Deciding to see an experienced couples therapist can be a daunting choice.
Our team has the experience and expertise to help you resolve your relationship issues, no matter how complex they are.
Couples Therapy and Marriage Counselling - Your questions answered
Our two clinics offer different couples therapists and a variety of approaches to relationship counselling. Click below for detailed information on our two clinics.
Can marriage counselling help?
Is couples counselling too late for us?
For some couples, what has happened in their relationship appears like a train wreck. Unfaithfulness, domestic violence or emotional abuse have destroyed connection and trust. This may have occurred over time or through traumatic events. There is no doubt about the huge damage.
Can too much emotional damage have occurred? It may be that the couple cannot continue to live together without further damage. The goal then becomes one of being respectful, amicable and self-controlled, while separated.
Is there hope for our relationships?
Whatever has happened, as marriage counsellors, we always look for hope. Saving and healing a relationship takes work. It depends on the partners’ willingness to be open and committed to personal changes.
Do you provide mediation?
Mediation assists separating couples to agree on parenting plans or financial agreements. Mediation can also help when relationships break down between family members or friends.
How may my own individual counselling for relationship problems help?
Individual counselling for relationship issues may help you:
- to understand the impact of past relationships or your family of origin
- to improve your reactions so that they are mindful, respectful and authentic
- to find the assertiveness and courage to deal with an abusive relationship
- to work through whether you wish to stay or go, especially if there has been serious abuse or betrayal
Can you help us with our blended family?
Yes, indeed. Stepfamilies or blended families struggle with complex dynamics. Questions arise such as:
- How do we work together as a team, as parents, when we have such different parenting styles?
- How do I keep consistent boundaries, and be calm and assertive with a difficult ex-partner?
These are on top of the normal adjustments couples face in learning to live together. We can offer relationship counselling or family therapy alongside couples counselling.
Do you have a program to help us prepare for, or enrich, our marriage?
Our marriage counsellors run the Prepare/Enrich Program. It is a program based on an in depth questionnaire that helps couples take an honest stocktake of their relationship in marriage preparation, or as marriage enrichment. It helps couples identify areas of strength, and areas of growth and potential challenge in their relationship.
Generally three in-depth feedback sessions are provided to discuss the assessment reports. These feedback discussions and assigned exercises are uniquely tailored for each couple according to need.
Will your marriage therapists be able to help us?
All our relationship counsellors have a Masters degree in counselling or social work, or the equivalent. We set a high bar for practice.
Issues surrounding relationships (violence and abuse, family law matters, sexual concerns, infidelity and other betrayals, severe attachment disruptions) all render this work highly complex and specialised.
Because marriage counselling and family therapy is complex and specialised, all our marriage counsellors:
- have completed an integrated sequence of postgraduate course work over one year in relationship counselling
- have trained in couples counselling over a period of at least 12 months
- have professional registration with ARCAP, PACFA or AASW
- review their practice under the guidance and oversight of clinical supervisors experienced in couples work
Saving and healing a relationship takes work. It depends on two partners capable and willing to being open and making a commitment to personal change, whatever it takes.
Other common questions about relationship counselling
What issues do you work with?
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Affairs – working through the discovery and rebuilding trust
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Anger management
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Communication skills
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Conflict resolution
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Complex, traumatic or unresolved past issues
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Different expectations – personal, family and cultural
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Domestic violence
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Losing love and connection
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Pre-marital preparation and counselling (Prepare/Enrich)
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Parenting and stepfamily issues
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Same-sex attraction
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Separation, mediation and divorce
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Sexual problems
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Trust and addictions
The first session is a broad introduction where your marriage counsellor will ask some questions to gather information and understand your issues.
This is done in a balanced way so that all relevant issues are on the table. By the end of the first session, the landscape of issues will be clearer and some initial goals and plans agreed.
You may be always arguing over the smallest issues or domestic chores. Unresolved recurring issues can cause frustration and resentment to build up and negative cycles can develop. Relationship counselling can help couples work together to replace these negative cycles.
It is ideal in most cases that couples attend the first session together, as it allows everything to be transparent. Sometimes, it may be better for one or both partners to first have an individual session.
Our answer is that it depends on what the couple prefers. Most couples don’t mind either way. If one partner has a preference for a male or female counsellor, we seek to honour that to ensure the best match.
This happens. Our advice is to consider these options:
- Are there ways to explain the process of counselling so that your partner sees a good reason to attend?
- Would your partner prefer to have their own individual session first?
- If your partner chooses not to attend, consider seeking individual therapy for yourself. This way, at least you get strategies for coping and creating change from your side.
- Couples counselling is open to your partner if they change their mind later.
Yes. Deeper changes may not occur until after a few sessions with the same counsellor. Even so, you always have the right to discuss and request a change of couples counsellor. We find that this rarely happens as our intake process ensures that you find a good match at the time of booking.
We offer marriage therapy or marriage guidance that respects all backgrounds and beliefs. Our professional role is to be impartial, respectful and supportive. In our booking process, we offer those marriage counsellors who best match your needs.
We also offer counselling for Christians.
We also offer counselling for Christians.
Easy booking process
Ring for a free consultation
Discover the ease of booking an appointment with us. Our experienced Practice Managers will guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have during a free 15-minute consultation.
Choose a therapist
Our Practice Managers will explain your options and guide you in making an informed decision about which therapist is best suited to your needs.
Choose a time
Choose a convenient time, including after hours. We offer both in-person and telehealth meetings. Generous concessions are available for those facing financial difficulties.