of therapy usually includes 6-10 sessions and is collaborative in nature. For couples recovering from affairs, or who are working through deep trauma, the length of therapy is much longer. Darren’s therapeutic preference also includes prevention; he desires to help people view counselling as a “tune-up” process, rather than an option only for those in crisis. He works with clients to help uncover their strengths and utilize them to make better choices.

Darren holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Religion and a Master of Arts in Counseling/Psychology. His experience includes Marriage Coaching, Couples Workshops, Level One, Two and Three Trainer for the Gottman Method, work with the Ministry for Children and Families in Chilliwack, Couples Communication Workshops, Addictions Counseling, Sexual Abuse Counselling, developing and leading Anger Management Groups and Parenting Classes. Other areas of interest include occupational stress and personal meaning–the focus of Darren’s thesis and ongoing work.  He is successful in working with Anxiety and Trauma, especially PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). One of the effective techniques he uses is called Observed Experiential Integration (OEI), which, similar to EMDR,  works directly on the brain and quickly helps clear negative thoughts, traumatic memories and overwhelming feelings. Recently, he has been enjoying practicing meditation  and mindfulness. 

Darren serves as an Operating Partner of Lighthouse Counselling and is engaged full-time in operations and clinical leadership across the Best Marriages and Affinity Counselling brands. When Darren is not working, he enjoys Wheeling, Motorcycle trips, camping and playing with his own family, which includes a wife of over 30 years, five children, and two cats.

P.S. — My wife is also a fantastic counsellor who specializes in work with Women & Trauma. She is also is my Wheeling and Biking partner.