Ruth believes the most important ingredient of any relationship is a shared sense of trust. Trust is the foundation for reliability, dependability, honesty, good faith and intimacy. Her approach to couples counselling explores how to transform impasses in relationships into opportunities for insight, inspiration and growth. Are you being the best you can be?

In addition to appointments for Relationship Counselling & Marriage Counselling, Ruth is also available for Pre-Marriage Counselling, Anger Management, Porn Addiction Counselling, Narcissism Counselling, and Phone and Skype Counselling.

Leanne’s focus is on allowing the individual and couple to express their needs in a safe and nurturing environment.  Her method of counselling includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness and Motivational Interviewing, often integrating the three to achieve the best outcome based on individual needs.

When working with couples Leanne likes to consider the whole family environment, and will occasionally see the couple individually to work on issues that are presenting within the relationship. This allows for total openness and a space to learn more about your own behaviours without feeling judged or criticised. The aim of relationship counselling is to open communication so as to nurture the relationship and get reacquainted with each other, to find out what our partner needs, and sometimes to also discover exactly what it is that you need.

Read Leanne’s interview about her work here. 

In addition to marriage/relationship counselling Sydney, Leanne is also available for appointments for family counselling,  pre-marriage counselling, sexual difficulties, porn addiction, anger management, narcissism, and phone appointments.

Most of the people she sees as a psychologist are struggling with anxiety, depression or relationship issues. Often if you are having difficulties in one of these areas, you may also experience problems on another of these areas as well. This is because these problems are usually related, often resulting from past traumatic or painful events in your life.

Regardless of how much pain you are in and how troubled your relationship is, as your couples counsellor, Catherine is committed to helping you improve your relationship.  Couples therapy with Catherine goes beyond “damage control”, she will help you grow as individuals as well as a couple.

If you are like most couples that come to see Catherine for couples or marriage counselling, you can most likely relate to some of the following:  you are not communicating effectively, left feeling frustrated and distressed; trust has vanished from your relationship; stress due to children, work, finances, family pressures or illness is damaging your relationship; one or both of you have contemplated or threatened to leave the relationship; you or your partner has had an affair and you are either reeling in feelings of betrayal, riddled with guilt for what you have done, and/or unsure of how and if you can repair the damage; sexual difficulties like mismatched libidos or erectile dysfunction make you feel unwanted, inadequate and disconnected; one or both of you has had a difficult personal history that makes your relationship dynamic more challenging (e.g. childhood trauma, difficult relationships, depression, anxiety, addiction issues, or mental illness).

Catherine is also available for appointments for Pre-Marriage Counselling, Narcissism, Anger Management, Porn Addiction, and is available for phone and skype appointments.

Catherine has learned that regardless of how stuck and discouraged you feel, there is always a way to overcome your problems. As a counselling psychologist, she provides a unique balance of intellectual and analytical understanding with a deep capacity for empathy. As a result of growing up in Switzerland and studying in Germany, she also is able to do therapy in German.

Andrea is experienced in providing counselling and interventions to both individuals and couples across a number of issues including the following:  Couples/relationship and marriage counselling, anger management counselling, pre-marriage counselling, sexuality and sex therapy, narcissism, all areas of mental illness, abuse, trauma and grief, and addictions.

Andrea believes in providing a safe and respectful environment for both opposite and same sex couples, at any stage of their relationship. In order for positive and healthy outcomes to be achieved for each individual, she assists couples to build on their strengths and improve their skills in listening, communication and connection. Andrea is friendly, professional and takes care to ensure counselling services are tailored to the needs of her clients.

Sessions are available face to face, over the telephone or Skype depending on your preferences.

Beverley offers a safe and confidential space where relationships and patterns of behaviour can be gently explored. Beverley is an experienced relationships counsellor, with same sex, gay or heterosexual relationships. She is familiar with the dynamics of families, inlaws and stepfamilies.  If during therapy one or both of you discover that the emotional switch has been turned off and the decision is taken to separate, therapy can help sort out this process especially when there are children involved.

Beverley specialises in relationship counselling and can also provide infertility counselling. When an individual or couple have been diagnosed with infertility this can cause stress and despair. Beverley has experience and expertise acquired from many years of  working with fertility professionals in Sydney. She will provide information on different treatment options available to individuals and couples so that they can make an informed choice that will suit their needs. Counselling provides a space where a couple can learn how they can nurture their relationship during fertility treatment.

When an individual or couple are advised that their best option is to use donor sperm, donor oocytes or donor embryos, counselling is an informative way of ensuring that all parties are on the same page as far as hopes and expectations are concerned both before and after treatment.

A major life change occurs when a couple have a baby, even when the baby has been planned parenthood can cause a lot of joy but also a lot of stress. This is especially a difficulty when couples want to conform to a high standard and take a baby’s restlessness or crying as a sign that they are not fulfilling their role. The experience of parenthood can cause a couple to disagree and argue. The lack of uniformity on expectations around parenting might polarise a couple. It is useful at this time to attend counselling where the norms of parenting and different views and values are thoroughly addressed.

As well as Sydney relationship counselling and porn addiction, Beverley also offers pre-marriage counselling.

We all want our lives to be fulfilling and meaningful as an individual. As a couple part of this fulfillment comes from a relationship that has sustained love, passion and mutual respect. Given the challenges we are subjected to in modern life we often fall into dysfunctional patterns of managing ourselves in our relationships which can result in levels of unhappiness or dissatisfaction. The ability to turn this negative dysfunctional pattern around, and to embrace a new and healthier way to relate as a couple is truly exciting, giving new hope for a different and more rewarding future.

Sarah finds it a privilege to be able to step into the lives of couples in trouble, and assist them to find insight, address issues, explore new ways of doing things and above all, reach a new understanding of yourselves which will allow positive changes in your relationship.

As well as relationship counselling and marriage counselling, Sarah is available for appointments for pre-marriage counselling, sexual difficulties, porn addiction, narcissism and anger management.  For those clients unable to attend the clinic, Sarah has facilities for phone and skype appointments.

Angelica is also interested in helping people with low self-esteem, childhood trauma, and personality difficulties.

As a wife and mother of two children, Angelica encourages self-acceptance and self-compassion towards a more meaningful and satisfying life. She uses a warm, professional, and committed approach to her clients.

In addition to her 12 year’s experience in the public and private sectors, Angelica is a published researcher, has presented at many conferences, and supervised intern psychologists.

Angelica’s couples are encouraged to use homework exercises she provides to actively engage with one another to increase the benefits of therapy work. She regularly suggests specific exercises, books, readings, games etc.

Angelica is available for appointments relating to relationship and marriage counselling in Sydney, pre-marriage counselling, sexual difficulties, problematic pornography use, anger management, narcissism, and phone and skype appointments.

Cherie has always held a strong interest and value in relationships and enjoys working alongside couples as they gain insight into their process, consider their own and their partner’s wants and needs, make choices and learn new ways of approaching familiar situations to bring about the changes that they hope for.  She can help with negative emotional patterns, communication and conflict, family disputes, and a wide range of sexual problems, including orgasm disorders and porn addiction.

Cherie enjoys all aspects of her psychological practice and also offers individual therapy for adults. She has special interest and experience in treating the effects of trauma and working with adults healing the scars of earlier difficult life experiences. She has experience working with a range of areas including: fertility problems, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, life planning, and life transitions.

Cherie has trained in and uses: family systems therapy, couple counselling, Hakomi (Body Centred Psychotherapy and Mindfulness), CBT, Self Psychology, ACT and Schema Therapy.

As well as providing Sydney relationship counselling, Cherie is also available for pre-marriage counselling, appointment relating to narcissism, and phone and skype counselling.

Peter draws upon personal training and clinical experience with relationships to answer this question. He helps you to diagnose your situation with creative counselling which will highlight all the important aspects of your relationship. Whether these issues relate to emotion, such as anger; personality issues, such as narcissism; human issues, such as sex and sexuality; family issues relating to parenting; mental health issues, like anxiety and depression; or, personal issues around conflict or relationship skills, Peter can offer sensible, practical, and reliable guidance, which will help you make your own decisions.

To read our interview with Peter about the relationship and marriage counselling services he offers, click here.

Peter’s services are available in his own dedicated, personal, and homely counselling consulting room, or by Skype or telephone.

Issues such as anger management, difficult personality factors (including narcissism), depression and anxiety, also contribute to relationship problems.  Rosemary addresses these factors as they arise.  Rosemary also offers same sex couple counselling, and pre-marriage counselling.

In her work, Rosemary aims to help people to identify and communicate their needs, understand the emotions that manifest as psychological pain, and to work towards clarity, acceptance, and compassion in their relationships with others, and also with themselves.

Rosemary draws on therapeutic tools such as CBT, Mindfulness, ACT, and Interpersonal Psychotherapy.  Sessions are available in person at her Auchenflower rooms, or via telephone or Skype by arrangement.

Maria is experienced in working with children, adolescents, adults and couples. Her experience includes working with a range of diverse issues.  These include depression, anxiety, phobias, self-esteem, trauma, work-related stresses, parenting issues, relationship difficulties, separation, divorce, and grief and loss issues.  Key models in her approach to counseling include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Solution- Focused Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Exposure Therapy and Emotion-focused therapy for relationships.

Read Maria’s interview about her work here. 

Maria believes that the fundamental key to successful relationships is being able to communicate effectively.  She enjoys helping her clients identify and change the unhelpful and sometimes destructive patterns and behaviours in their relationships.  She is passionate about facilitating personal growth in every individual and in empowering them to find hope, strength and resilience no matter what their history.  Maria’s warmth and valuable life experiences enables her to relate easily and empathically to clients from diverse backgrounds.  Her ability to develop a genuine, respectful and collaborative relationship with clients greatly assists in achieving positive therapeutic outcomes.  Maria is married with 2 teenage children.

Deborah has a keen interest in working with couples and families and believes that good relationships can be central to one’s psychological and physical wellbeing.

She is particularly passionate and committed to assisting couples develop skills and resilience to tackle life problems and work towards addressing the needs of each individual as well as the needs of the couple. She has a special interest in sexual intimacy, trust, conflict and communication issues. Deborah works with couples towards achieving realistic and wise decisions about their relationship.

Her warm, caring approach and respectful non-judgmental manner validates her deep belief in engaging with her clients and developing a trusting, safe and collaborative environment.

Deborah uses evidence – based psychology to improve the wellbeing of young people and adults.  Her approach incorporates cognitive-behavioural therapy, solution focused therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy as well as elements of mindfulness and positive psychology.

Read Deborah’s interview about her work here.

Deborah is available for appointments for Sydney Marriage Counselling, Relationship Counselling, Family Counselling, Sexual Difficulties, Porn Addiction, Narcissism, Pre-Marriage Counselling, Phone Appointments and Skype Appointments.

She has a special interest in individual and relationship counselling and seeing clients with sexual difficulties.  Kathrine understands that relationships are rarely smooth sailing and that with some knowledge you can create the relationship that you really want, or move on in the least stressful way if this is the direction you wish to take.

In addition to seeing clients for relationship counselling and sexual difficulties, Kathrine is also available for appointments relating to Pre-Marriage Counselling, Anger Management, Narcissism, Porn Addiction, and is also available for phone/skype appointments if needed.

Kathrine is a warm and caring person, who will listen to both sides without judgement or bias, and will give you practical steps to ensure you both realise your full potential individually and in your relationship.

Over the past 18 years Tony has earned himself a reputation of working collaboratively with clients in a friendly, warm and understanding manner. His caring, compassionate and empathic nature coupled with his overall light-hearted approach make him very easy to talk to about any issue. Over the years Tony has gained significant skills in assisting individuals and couples experiencing difficulties with: Anger; Anxiety; Communication; Conflict Resolution; Depression; Infidelity; Internet Pornography; Relationship Issues, Same-Sex Attraction / Relationships; Self-esteem and Violence.

Tony is a qualified Cognitive Behaviour Therapist and Clinical Ego State Therapist. He also draws on other approaches including: Family; Narrative and Solution Focussed Therapies.

Tony’s motto ‘working towards better mental health’ is underpinned by his belief that one of his key roles is to meet his clients where they are at. This allows him to gain an appreciation and understanding of their situation. He then helps them understand their own thoughts and behaviours and collaboratively develops mutually agreed tailored interventions aimed at positive behavioural change.

Some of the goals that Tony sets collaboratively with his clients are about: honesty and accountability; open communication; negotiation and fairness; economic partnership; shared responsibility; shared power; respect and trust; support; non-threatening behaviour; intimacy; physical affection and personal integrity.

Some of the results clients can achieve after working with Tony include: feeling better about themselves, their partner and their relationship; communicating better; being better able to resolve issues as they arise;  resolving past issues and looking forward to a better future; feeling once again that they want to be in their relationship and having their ‘spark’ re-ignited.

Tony is a full Member of the: Australian Psychological Society; Psychology Board of Australia; Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; Australasian Ego State Therapy Association and Australian Division of Independent Professional Practice.

Tony feels that people ‘inviting him to be a guest’ in their lives in their time of need, is a privilege which he finds professionally and personally humbling.

Joe provides a supportive, safe and caring environment. He has an eclectic approach to therapy, with skills in a number of therapeutic techniques including: Interpersonal Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

In relationship counselling Joe provides an accommodating client focused approach to working through the personal, interpersonal and emotional issues bought into the room by the couples he works with.

Read our Interview with Joe here.

Joe is also available for Anger Management, Porn Addiction and Narcissism and is available for phone or skype sessions for clients who are unable to attend the clinic.

Together with couple counselling, Joanne is experienced in other problems:  Depression and anxiety, anger management, narcissism, pre-marriage issues, family therapy, trauma, aspergers and related syndromes, pain management, sexual difficulties and porn addiction.  Sometimes some of these problems can, and do, impact on couples and it is important to work out the ways in which such difficulties may have affected a relationship.

Joanne has been in private practice for 12 years and prior to that worked in a Family and Relationship agency that focused on couple therapy.  She is also trained in family mediation, conflict management and hypnosis.

Joanne has found recently that skype and phone counselling can be an excellent alternative for individuals or couples who live in remote locations or for reasons of time or privacy would prefer to experience counselling online.

She particularly loves working with couples and families, as she feels that having healthy relationships is essential to our overall happiness. Melanie has experience working with a variety of issues that couples and families face, such as communication breakdown and conflict, infidelity and issues with trust, achieving a satisfying sex life, separation and joining of families, and even to explore how to re-ignite the ‘spark’ in a romantic relationship.

Read Melanie’s interview about her work here.

Melanie provides relationship counselling in sydney, as well as pre-marriage counselling, narcissism counselling and porn addiction counselling.

The most satisfying and fulfilling part of couple work for Korey which she finds heart-warming is:  hearing a couple speak about how they are now attuned to each other.  The couple therapy process has enabled them to experience a higher sense of security, connection and acknowledgement in their relationship. Korey is passionate about individual and relationship counselling and believes it is an honour and privilege to be allowed to hear somebody’s life story.

Her experience has involved working with: couples, families and individuals dealing with challenging life events such as: 1) working through traumatic events such as infidelity; 2) people with terminal illnesses and their bereaved families, partners and friends; 3) men, women, young people and children who have been sexually assaulted and/or abused.  Korey has been in the field of counselling since 1986, and has an employment history of providing counselling for non-government, government and private agencies.  Areas she has training include: Emotionally Focused Therapy – Couples & Individuals, Relationship Counselling, Schema Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Grief & Bereavement Therapy, Hypnosis, Recovery from Abuse, Body Image issues, Workplace Stress management, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Adjustment Disorder, and Anxiety & Depression.

Korey has studied in several areas of the social sciences. She holds the following degrees: Honours B. Soc. Sc. (Pysch.); Graduate Degree in Psychology; Bachelor of Social Work; Bachelor of Education; Graduate Diploma in Counselling and a Master of Counselling.  Korey is a Registered Psychologist & Clinical Social Worker.

Please note: Korey currently offers Sex Therapy from her Brisbane CBD clinic only.

Cristina has over ten years of experience in providing a variety of evidence-based techniques and therapeutic approaches such as CBT and Psychodynamic Therapy. Her approach to support counselling is caring and empathic.

In addition to working in private practice, Cristina is also a lecturer and researcher. She teaches several psychology units (postgraduate and masters levels) at Australian College of Applied Psychology and University of Sydney. In the corporative setting, Cristina has worked as a cultural consultant in several countries focusing on expatriates stages of adaptation. Her PhD thesis was on expatriates’ strategies of integration in Australia, and she particularly looked into intermarriages and conflict resolution styles during adaptation. As an academic, Cristina has presented several papers in international conferences and published several book chapters and peer-reviewed papers in renowned journals. Cristina speaks English, German, Portuguese and Spanish.

Cristina provides couples counselling in Sydney, as well as pre-marriage counselling, anger management and narcissism counselling.

Ann-Marie joined the Psychology profession following a successful career in banking. Hence she brings a solid understanding of workplace issues and how work stress/change can impact a relationship.

Ann-Marie uses a range of therapeutic interventions and tailors her approach to the needs of the individual and or couple. While being supportive and compassionate, Ann-Marie is practical and grounded with the intent of promoting empathy, insight and sustainable behaviour change.

Married with two children, Ann-Marie enjoys the challenge of living what she encourages about work/life balance.

Ann-Marie can do phone or skype sessions

Natascha has a very gentle, caring, warm and calm nature that assists her in working with both individuals, and people struggling in a relationship to work towards being a healthier individual within that relationship or family. She tailors her approach for each client depending on what it is the client hopes to gain from participating in therapy.

Cheryl’s primary areas of interest are relationship and family psychology.  Because Cheryl trained directly under the tutelage of Drs John & Julie Gottman in the Gottman Couples Therapy Method she has an up-to-date, evidence-based approach to her work with clients.  She also draws upon key relationship therapies including emotion-focused, attachment, and psycho-dynamic.  Importantly, Cheryl’s understanding of the connection between psychological experience (for example depression, anxiety and anger) and relational problems informs her holistic approach which gently and effectively supports both individuals and couples in their quest to reduce their emotional pain.  Cheryl provides counselling in all areas of life and relationship including:  remaining connected (or recapturing the ‘spark’) over the long-term; managing conflict; dealing with betrayal and loss of trust; negotiating parenting-hood, blended & step-families, re-partnering and rebuilding after separation;  and navigating the potential ‘minefield’ of extended family. Cheryl also brings a practical focus to her work in the area of communication skills training, assertiveness coaching, and anger management.

Cheryl is a Member of the Australian Psychological Society and is recognised as a leading practitioner in the field of relationship counselling.  She has served over a number of years on several relationship community bodies including the editorial advisory board of ‘Threshold’ (Australia’s leading journal of marriage and relationship education) and the National Committee of Marriage and Relationship Educators’ Association of Australia (MAREAA).  Prior to establishing her private practice Cheryl was employed for 8 years as a senior manager and psychologist in one of Victoria’s largest not-for-profit relationship counselling agencies.  Cheryl welcomes telephone and skype counselling for clients who prefer these modalities, or for whom attending face-to-face sessions is problematic.

It is of particular interest to Ann to work with people who want to improve their relationships. This has seen her help many couples improve their communication, resolve long-standing disagreements, overcome struggles with sex and intimacy, or ‘simply’ reconnect after having drifted apart. Ann’s interest in relationship work extends beyond romantic relationships to include extended family relationships, relationships at work, friendships and so on. She has also worked with individuals and successfully helped them deal with depression, anxiety, loss and grief, anger, narcissism, indecision, and troubles related to work and career, to name a few. Finally, Ann has led many group programs that have helped people to improve their self-awareness, particularly in the corporate sector.

Ann likes to partner with her clients and engage them in decisions around the areas of focus, the duration of the work, how progress will be reviewed, and what success looks like. In this way, Ann’s clients are active participants in the therapeutic process and ultimately, in their own healing.  Ann achieves this with clients via face-to-face, SKYPE-based, and telephone-based meetings.

Having worked as a psychologist for many years, Ann keeps up to date with the practice and application of current psychological techniques. She effectively translates what is known about human psychology into effective practice, tailoring it to the individual needs of her clients so that they understand it as it relates to them and can take it with them into the future.

Having trained in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy at Curtin University of Western Australia and studied Family Therapy and Family Research at University of Colorado, Boulder, USA, the approach Deborah uses is evidence based and identifies emotion as the most important factor in adult attachment and the way couples bond.  There is an emphasis on the way in which partners connect emotionally and when in distressing patterns how they can be helped to reconnect to build stronger bonds.  Deborah also draws from other therapies such as psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioural, in addressing and working through individual factors that also impact on our relationship with ourselves and partner.

Deborah can assist with communication difficulties and the management of conflict, intimacy issues both physical and emotional, reconnecting after an affair, and issues to do with power and control.  She is also aware of the many and varied challenges faced by couples across the life span and can assist couples through difficult developmental transitions such as having children, coping with ageing, illness, and the blended family.

Within a confidential, safe and supportive environment Deborah can help you to work through your relationship issues and help you to achieve a deeper connection with your significant other.

Gale enjoys assisting in all types of relationship concerns including friendships, family members and co-workers.

Gale also has a strong interest in physical health and psychology, mindfulness and stress management and can incorporate these types of strategies within the relationship counselling.

Emma has a particularly strong interest in both individual and relationship counselling and is passionate about assisting couples become more adaptive by helping each person understand the other’s needs, improving communication styles, practicing conflict resolution and assertiveness skills and promoting strengths within the relationship.

Emma currently manages her own allied health practice and embraces a holistic approach to mental wellness. Emma is available for consultation after hours and welcomes face-to-face counselling as well as telephone and Skype counselling.

Working with you as an individual, she can help in the areas of: anxiety, trauma, grief and loss, addictions, depression, anger, stress management and self-esteem.

Karina has a flexible, down to earth and compassionate approach and is effective at getting to the cause of the problems and drawing on a range of evidence based interventions to assist in therapy. She draws on a number of therapeutic modalities including: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Schema Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Ego State Therapy frameworks. For over 20 years Karina has been using Hypnosis to assist in changing behaviour, symptoms, and attitudes for issues/problems.

She can help couples and individuals who:

• Feel resentment or anger building due to unresolved differences
• Experience chronic misunderstanding or confusion about their relationship
• Are in high conflict relationships
• Are in crisis
• Experience feelings of betrayal due to infidelity
• Experience emotional or verbal abuse
• Are dealing with a controlling spouse
• Feel traumatic relationship histories are impacting on their current relationships
• Feel lonely and hopeless about their future
• Are having difficulty communicating

Karina is a graduate of University of Sydney (NSW), Griffith University (Gold Coast, QLD) and Bond University (Gold Coast, QLD).She has worked in Mental Health, Corrections, Sexual Health, Employment Services and Work Rehabilitation companies. Karina has been in private practice for 24 years.

For couples, Christopher focuses on the underlying needs that are typically unmet when relationships become distressed.  These needs may include a desire to be truly heard and responded to by the individual’s partner, the need for connection, safety and intimacy and sometimes the need for greater autonomy in the relationship.  These personal needs are explored in great depth as when they are unmet relationships become battlefields of characterised by arguments, verbal attacks and withdrawal which leaves both individuals feeling hurt and hopeless about the future.  Christopher typically sees positive results from therapy after a few initial sessions and he primarily follows an Emotionally Focussed Therapy (EFT) approach in his work with couples.  Christopher also uses Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) approaches.

Christopher also sees clients for anger management, narcissism, pre-marriage counselling, phone and skype counselling.

Meredith believes that relationships offer life’s most profound joys, however often they bring conflict, anger, disappointment and sadness.  “When our own needs and expectations do not meet those of the person we love, it can be hard to know how to find a solution, sustain intimacy and keep and build trust.  Counselling offers a way to find clarity and solve problems, even those that are very long-standing.  However, counselling can also feel like a step into the unknown and I meet the couple’s experience with deep respect, providing emotional safety for each person in a way that is described by others as respectful, gentle and knowledgeable.  I am strongly committed to using evidence-based strategies to work jointly with couples to achieve their goals”.

Counselling is offered for all areas of relationship challenges such as conflict, loss of trust, recovery from infidelity, navigating family dynamics, parenting and step-parenting, and the impact of trauma, grief and loss on relationships.  Counselling also addresses changes that may occur over time such as the loss of vibrancy in the relationship; whilst also building on and celebrating a couple’s strengths.

Christina has specialised training in sex therapy both in Australia and the USA. She also understands personally and theoretically the impact that trauma can have on both the individual and the couple dynamics in any relationship. She is currently undergoing further advanced trauma studies in Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR).

Christina creates a safe, non-judgemental environment that enables her clients to share openly their thoughts and concerns. This then enables her to utilise a number of different techniques and modalities which allow her clients to move to a more positive, open and even joyful space, taking with them the tools they have learned, allowing progression of their own journey. In this way Christina has helped hundreds of individuals and couples.

Christina works with individuals and couples struggling with issues pertaining to gender, sexuality, self-acceptance, grief and loss, adoption, depression and anxiety, eating disorders, and interpersonal relationships. Together she explores with her clients their values, identifies their commitments and the aspects of their life that are important to them, and then works to sensitively peel back the numerous life stressors that might keep her client from not living the life that is desired.

Christina offers an integrated holistic approach, working with the emotional, the physical, the mental and the existential/spiritual. She believes that a treatment plan should be individually tailored to each client or couple. She likes to partner with clients, involving them regarding the focus of the work, the duration, the review of work and what success will look like. In this way Christina’s clients are active participants in the therapeutic process, and therefore in their own healing.

Noga’s approach combines CBT, solution-focused therapy, narrative and psychodynamic perspectives with emphasis on positive psychology. Warm, genuine and compassionate, she seeks to create a safe, non-judgemental space to enable clients to open-up and reflect. Noga’s strength is keeping a positive focus. She empowers clients to set meaningful goals and nurtures their capability to change. She builds, and relies on client engagement and commitment as the basis of treatment success, while problem-solving strategies are always discussed and tailored to suit each individual’s need and situation. Noga has also worked in corporate and organisational settings, consulting to companies and professional organisations to help individuals and teams to surmount career related issues.

Read Noga’s interview about her work here.

Hania takes an integrative approach to counselling; she collaborates with her clients to meet their unique therapeutic needs and counselling goals, using a variety of tools and techniques. She supports her clients’ inner growth process through counselling and coaching, with an emphasis on developing strengths and a positive outlook, turning problems into opportunities. Each client can expect a warm and nonjudgmental environment with Hania, where they can be open and reassured while seeking guidance to address any issues they’d like to resolve.

Hania tailors counselling process by adapting a range of therapeutic and coaching approaches. They include: Systemic Therapy (Individual/Couple/Family), Imago Couples Therapy, Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy, Relational Life Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Therapy, Existential/Phenomenological Therapy and Transactional Analysis (TA).                Hania is strongly committed to helping her clients overcome life’s challenges with effective, practical counselling support.

Suzanne is a certified Sex Educator and Sex Therapist with ASSERT (Australian Society of Sex Educators, Researchers and Therapists 2009)  and is a clinical member of AAFT (Australian Association of Family Therapists).    Suzanne applies Bowlby’s Attachment Theory & Family Systems Theory to assist clients in their efforts to improve their wellbeing and relationship effectiveness.

Clients are encouraged to learn about, and develop the capacity to shift perspectives, and to appreciate the importance of our relationships – how it impacts our development, sense of self, ability to deal with others, and mental health.  That understanding their partner’s brain and attachment style can help them defuse conflict and build a secure relationship.  Also trained in the Gottman Method of Couples Therapy,  Suzanne utilises the Gottman Relationship Checkup  and report to identify the relationships strengths and challenges, concerns and recommendations.

Sessions are available in person, or via telephone or Skype by arrangement.

Katie works with children, adolescents, adults and couples in both short and long term counselling. Katie’s personal philosophy is to develop a strong therapeutic relationship that is firmly based on openness and acceptance. She brings a unique perspective on dealing with client’s difficulties through multiple lenses, while keeping a dedicated and strength-based approach for all clients. Her therapeutic style follows and integrative approach that is tailored to each client’s individual needs. She draws on various types of interventions including Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, CBT, ACT, Solution Focussed Therapy and Mindfulness.

Katie has a special interest in relationship counselling and has extensive experience working with FIFO workers to improve their relationships and adjust to the difficulties associated with having regular time apart. Her areas of interest and expertise include: conflict and anger management, stress, affairs or other breaches of trust, trauma and grief. Katie also assists couples with parenting support and is experienced with helping clients to understand their parenting style and work together using each other’s strengths.

Katie strives to ensure a safe and confidential environment is maintained at all times. She enjoys helping clients to solve their own problems and develop the full potential of their relationship.

Click here to read our interview with Katie about the marriage counselling and relationship counselling services she offers.

With an established career as a specialist cancer and breast cancer nurse, Helena also has a special interest in sexual functioning and intimacy for women and men who have undergone treatment for cancer and other significant illness. Helena is married with three adult children, and is a first time Grandmama of a beautiful two-year-old grandson.

She works as a Clinical Sexologist / Counsellor in both Bunbury and Perth, in a Psychology and Counselling practice managed by her and her husband.

As well as her private practice, Helena works in a GP practice in Fremantle, and with a specialist Gynaecological clinic in Leederville. She also works with a not-for-profit organisation providing counselling support for those with an intellectual and/or physical disability and those on the autism spectrum.

In couples counselling, Linda works collaboratively with her clients to help them express what they need in their intimate relationships to feel safe, secure, and uniquely valued.

Linda has a strong interest in relationship issues resulting from affairs and betrayals, depression, chronic illness, intergenerational trauma, grief and loss, and problems with sexual and emotional intimacy. She is also committed to working with clients who are experiencing conflict arising from major life transitions (e.g., births, deaths, marriages, children leaving home, starting school, relocation, job changes and retraining), and in the prevention of intimate partner violence.

Linda uses a range of therapeutic approaches to suit her clients’ needs. These include Emotion Focused Therapy, Integrative Behavioural Therapy, Bowen’s Family Systems Approach, Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Behavioural Activation.

Linda is passionate about supporting her clients to create new meaning and opportunities in life.

Approaching therapy from a holistic point of view, Elizabeth focuses on the mind, body, and sociocultural factors known to affect mental health and relationships. She uses both her clinical and scientific backgrounds to help clients communicate their needs, identify their strengths, and build long-term strategies for well-being. As a fluent Spanish speaker, Elizabeth also offers therapy in Spanish (ofrece terapia en español).

In 2013, Elizabeth completed a Master’s in Counselling with a speciality in Marriage and Family Therapy, which included particular emphasis on understanding complex relationship dynamics and effective strategies to assist couples and families through periods of stress.

Prior to moving to Melbourne in 2015, Elizabeth worked as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in the greater Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas with couples and adults.  Throughout her career, she has supported both same- and opposite-sex couples in working through communication-style mismatches, periods of emotional disconnection, infidelity and mistrust, medical stressors such as HIV+ diagnoses, financial stress, and child rearing conflicts.

Elizabeth has also worked as a substance abuse counsellor for teens and is passionate about supporting the well-being of adolescents.  She is skilled in supporting both teens and parents of teens during this important developmental stage.  In addition, Elizabeth has extensive experience treating anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, gender identity stress, and addiction, including conducting regular substance dependent support groups and completing a specialized suicide intervention training (ASIST).

Since beginning her Ph.D. in 2015, Elizabeth has dedicated herself to researching mindfulness-based treatment interventions and the impact these have on mental health, sleep, and biological markers of stress such as cortisol and inflammation. She has several scientific articles published in leading psychology journals and frequently gives public talks and lectures about the health benefits of psychological treatment interventions.

As a licensed provisional psychologist, Elizabeth uses evidence-based therapy techniques to help her clients. She draws from Mindfulness, which focuses on staying present to your experiences, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which helps you identify and explore the connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions, and Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), which helps couples have more empathy for each other so they can build deeper connections. Elizabeth also works from an Attachment Theory perspective, which means understanding the type of bond you had with your parents while growing up and how this plays out in your relationships.

She looks forward to working with you towards restoring balance in your life.

Mark has a strong passion, interest and enthusiasm in relationship counselling for both individuals and couples.

Mark’s primary areas of interest are relationship counselling for individuals and couples. Mark has been trained from a psychodynamic perspective. Psychodynamic therapy can be useful in linking a client’s current troubling thoughts, feelings and experience of relationships with their patterns of behaviour. Any current issues are also understood and explored in relation to any contributory or underlying factors from past life experience. These areas form the focus of the work and the aim is to facilitate personal growth, self-awareness and behavioural change.

Mark has developed an interest in attachment theory as a means to further understand relationship behaviour and distress in his couple work. He is keen to understand how you relate to yourself and as a couple and how this links into the way you both cope with issues and difficulty as a couple. Mark aims to enable his couple clients to develop insight into the underlying meanings behind their behaviour and from this to develop themselves within their relationship gaining confidence/capacities to take risks, adapt and improve their patterns of communication, listen with understanding and be more open with each other in order to feel more connected and lead more fulfilling relationships.

Mark is particularly interested in working with couples around relationship issues and communication difficulties and marriage therapy. Mark also has interest working within the perinatal period (from fertility issues, conception through to young pre-school families). As Mark focuses on attachment needs within the couple it’s important that couples have no romantic attachment interest other than each other.

In his individual practice Mark is interested in working with relationship issues, life changes or transitions, persistent depression or anxiety, medically unexplained physical symptoms, sexual identity issues, problem porn use and trauma recovery.

Mark is a warm, measured, engaging person with an actively curious manner that assists him in working with his clients as they work towards developing themselves individually and in how they function within their relationships.  He is married with a young, primary school-aged family.  As well as face-to-face appointments for couples and individuals, Mark is happy to take phone or skype appointments for individuals.

Russell completed Level I, II and III Certification training at The Gottman Institute in Seattle, USA. The Gottman Institute is world-renowned, having conducted intensive, long-term scientific studies into why marriages succeed or fail.

Russell also completed training in Emotion Focused Therapy (another evidence-based form of couples therapy). Russell completed training by Dr Leslie Greenberg (a Canadian Psychologist and one of the primary developers of Emotion Focused Therapy).

Russell also uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness and Motivational Interviewing when he is helping individuals who have anxiety, depression or stress.

Russell works collaboratively with individuals and couples so that the sessions are tailored to meet the clients’ needs. He seeks to empower clients.

Particular areas that Russell is very experienced in:

•       Individual and/or couples counselling to help people manage conflict using evidence-based strategies.
•       Training in communication skills.
•       Improving a couples’ friendship and connection. Increasing intimacy.
•       Individual and/or couples counselling to help people cope with step-family dynamics.
•       Helping to re-build trust after the disclosure of an affair.
•       Individual and/or couples counselling to help people deal with infertility or sterility.
•       Supporting clients who have experienced a miscarriage.
•       Helping individuals to cope with separation/divorce. Grief and loss counselling.
•       Counselling adult survivors of childhood abuse.
•       Cancer counselling.
•       Helping clients who have anxiety, depression or stress.
•       Helping men who are struggling.

Are you feeling unhappy about your relationship? Are you arguing about the same issues and unable to reach a solution? On average people wait 6 years before seeking help with a relationship problem. The longer a problem persists, the greater the resentment builds towards your partner.

Seeking help can feel confronting. People are sometimes anxious because they don’t know what will happen in couples counselling. Russell knows that this can be a very difficult time. If you could use some support, Russell would like to help.

Russell provides face to face sessions in the Sydney CBD on Sundays. Russell can also provide Skype or Zoom sessions for on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. Eligible patients in rural and remote areas (Modified Monash Model areas 4-7) can now access Medicare rebates (with an appropriate referral) when the person has an individual session with a Psychologist via videoconference.

Heidi understands the sensitivity and difficulty people experience when dealing with relationship and sexual issues. She prides herself on providing a safe, confidential and respectful environment to assist people in addressing these issues . Heidi works with a solution focused and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach to assist clients in managing thoughts, behavioural patterns and work towards solutions that best suit the individual’s/couples situation and needs.

Heidi’s approach in therapy helps clients achieve awareness in their sexual health, better communication in their relationships, re-learn sexual techniques and behaviours.

Alison has experience working with individuals and relationships around issues such as communication including anger and jealousy, breaches of trust, lack of emotional intimacy, financial difficulties and the stresses involved in raising children.  Alison has also worked closely with blended families and families where they have taken on the care of foster children.

Alison has completed training in psychodynamic psychotherapy, relationship counselling, trauma informed therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and in addition uses mindfulness to support clients in achieving positive therapeutic and relationship outcomes. Along with her private practice Alison has worked within community health, local government and educational settings providing counselling, group work and health education. She has also worked in the foster care system supporting couples manage the transition of caring for children with trauma.

Alison is a warm, empathic and skilled psychologist. She tailors her approach to meet the needs of her clients and the issues they bring. Alison also ensures that clients develop practical relational skills that they can utilise away from the session to support them in problems solving, improving their communication and growing their emotional intimacy.

William provides incredible safety where people can clarify expectations, be clear in their communication and understand what it is they want from their relationships and move towards that in ways that are empowering. William provides practical ways to help partners move forward, to create connection, that strengthen relationships. William is non-judgemental in his approach and offers an unbiased service. Previous clients have given him five stars out five reviews.

Dianna’s passion in helping couples recognise what they are bringing to the relationship and the impact it has on themselves, as well as their partner, is the foundation of her approach. This has seen her help many couples improve their communication, resolve long-standing disagreements, address their fertility needs, develop trust and respect, overcome struggles with sex and intimacy, move through life transitions, navigate family influences or to reconnect.

In Addition, Dianna’s interest and extensive knowledge in working with romantic relationships is extended to working with family relationships, friendships, relationships at work, small businesses and partnerships. As a registered and qualified Counselling Physiologist she works with individuals and families in successfully helping them to deal with a variety of needs, such as depression, anxiety, loss and grief, anger, narcissism, emotions, fears, indecision, sensitivity and troubles related to work and career.

Finally, Dianna has led group programs that have helped people to improve their self-awareness, sensitivity, understanding of how they perceive the world, IVF and Fertility. Dianna prefers to collaborate with her clients and engage them in open and honest discussions around their main areas of focus, the duration of the work, how progress will be reviewed, and what success looks like. Dianna’s clients are active participants in the therapeutic process and ultimately, in their own healing beyond the counselling room. Dianna is able to offer face-to face, SKYPE-based and telephone-based meetings.

Clients find she has a warm, empathic and non-judgemental approach which allows them to safely explore their issues. She also has a fine understanding of the importance of relationships in people’s lives, for their sense of well-being, happiness and health. She knows how painful and stressful it can be when these relationships founder, and she recognises the courage involved in taking the step to seek help. Janet worked full-time at Relationships Australia for six years at the beginning of her career, and has also been trained in individual therapy. She is also experienced in working with female same-sex couples, and with people suffering from childhood traumas.