I’ve been supporting individuals and couples in navigating their relationships for over 23 years. My training was completed through the respected Cairnmillar Institute in Camberwell, Melbourne, and includes evidence-based approaches such as the Gottman Method, Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy, Imago Therapy, and Psychosexual Therapy.
Helping couples build healthy, connected relationships is a specialised skill. While many professionals offer couples counselling, not all are specifically trained or experienced in this area. Seeing a well-meaning but inexperienced therapist can sometimes cause more harm than good. Much like with physical health—when you need heart surgery, you see a specialist, not a general practitioner—the same applies to relationship therapy.
I work with couples from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and sexual orientations. Whether you’re married, living together, or in a non-traditional arrangement, choosing to engage in relationship counselling is a courageous step toward rebuilding or strengthening your connection.
Relationship counselling offers a structured, supportive space where both partners can express themselves openly and be heard. Together, we explore how to handle conflict more constructively, shift negative cycles of communication, and understand how past family experiences may be affecting your relationship today.
Family therapy helps families experiencing conflict, disconnection, or communication breakdowns to find healthier ways of relating to one another. It provides a safe space where difficult thoughts and emotions can be shared and explored with professional support.
I’ve worked with a wide range of families over the past 20+ years—including blended families, rainbow families, families with children or adolescents, and adult siblings or parents and children no longer living under the same roof.
The focus is on improving the way family members relate to one another, rather than placing blame on any individual. Depending on your family’s needs, sessions may include all members, some members, or individual sessions as appropriate.
Family therapy aims to:
Rebuild empathy and understanding between members
Resolve long-standing issues or misunderstandings
Strengthen emotional connections
Develop better communication and problem-solving skills
Explore ways forward that benefit all involved
Together, we’ll work to identify the strengths within your family and use them as a foundation for lasting, positive change.
Sometimes, the key to better relationships starts with understanding yourself. Individual Relating Therapy is designed for people who are experiencing recurring challenges in their relationships—whether romantic, family, work-related, or social.
If you’ve noticed a pattern of emotional disconnection, difficulty expressing needs, or choosing partners who are unavailable or unsupportive, therapy can help uncover what’s driving those experiences and why they persist.
Even successful, high-functioning individuals can struggle when it comes to intimacy, trust, or emotional vulnerability. Over time, unresolved issues can lead to loneliness, confusion, or self-doubt.
You may benefit from individual therapy if you experience:
Feeling misunderstood or disconnected from loved ones
A pattern of difficult or unfulfilling relationships
Fear of vulnerability or emotional intimacy
Difficulty setting boundaries or expressing needs
Unresolved issues with parents or past partners
Persistent loneliness or low self-esteem tied to relationships
Avoidance, emotional withdrawal, or reactive behaviour
In therapy, we’ll explore your relationship history, identify unhelpful patterns, and build the emotional skills and insight you need for more secure, satisfying relationships.
For some couples, weekly sessions aren’t enough—especially when the relationship is in deep distress. The Couples in Crisis Intensive Therapy Program offers a focused, immersive experience designed to help couples move through stuck or painful dynamics quickly and effectively.
Choose a 2- or 3-day program, with 5 hours of therapy per day. Before starting, both partners complete an assessment to clarify current issues and therapy goals.
Day 1 includes:
A joint session to explore current relationship challenges
Individual sessions with each partner
Identification of key issues and desired outcomes
Once we establish a shared understanding, we begin targeted, solution-focused therapy.
What to Expect
A personalised treatment plan is developed collaboratively and may focus on:
Improving communication and emotional expression
Rebuilding trust, affection, and cooperation
Managing conflict in healthy, respectful ways
Addressing recurring, unresolved issues
Strengthening emotional and physical intimacy
Even couples with different goals can benefit from this work—by gaining clarity, mutual respect, and a deeper understanding of each other’s needs.
This program is not recommended if:
One or both partners are not committed to working on the relationship
There is an ongoing or recently discovered affair with no agreement to end it
There are current or unresolved instances of domestic violence
There is a serious untreated addiction
There is unmanaged, severe mental illness
In these situations, individual therapy or a stabilisation process is advised before beginning couples work.
Managing Emotional Fatigue
We understand that intensive therapy can be emotionally demanding. That’s why the program includes:
A 30-minute break while your partner has their individual session
A 15-minute break after every 90-minute block
A scheduled lunch break each day
If you’re unsure whether a multi-day format is right for you, we can begin with a one-day intensive and assess from there
If you’re ready to repair, grow, or better understand your relationships—whether with your partner, family, or yourself—reach out today.
The first step is often the hardest, but it can also be the most important.
Sometimes relationships are in crisis. Other times, frequent arguments over minor issues or persistent communication problems may be signs that support is needed. Any time your relationship no longer feels nurturing, supportive, or satisfying is a good time to seek counselling.
While many couples have the internal resources to cope, having a neutral, caring, and objective third party can make the process easier and more effective. Research shows that therapy helps many people relieve stress, depression, and anxiety that arise from relationship challenges.
Not all therapy—and not all therapists—are the same. If therapy didn’t help in the past, that doesn’t mean it won’t work now. A different approach or therapist can make a meaningful difference.
No. Ethical and well-trained therapists are committed to neutrality. Both partners should feel equally supported and safe throughout the process.
My role is to help you clarify your thoughts and emotions, explore issues you may not have considered, and support you as you make your own informed decisions. We won’t tell you what to do, but we will guide you toward greater insight and confidence.
We approach your concerns through a relationship lens. That means we consider your difficulties within the broader context of your emotional attachments—whether with a partner, parent, or child. We look for strengths, validate your efforts, and use emotions as meaningful indicators to resolve underlying distress.
Not at all. In fact, couples who seek therapy are often more likely to improve their relationship and stay together than those who don’t. Seeking help shows that you care enough to repair what’s not working.
No. You can book an appointment directly—no referral is required. Just [contact us], and we’ll help you get started.
There’s no set duration. However, many clients report noticeable improvements within about six sessions.
Standard couples therapy sessions are approximately 60 minutes. Longer sessions may be available upon request, especially for those with tight schedules or travelling long distances
The goal is to reduce conflict, improve communication, and foster a relationship that feels safe, secure, and emotionally fulfilling.
Yes. Sex therapy can be highly effective in helping couples restore a healthy and satisfying sex life. Many people are surprised by how impactful and insightful sex therapy can be.
We understand that therapy is a financial investment. At Side By Side, we strive to offer value by providing experienced, results-focused services. In the long run, working with a skilled therapist can be more effective—and more cost-efficient—than less experienced alternatives. Your relationship is worth the investment.
Absolutely. Our counsellors are inclusive, affirming, and sensitive to the unique challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples. We welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and relationship styles.
Yes. Separation is often an emotionally and logistically complex time. Counselling can help you navigate this transition with greater clarity and cooperation—especially around issues like finances, parenting arrangements, and emotional closure. Our therapists offer support that can help reduce distress and potentially avoid adversarial legal processes.
We accept cash, personal cheques, and credit cards. Online payment is also available via our website.
We’re here to help. Please don’t hesitate to call or email us with any further questions.
