Work through difficulties together
When difficult conversations keep ending in the same place, it can help to have someone guide the discussion. You may feel disconnected, be stuck in conflict or be facing a change that affects you both.
Couples counselling gives each person a chance to be heard and to say what they want from the relationship.
What you can bring
- Communication difficulties and recurring disagreements.
- Feeling distant or finding it hard to reconnect.
- Parenting pressures and changes in family life.
- Decisions about staying together, separating or what comes next.
Your first session together
Each person explains what has brought them to counselling and what they would like to change. Your psychologist helps you discuss shared priorities and differences, and whether joint sessions are suitable.
Consent, confidentiality and how information from each partner is handled are discussed before the work begins. You don’t have to agree about everything to ask whether counselling could help.
Joining by video
Sessions are 60 minutes by video through Coviu, which allows time for both people to take part. Phone sessions aren’t available for couples. You’ll each need somewhere private to speak freely; let us know if you plan to join from different locations.
Safety comes first
Joint counselling may not be appropriate when there is fear, coercion or violence in the relationship. Tell your psychologist if this is a concern so that suitable support can be discussed. 1800RESPECT offers confidential support on 1800 737 732.
Couples counselling is privately funded. Medicare Better Access rebates apply to eligible individual treatment, not joint couples sessions. Individual relationship support may be eligible.