Professional, evidence-based relationship therapy for couples at any stage: whether you are looking to strengthen your bond, navigate a crisis, or find a respectful path forward.
Couples counselling is a form of psychological therapy specifically designed for intimate partners. Unlike individual therapy, the relationship itself is the focus of treatment. A skilled couples therapist creates a balanced, neutral space where both partners feel equally heard: and works with the couple to understand the patterns driving conflict, distance, or disconnection.
Seeking couples counselling is not a sign of failure. It is an act of investment in one of the most important relationships in your life. Research from the Gottman Institute and other leading bodies shows that couples therapy: when delivered by a trained clinician using evidence-based methods: produces significant improvements in relationship satisfaction, communication, and emotional intimacy for the majority of couples who engage fully in the process.
Our psychologists approach couples therapy with warmth, respect, and complete neutrality. Their role is never to take sides or assign blame, but to help you both understand each other more deeply and find new ways of relating.
Our psychologists draw on several evidence-based frameworks for couples work:
Gottman Method Couples Therapy: Developed by Dr John and Dr Julie Gottman from decades of relationship research, this approach builds friendship, shared meaning, and the ability to manage conflict constructively. It is one of the most extensively researched couples therapy models available.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): Developed by Dr Sue Johnson, EFT focuses on the emotional bond between partners. It helps couples identify the negative interaction cycles that create distance and distress, and re-establish secure emotional connection. EFT has one of the strongest evidence bases of any couples intervention.
Integrative Behavioural Couple Therapy (IBCT): Combines strategies to promote positive change with acceptance-based techniques to help partners better tolerate differences. Particularly effective when longstanding patterns are resistant to change.
Couples therapy typically begins with a joint intake session where both partners are present and can share their perspectives on the relationship and what they hope to achieve. Your psychologist may also request individual sessions with each partner early in the process: this provides a space to share things that are difficult to say in the joint setting and helps your psychologist understand each person's full experience.
Most couples attend sessions fortnightly. Sessions run for 50 minutes. The number of sessions varies: some couples find 6–10 sessions transformative; others engage in longer-term work on deeper patterns. Your psychologist will review progress regularly and discuss the pace and duration of therapy openly.
Both partners do not need to be at the same level of commitment when starting. Many couples begin with one partner more reluctant than the other: and this is entirely normal. A skilled therapist works with that ambivalence rather than against it.
Joint sessions with both partners. Individual sessions with each partner may also be included, especially early in therapy.
50 minutes. Some intensive formats are available for couples who prefer longer sessions or have travelled from outside the Gold Coast.
Medicare does not rebate standard couples counselling. Individual sessions within a couples therapy framework may be rebatable with a MHCP: ask your psychologist.
Hope Island, Upper Coomera, or via Telehealth. Telehealth couples sessions are effective and convenient: both partners can join from home.
Couples counselling sessions are billed at the standard psychology session rate. Medicare does not cover joint couples sessions as they fall outside the Medicare-rebatable psychological therapy item numbers. However:
This is one of the most common concerns we hear. You can begin with a session on your own: exploring the relationship dynamics and what you would like to work on. This can sometimes be enough to help your partner feel less apprehensive. Some couples also find it helpful for the reluctant partner to come just once with no commitment to return. Our psychologists are experienced at welcoming ambivalent clients without pressure.
Yes. What is discussed in sessions is confidential within the bounds of standard ethical and legal obligations. If your therapist also conducts individual sessions with each partner, they will clarify at the outset how information from individual sessions is handled in the joint context: typically, individual disclosures are not shared in joint sessions without the person's agreement.
Absolutely. Post-separation support is a recognised and valuable form of couples therapy, particularly for couples who share children and need to establish healthy co-parenting. Even couples who have decided to separate benefit from a professional space to process the separation with respect, reduce ongoing conflict, and clarify practical decisions. This is often called discernment counselling or separation support.
Yes, fully and without reservation. Our psychologists are affirming of all relationship structures, identities, and orientations. We work with same-sex couples, polyamorous relationships, and all family configurations with the same professional care and respect extended to every couple we see.
Not necessarily. Individual mental health concerns and relationship difficulties often interact: each can drive the other, and treating one in isolation may not address the full picture. Our psychologists are trained to work with both simultaneously. In some cases, a combination of individual and couples therapy is recommended. Your psychologist will discuss the most effective approach for your specific situation.
Book online or call us on 07 5573 2200. Available at Hope Island, Upper Coomera, or via Telehealth.
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