Donna Tosky is committed to supporting men and women in finding peace, connection, trust and fun in their marriage or committed relationship. She does this by educating clients about who they and their partners are naturally as men and women. When men and women are comfortable with their natural perfection, and that of their partner, mutual empathy, connection and compassion are the automatic results.
“The retreat is not about changing people, ‘fixing’ anything or laying blame. You can’t change who you are, and there’s no need to fix what’s already perfect. It’s about waking up to what’s already there…to what’s been working for you all along,” she says. Clients that participate in her retreats consistently report breakthrough results in the areas of compassion, self esteem and acceptance for themselves and others.
“I have to say, after finishing the weekend retreat, my husband and I realized that we really didn’t know how to talk to one another……the retreat made our lives so much better. Mind blowing weekend
Hello Friends,
My name is Donna Tosky. I’m a Couple’s Communication Specialist & Consultant, and the co-founder of the “Between Men and Women” Couples Communication Success Retreat.
Did you know that eight out of ten couples struggle? That’s right… eight out of ten! In other words, 80% of people in relationship or marriage are not having the experience they would like to be having. I know what that feels like. I was one of them. It’s safe to say you’re no different from me. You want clear communication, a good connection and a partnership you can count on. All of that means respect, intimacy and trust.
Even though these things look a little different for each of us, all in all, you’d likely agree that your marriage/relationship should be more fun than stress. Furthermore, your relationship is too important in life… you’ve invested too much to not get what you want.
So how do we get to that “holy grail” of happiness in relationship or marriage? There is a common myth that the only way to “fix” or make change in a troubled marriage is by going through lengthy, time consuming and often painful therapy or counselling. This usually involves revisiting the past, rehashing old wounds and to a certain extent, establishing “who did what to whom”.
When my relationship ended, after 14 difficult and challenging years, I knew a happy marriage was possible, but I didn’t want to go through more struggle to get there. I wanted a different way… a unique way… a way that takes out blaming. I wanted a new perspective along with a complete set of tools and techniques that show people exactly what to DO to lay down a solid foundation for the quickest road to recovery and happiness. The program you are about to discover is all of that.
With that goal in mind, I went on a quest that was to completely redirect my life and purpose. I embarked on a relentless search for what was missing, including my own role in the breakdown of my marriage. It was a journey so eye-opening that I HAD to share it with others. My single driving purpose became to return couples to the peace of mind, connectedness and fun they deserve without having to compromise who they are. I now do this by teaching my SPARK Communication Success System for Couples.
For 20 years, I’ve helped disconnected couples to deeply reconnect through a unique communication system that renews, refreshes and rebuilds their commitment to their marriage. My life partner, Jason, joined me in 2007, and as a team, we’ve delivered the SPARK Communication Success System, and brought lasting re-connection to 100’s of couples through our group retreats and private coaching.
This page is about what we do, how we do it, and most importantly, what’s available for YOU when you choose to participate in a private 1-on-1 “Between Men and Women” Couples Communication Success Retreat.
Welcome to “Between Men and Women”, and please read on! If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch.
In the meantime…Go Be Great
Emotions either run really high, OR you stuff them all DOWN when you’re in the middle of a communication breakdown. Emotions like anger, resentment and anxiety lead you (or your partner) straight to defensiveness, aggression, shutting down and indeed, the very traits that will cause MORE breakdown for you as a couple.
Perpetual anger, resentment or sadness at knowing what your relationship/ marriage COULD be, but not having any way to get there, is exhausting and draining.
The “Between Men and Women” Couples Communication Success Retreat is a way to get there. It’s a logical approach to getting what you want in relationship, one that replaces what, up to this point, has been overruled by emotion.
Read MoreEven if it was good in the beginning, you notice you’re no longer as comfortable in the relationship as you’d like to be, and you can’t ignore it anymore. You don’t feel safe. He’s not “getting it”. You don’t feel heard. Even though he might be hearing what you’re saying, you know he’s not REALLY understanding. It happens TOO often.
You try to explain something important to you, and he ends up making it about himself, gets defensive and once again, you feel unheard. You can never quite get to ground zero with him, where you can reset and get reconnected. He either gets mad or shuts down and leaves the room before hearing you out. OR … he just doesn’t talk at all and you wonder, “Is there anybody IN there?”
Read More
When it’s good with her it’s “good”. You feel like a million bucks when she’s smiling. You know it’s not your “job” to make her happy, but you sure wish you could. It’s gotten to the point that before you even open your mouth you just KNOW you’ve done something wrong, even though you’re not exactly sure what it is. In fact, how it might be for you now, is that you can’t do ANYTHING right, and you’re starting to think, “Why bother trying?”.
You find yourself setting up boundaries and blocks to protect yourself from this never-ending sense of dissatisfaction and unhappiness you’re getting from her. You wish she would notice all the things you DO for her and the family. You’re starting to think she’s unappreciative. She wants you to take more of the “lead” regarding the house and/or family.
Read MoreMen and women, literally are NOT related to relationship and communication in the same way. You know you sense it but you don’t know exactly how it works. Without a full and true understanding , it will be next to impossible to truly meet in the middle or to get on the same page because you cannot CHANGE another person.
The best way is through understanding our differences. Otherwise, there will always be one partner that feels they are “settling” and being compromised. You will move though time together going from one struggle to the next, not knowing how to navigate these fundamental differences.
Read More
Meet my life partner and best friend, Jason. Since 2007, he has helped me facilitate small group couples retreats, mastering the “Between Men and Women” Communication Success Model that we teach.
For nearly 20 years, we’ve lived the same relationship communication tools I share in my private couples retreats here in Calgary, Alberta and online worldwide. From career changes and family challenges to health setbacks and parenting conflicts, we’ve faced real-life situations that test even the strongest bonds.
Using the SPARK Framework, we stay grounded in respect, resilience, and connection, turning challenges into growth opportunities.
This approach isn’t just what I teach—it’s how we live every day. I look forward to showing you the practical tools and strategies that create strong, supportive, and deeply fulfilling relationships.
Couples in Calgary often seek marriage counselling when communication breaks down, intimacy fades, or conflicts feel overwhelming. While counselling is a valuable tool, there’s another approach that emphasises empowerment and...
Read More
Every marriage has seasons— times of joy and connection, and times of struggle and distance. When challenges arise, many couples immediately think of professional help such as couples counseling in...
Read More
Relationships thrive when both partners feel understood, respected, and supported. While many couples turn to couples therapy in Calgary for guidance, not everyone wants or needs formal counselling. Sometimes, what...
Read More