Couples & Relationship Counselling
Relationships can be one of the most meaningful sources of connection and support in our lives, and they can also become places of tension, distance, and disconnection. Many people arrive when they notice recurring conflict, a breakdown in trust, or a quiet sense that they and their partner are no longer finding each other in the same way.
When something feels stuck, strained, or painful, you do not have to navigate it alone. Relationship counselling offers a space to slow things down, make sense of what is happening beneath the surface, and begin to understand the patterns shaping how you relate to one another. From there, new possibilities for connection and movement can emerge.
How I Work
I bring a warm, attuned presence to this work. My approach is emotionally focused and attachment-informed, which means I understand conflict less as something to be resolved and more as something to be understood: an expression of the emotional and attachment needs moving between you.
Couples often arrive in very different states. Some are in acute distress following betrayal, affairs or rupture, while others are experiencing a slower erosion of connection over time.
Regardless of where a couple begins, I work with the underlying cycle rather than the surface argument: how each person’s nervous system responds, how protection and withdrawal form, and how these patterns shape disconnection or repair.
What I Work With
- Recurring conflict and communication that keeps breaking down
- Emotional disconnection and a growing sense of distance
- Intimacy, desire and sexual connection
- Betrayal, infidelity and rebuilding trust
- Uncertainty about whether to stay together
- Separation, and separating well when children are involved
- Parenting conflict and blended family dynamics
- Longstanding attachment patterns and relational difficulty
- Ethical non-monogamy, open relationships and polyamory
- Neurodivergence in relationships
- The relational impact of anxiety, depression, trauma or addiction
- Grief, loss and major life transitions
Fees & Availability
80-minute sessions · $280 (recommended for couples)
50-minute sessions · $220
Couples are seen together. Individual sessions can be arranged where appropriate.
In-person in Thornbury and online across Australia.
Relationship Counselling in Melbourne’s Inner North & North-East
Relationship Practice is based in Thornbury and welcomes couples from across Melbourne’s inner north and north-east, including Northcote, Preston, Fairfield, Ivanhoe, Heidelberg, Brunswick and surrounding suburbs. Sessions are also available online throughout Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we need to be in crisis to start couples counselling?
No. Many couples come when things feel uncertain, distant or strained rather than at a breaking point. Counselling can also support relationships that want to strengthen connection and understand their patterns before difficulties become more entrenched.
What if my partner isn't sure about coming to counselling?
This is very common, and one partner often feels more ready than the other. We can begin with whoever is willing to attend, and make space for the hesitation itself, which is frequently part of what is happening in the relationship. Reluctance at the start does not mean counselling cannot help.
Does couples counselling actually work?
For many couples, yes. Approaches like Emotionally Focused Therapy have a strong research base showing lasting improvement in connection and satisfaction. Outcomes depend on the couple and what you are working through, but counselling gives you a structured, supported space to understand your patterns and relate differently. It is not about assigning blame or deciding who is right, but about helping both of you experience each other in new ways.
Why do couples get stuck in the same patterns?
Many relationship difficulties are not simply communication problems. They are patterns shaped by how each person has learned to protect themselves when they feel emotionally unsafe, misunderstood or overwhelmed. Over time, these protective responses become automatic, especially under stress, and couples repeat the same cycle without resolution. Understanding the cycle is often the turning point.
What approach or therapy model do you use?
My work is attachment-informed and emotionally focused, drawing primarily on Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) alongside an understanding of relational neuroscience: how the nervous system responds under stress, why couples become caught in repetitive cycles, and how safety and connection can be rebuilt. I also integrate broader relational and systemic thinking, shaping the work around what each couple needs rather than applying a single fixed method.
What happens in a session?
Sessions are paced and guided, with attention to what is unfolding between you in the room. We slow down moments of tension or disconnection so the emotions and needs underneath can become clearer and more workable. The aim is not to assign blame, but to help both partners understand the cycle they are caught in and begin to experience each other differently within it.
Can you help with affairs, betrayal or rebuilding trust?
Yes. Betrayal and broken trust are among the most painful things a couple can face, and they are also some of the most common reasons people seek counselling. This work moves carefully: making space for the hurt, understanding how the rupture happened, and, where both partners wish to, slowly rebuilding safety and trust. Whether a relationship can recover from an affair depends on many things, but many couples do find a way through.
Will you take sides or tell us who is right?
No. The work is not about deciding who is right or wrong. It focuses on understanding the pattern between you, so that both perspectives can be heard and new ways of responding can emerge. My role is to hold a fair, balanced space for both of you.
How many sessions will we need?
There is no fixed number, as it depends on what you are working through and what you are hoping for. Some couples come for a short, focused period, others for longer. We check in along the way about how things are progressing, so the work stays shaped around your needs rather than a set schedule.
What are your fees?
Sessions are $220 for 50 minutes and $280 for 80 minutes. Many couples find the longer session useful, as relational work often needs a little more time to settle into. If you are unsure which suits you, we can talk it through beforehand.
Is what we talk about confidential?
Yes. What you share is kept confidential, within the limits set out by law and professional ethical guidelines, which I will explain clearly at the outset. Where I am working with a couple, I will also talk with you about how information shared individually is handled, so everyone is clear from the start.
Is online couples counselling available?
Yes. Sessions are available in person in Thornbury, Melbourne, and online via secure telehealth for couples across Australia. Online sessions work well for most couples and can make it easier to attend consistently around work, children and busy schedules.
Begin with a conversation
Whether you’ve been feeling disconnected for some time or something has recently happened that has left your relationship feeling uncertain, you don’t need to have everything worked out before reaching out. A free 15-minute consultation is a low-pressure way to talk through what’s happening, ask questions and see whether counselling feels like the right next step.