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Resolve, rejuvenate, reconnect through couples counselling

COUPLES THERAPY

Whether your relationship is in crisis mode, you’ve been struggling for some time or you’re simply looking to enrich the connection – therapy is a brave step to take.

We specialise in helping LGBTQI+ and heterosexual couples navigate challenges to find a new way forward using the evidence-backed Gottman method.

The therapy process

  • Although this initial part of the process with Gottman therapy can seem detailed, finding out where you and your partner are at in the present is an essential part of establishing goals and gaining deeper insight into what’s at the core of your challenges. We recommend a 2-hour session together with your therapist who will gather and observe key information and understand what you are both facing.

Step 1

Step 2

  • Following the joint assessment session, we hold a 1-hour individual session with each member of the relationship to delve into the history of each individual. After this, your therapist will ask you both to complete a thorough online questionnaire which will be emailed directly to you.

Step 3

  • Feedback is provided in a 2-hour couple’s session to go through the results. Some couples may find that these initial steps provide them with enough insight and guidance to then continue working on their relationship without engaging further in consistent, ongoing therapy, while others will use this as a basis to tackle some of their more challenging issues. Either way this assessment phase provides couples with helpful data to use moving forward.

Step 4

  • Your therapist may have their own recommendation for you initially after the assessment phase but typically they will ask you as a couple to attend therapy 2-4 times at fortnightly intervals. These ongoing sessions give partners an opportunity to begin learning the strategies and tools developed by the Gottman institute and a supportive and safe space to bring up challenges and issues that occur between sessions. Once your therapist establishes skill development, they will recommend more time between sessions to allow the couple to build mastery and become independent care takers of their own relationship.

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Why Gottman Couples Therapy?

Here are a few reasons why we love and use Gottman:

  • It’s thoroughly researched and evidenced-based, treating all kinds of relationship challenges.

  • You get takeaway tools and insights to continue improving your relationship after therapy.

  • It’s a highly skills-based method with a predictable structure to help with planning.

  • You’ll see areas to improve and areas or concern using measurable data focused insights.

  • You’ll be given access to the online Gottman portal so you can explore further resources.

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What you’ll take from the sessions

  • Identify sources of stress and tension

  • Discover ways to overcome misunderstandings

  • Improving your emotional connection, compassion, and respect

  • Renegotiate commitments, responsibilities, household labour and boundaries

  • Strengthen open communication and active listening skills

  • If needed, discuss if separating is the right course of action