Brisbane Relationship Therapy / Couple’s Counselling
Meet our Brisbane-based Couple’s Therapists:
Couple’s Therapist
Couple’s TherapistTypes of Couple’s Therapy
There are different types of evidence-based couples counselling offered by our experienced psychologists and psychotherapists:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviours that affect the relationship. Helps couples develop healthier ways of thinking and interacting. - Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Aims to improve the emotional bond between partners by addressing emotional responses and interactions. Helps couples understand and change negative patterns of interaction. - The Gottman Method
Based on extensive research, this method helps couples build stronger relationships by improving communication, managing conflict, and enhancing intimacy and respect. - Imago Relationship Therapy
Focuses on transforming conflict into healing and growth by helping partners understand each other’s childhood wounds and unmet needs. - Narrative Therapy
Encourages couples to view their problems as separate from themselves and to rewrite the narrative of their relationship. Helps partners create a new, more positive story together. - Solution-Focused Therapy
Short-term therapy that focuses on identifying solutions to specific problems rather than exploring the origins of the issues. Helps couples set and achieve specific goals. - Psychodynamic Couples Therapy
Explores the unconscious processes and past experiences that influence current relationship patterns. Aims to increase self-awareness and understanding between partners. - Integrative Behavioural Couple Therapy (IBCT)
Combines behavioural interventions with strategies to improve emotional acceptance and tolerance within the relationship. Helps couples manage and accept differences. - Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy
Focuses on understanding the different parts of oneself and how these parts influence interactions with one’s partner. Helps couples resolve internal conflicts that affect the relationship. - Relational Life Therapy (RLT)
Emphasises bringing a balance of power in the relationship and fostering deep intimacy and connection. Works on enhancing communication and resolving power struggles.
Although most couple therapists use a combination of therapies, here is an overview of which of our couple experts therapists in which therapies:
Gottman Couple’s Therapy: How does it work?
When your marriage or relationship is struggling, it can impact all other areas of your life. Challenges and demands sometimes erode our relationships, but most people have never learned the skills to communicate and process conflict, or may simply have a very different communication style to their partner.
The Gottman Process offers support for couples in varying phases of their relationship:
- Couples who are struggling in their relationship or marriage
- Couples who are unsure if they want to remain in their relationship
- Couples who are going well but who want to improve their closeness and communication
- Pre-marriage counselling
Couples Therapy Assessment Phase (Stage One)
Our Psychologists and Relationship experts based our approach on 40 years of research by leading world relationship experts, Dr John and Julie Gottman. Hundreds of studies have helped to identify the factors which predict relationships that succeed or fail.
Brisbane Wellbeing Clinic offers the Gottman Relationship Check Up Assessment Process to help you and your partner identify the strength and struggle areas in your relationship and to help determine whether you may benefit from couples therapy.
The Couples Therapy Assessment Phase
Interview as a Couple
A 90 minute interview where the couple comes in together to see the relationship therapist.
Online Relationship Check Up Questionnaire
If recommended by the relationships psychologist following the initial interview, completion of an in-depth relationship questionnaire by each partner – The questionnaire can be done from home (online) and is composed of 480 questions about friendship, intimacy, emotions, conflict, values, and trust, as well as parenting, housework, finances, individual areas of concern, and more. This assessment takes 1 to 2 hours to complete. It is an efficient way to gain in depth information that would otherwise take many sessions to understand.
Individual Interviews
Individual 50 minute interviews with each partner and a relationship psychologist to help understand each point of view and motivations.
Relationship Feedback Session
Following intensive interpretation your relationship therapist will then meet with you and your partner for a 90 minute feedback session to discuss the feedback from the individual interviews and questionnaire to help you to identify your relationship strengths and struggles and to provide targeted recommendations about focus areas should you both wish to proceed to couples therapy.
Couples Counselling Phase (Stage Two)
Couples can then choose to proceed to having regular relationship counselling sessions to work on the identified struggle areas of their relationship. Depending on the needs of the couple, relationship counselling is generally on a weekly to fortnightly basis initially and then moves to a less frequent basis to help maintain relationship closeness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Couples’ Counselling
What if my partner does not want to attend?
For couples counselling to be effective, it is important that there is a level of willingness for both partners to make a change. Often one or both partners may feel uncertain about whether they want to work on the relationship. The Relationship Assessment phase (step one detailed above) is not committing to counselling, but rather to an assessment of where things are currently at so that both parents can decide whether they want to proceed with counselling. In situations where your partner is unwilling to do this or perhaps you want to talk about your relationship with a psychologist or relationship therapist one on one, it is best to book as an individual consultation rather than as a relationships consultation.
How many sessions will we need?
For some couples the assessment process is enough to help give some clarity to move forward, for other couples particularly those have been struggling for a long time, more intensive sessions are required. Your psychologist will discuss their recommendations with you after completing a careful assessment of your situation.
What type of couples problems does relationship counselling help with?
Some of the most common issues that we see couples struggle with include:
- Different emotional styles
- Unresolved conflict
- Affairs or other significant ruptures to the relationship
- A sense of growing apart
- Loneliness within the relationship
- Lack of closeness and intimacy
- Communication struggles and avoidance of resolving issues
- Impact of anger, reactivity or mood issues
- Impact of mental health issues
- Impact of drug and alcohol issues
- Impact of stress or work challenges
- Stage of life adjustment and challenges
Can we attend counselling sessions online?
Yes, we offer online counselling sessions for couples who are unable to attend in person. This can be a convenient option for those with busy schedules, living in different locations, or preferring the comfort of their own home. Online sessions are conducted via secure video conferencing platforms to ensure privacy and confidentiality.
What can we expect during our first session?
During the first session, your therapist will conduct an initial assessment to understand the dynamics of your relationship, the challenges you are facing, and your goals for counselling. This session is an opportunity for both partners to share their perspectives and for the therapist to gather information to tailor the counselling process to your specific needs.
How can we prepare for our counselling sessions?
To make the most of your counselling sessions, it can be helpful to think about the issues you want to address and the goals you hope to achieve. Being open and honest about your feelings and concerns will also facilitate a productive dialogue. It may also be useful to reflect on past conflicts and patterns in your relationship to provide context for the therapist.
Will our sessions be confidential?
Yes, confidentiality is a fundamental aspect of our counselling services. Everything discussed during your sessions will be kept private and will not be shared without your consent, except in cases where there is a risk of harm to yourself or others, as required by law.
What if we need to cancel or reschedule an appointment?
We understand that sometimes unforeseen circumstances may arise. If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please contact us as soon as possible. We request at least 24 hours’ notice to avoid a cancellation fee and to allow us to offer the slot to another client.