Relationship counselling
I have been supporting individuals and couples in their relationships for over 23 years. My training was completed through the Cairnmillar Institute in Camberwell, Melbourne, and includes evidence-based approaches such as the Gottman Method, Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy, Imago Therapy and Psychosexual Therapy.
Helping couples build healthy, connected relationships is a specialised skill. Many professionals offer couples counselling, but not all are specifically trained or experienced in it, and seeing a well-meaning but inexperienced therapist can sometimes do more harm than good. When you need heart surgery you see a specialist, not a general practitioner, and the same applies to relationship therapy.
I work with couples from all backgrounds, lifestyles and sexual orientations. Married, living together or in a non-traditional arrangement, choosing relationship counselling is a courageous step towards rebuilding or strengthening your connection.
Relationship counselling offers a structured, supportive space where both partners can express themselves openly and be heard. Together we explore how to handle conflict more constructively, shift negative cycles of communication, and understand how past family experiences may be affecting your relationship today.
Family therapy
Family therapy helps families experiencing conflict, disconnection or communication breakdowns to find healthier ways of relating to one another. It provides a safe space where difficult thoughts and emotions can be shared and explored with professional support.
Over the past 20 years I have worked with a wide range of families, including blended families, rainbow families, families with children or adolescents, and adult siblings or parents and children no longer living under the same roof. The focus is on improving the way family members relate to one another rather than blaming any individual. Depending on your family's needs, sessions may include all members, some members or individuals.
Family therapy aims to:
- rebuild empathy and understanding between members;
- resolve long-standing issues or misunderstandings;
- strengthen emotional connections;
- develop better communication and problem-solving skills; and
- explore ways forward that benefit everyone involved.
Together we identify the strengths within your family and use them as a foundation for lasting, positive change.
Individual relating therapy
Sometimes the key to better relationships starts with understanding yourself. Individual relating therapy is for people who experience recurring difficulties in their relationships, romantic, family, work-related or social.
If you have noticed a pattern of emotional disconnection, difficulty expressing needs, or choosing partners who are unavailable or unsupportive, therapy can help uncover what drives those experiences and why they persist. Even successful, high-functioning people can struggle with intimacy, trust or emotional vulnerability, and over time unresolved issues can lead to loneliness, confusion or self-doubt.
You may benefit from individual therapy if you experience:
- feeling misunderstood or disconnected from loved ones;
- a pattern of difficult or unfulfilling relationships;
- fear of vulnerability or emotional intimacy;
- difficulty setting boundaries or expressing needs;
- unresolved issues with parents or past partners;
- persistent loneliness or low self-esteem tied to relationships; or
- avoidance, emotional withdrawal or reactive behaviour.
In therapy we explore your relationship history, identify unhelpful patterns, and build the emotional skills and insight you need for more secure, satisfying relationships.
Couples in crisis: intensive therapy
For some couples, weekly sessions are not enough, especially when the relationship is in deep distress. The Couples in Crisis intensive program (sometimes called marathon therapy) is a focused, immersive experience designed to help couples move through stuck or painful dynamics quickly and effectively.
Program format
Choose a two- or three-day program, with five hours of therapy each day. Before starting, both partners complete an assessment to clarify the current issues and the goals for therapy.
Day one includes a joint session to explore the current relationship challenges, individual sessions with each partner, and identification of the key issues and desired outcomes. Once we have a shared understanding, we begin targeted, solution-focused therapy.
What to expect
A personalised treatment plan is developed together and may focus on:
- improving communication and emotional expression;
- rebuilding trust, affection and cooperation;
- managing conflict in healthy, respectful ways;
- addressing recurring, unresolved issues; and
- strengthening emotional and physical intimacy.
Even couples with different goals can benefit from this work by gaining clarity, mutual respect and a deeper understanding of each other's needs.
Who the program is not suitable for
The program is not recommended if:
- one or both partners are not committed to working on the relationship;
- there is an ongoing or recently discovered affair with no agreement to end it;
- there are current or unresolved instances of domestic violence;
- there is a serious untreated addiction; or
- there is unmanaged, severe mental illness.
In these situations, individual therapy or a stabilisation process is advised before beginning couples work.
Managing emotional fatigue
Intensive therapy can be emotionally demanding, so the program includes a 30-minute break while your partner has their individual session, a 15-minute break after every 90-minute block, and a scheduled lunch break each day. If you are unsure whether a multi-day format is right for you, we can begin with a one-day intensive and assess from there.
Getting started
If you are ready to repair, grow or better understand your relationships, with your partner, your family or yourself, get in touch. The first step is often the hardest, but it can also be the most important.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if we need couples counselling?
Sometimes relationships are in crisis. Other times, frequent arguments over minor issues or persistent communication problems are signs that support is needed. Any time your relationship no longer feels nurturing, supportive or satisfying is a good time to seek counselling.
Should we not be able to handle our issues ourselves?
Many couples have the internal resources to cope, but a neutral, caring and objective third party can make the process easier and more effective. Research shows that therapy helps many people relieve the stress, depression and anxiety that arise from relationship difficulties.
We have tried therapy before and it did not work.
Not all therapy, and not all therapists, are the same. If therapy did not help in the past, that does not mean it will not work now. A different approach or therapist can make a meaningful difference.
Will the therapist take sides?
No. Ethical and well-trained therapists are committed to neutrality. Both partners should feel equally supported and safe throughout the process.
Are you going to tell us what to do?
My role is to help you clarify your thoughts and emotions, explore issues you may not have considered, and support you as you make your own informed decisions. I will not tell you what to do, but I will guide you towards greater insight and confidence.
How does couples counselling work?
I approach your concerns through a relationship lens, considering your difficulties within the broader context of your emotional attachments, with a partner, parent or child. I look for strengths, validate your efforts, and use emotions as meaningful indicators to resolve the underlying distress.
Does going to couples counselling mean we are headed for divorce?
Not at all. Couples who seek therapy are often more likely to improve their relationship and stay together than those who do not. Seeking help shows that you care enough to repair what is not working.
Do I need a referral from a GP?
No. You can book an appointment directly. Relationship and family therapy sessions are not eligible for a Medicare rebate, so no Mental Health Treatment Plan is needed.
How long does couples therapy take?
There is no set duration, but many clients report noticeable improvement within about six sessions.
How long are the sessions?
Standard couples therapy sessions are approximately 60 minutes. Longer sessions may be available on request, especially for those with tight schedules or who travel a long way.
What is the goal of couples counselling?
To reduce conflict, improve communication, and build a relationship that feels safe, secure and emotionally fulfilling.
Can you help with sexual difficulties?
Yes. Sex therapy can be highly effective in helping couples restore a healthy and satisfying sex life. Many people are surprised by how much insight it brings. See psychosexual therapy.
Why is therapy so costly?
Therapy is a financial investment. I aim to offer value through experienced, results-focused work. In the long run, working with a skilled therapist can be more effective, and more cost-efficient, than less experienced alternatives. My fees remain considerably lower than the Australian Psychological Society's recommended rates; see the fees page.
Do you see same-sex couples?
Yes. I welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and relationship styles, and I am sensitive to the particular challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples.
Do you counsel couples who are separating?
Yes. Separation is often an emotionally and logistically complex time. Counselling can help you through the transition with greater clarity and cooperation, especially around finances, parenting arrangements and emotional closure, and can reduce distress and help avoid adversarial legal processes.
How do we pay for couples therapy?
Fees can be paid by debit or credit card, direct bank deposit or cash, at the end of the appointment or by direct debit before the session. A valid debit or credit card is needed to secure your appointment.
What if I have more questions?
Please call or email me with any further questions.