What is couples counselling?

Couples commonly hide their relationship problems and are afraid to admit that anything is wrong. Couples counselling (which can also be referred to as marriage guidance) is a form of therapy that looks to recognise conflict, improve communication and resolve issues within an intimate relationship.

What to expect in a couples counselling session

The main purpose of couples counselling is to put you and your significant other in a room with a neutral mediator to help you make sense of what’s going on. If you’re having trouble communicating with each other, then the counsellor is going to help guide you.
 
The couple counsellor’s responsibility is to the relationship and both of you will get equal time, attention and understanding. No relationship is ever entirely smooth sailing. Whatever trouble your relationship is in, and no matter how severely your relationship is being affected, almost all couples can benefit from couples counselling at some time in their relationship.
 
It is important to note that couples counselling is not all rainbows and roses. It is not necessarily the counsellor’s job to save the relationship. Sometimes, the counselling is more about figuring out how to make a amicable split.
Relationships are my specialty! 

My name is Cassandra and I am a fully qualified Counsellor & Relationship Therapist, and I have ample experience counselling couples and individuals.

Couples usually contact me when they are at crisis point in their relationship. Although it can be challenging in the first few sessions for couples, it is a privledge to hear about their issues and struggles. I provide a comfortable environment for counselling sessions so couples can communicate with each other in a respectful manner with my help and guidance. It is truly rewarding to witness them resolve their issues and smile at one another again.

My accreditation’s

  • Bachelor of Social Science (Counselling)
  • Advanced Certificate in Family & Relationship Counselling
  • Advocate for White Ribbon Australia
  • Member of the Anxiety & Depression Association of Victoria (ADAVIC)
  • Founder of Women Assist Counselling for Women
  • Registered with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), which is a national peak body for counsellors and psychotherapists in Australia

My approach to couples counselling sessions

I see you both at the first session so I can hear your story together. After that you will both attend a one-on-one session with me, before we return to couples sessions. Occasionally it might be beneficial to have an individual session during the therapy, but if I see one of you for an individual check-in, I like to balance that out by seeing the other individually also. It is very important that neither of you feels that I am more aligned with one partner than the other.

Couples & Individual Partner Counselling

Why do couples seek counselling?

Most couples have ups and downs in their relationship. However when the bad times outweigh the good times it can feel unbearable, which leads to stress, frustration, sadness and resentment. Many people in an unhappy relationship spend a lot of time telling their partners what is wrong with them or their behaviour and how they’d like them to change. So when your relationship is not thriving, this affects your emotional, physical health and well being.
 
Couples frequently come to therapy to improve their patterns of interaction. Often they are unskilled in their ability to deal successfully with their differences. Their exchanges are painful and the couples are unable to recover from fights or periods of withdrawal. They want support and nurturing that is not present or is insufficient. In my experience as a relationship therapist, I firmly believe it is essential to take time with the couple to identify the type of relationship they would like to create.
Benefits of Couples Counselling
Couples counselling can be beneficial for those who are looking to strengthen their emotional connection, in all stages of their relationship.  
 
Other benefits include:
Manage conflict 
Improve communication
Minimise criticism and blaming behaviours
Identify and nurture relationship strengths
Increase emotional and sexual intimacy 
Benefits of Individual Partner Sessions
Meeting individually with the partners at certain opportune times can provide leverage for me as a counsellor.
 
Some of the advantages are:
  • Improving rapport on an individual level, so I can understand more completely both the depth and origin of this partner’s emotions and viewpoint.
  • To gain a complete picture of what is happening from each partner’s perspective.
  • To hear a summary without activating the other partner’s defensiveness.
  • Uncover vulnerability in a more protected environment.
  • Pursue more complete information about secrets or hidden issues like substance abuse.

My aim – is to provide a counselling experience which will help to ground individuals and couples so they can have a fulfilling relationship with each other.

My focus – is to help couples heal their relationship, energize, and become aware of their inner strengths in a neutral safe space, listening to concerns, and providing the appropriate therapeutic guidance.

My promise to couples – is to be there for you both every step of your journey. My goal is to help you both grow from your struggles, heal from your pain, and move forward to where you want to be in your relationship.

 

Effective Counselling Modalities for Couples
Acceptance Commitment Therapy
This therapy is a unique empirically based psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies, together with commitment and behaviour change strategies, to increase psychological flexibility. 
 
A.C.T focuses on 3 areas:
Accept your reactions and be present
Choose a valued direction
Take action
Emotional Focused Therapy
This therapy works to reduce hostile emotions and angry behaviours, and increase the expression of emotional vulnerability and attachment needs. 
By using EFT to address their concerns, individuals may be able to come to see their emotions as valuable sources of information instead of painful or difficult states that are better suppressed than experienced.
Solution Focused Therapy
This therapy focuses on finding solutions. Actually, finding solutions begins at your first telephonecontact with the therapist, when you set up the appointment.
 
Solution-focused therapy encourages couples to consider their goals, and what change would look like for their relationship/ marriage. Good communication is critical to developing a healthy, satisfying marriage & relationship.
Couples Counselling Fees
First initial session is 90 minutes in duration = $150.00
Following couples counselling fees
Following sessions are 60 minutes in duration = $100.00
Individual partner counselling fees
All sessions are 60 minutes in duration = $80.00

I am available by appointment only – I can consult from either Essendon Counselling  Rooms or Reservoir Neighbourhood House for Couples Counselling sessions only 

I kindly ask for 24 hours notice to be provided when cancelling or rescheduling appointments. This allows other clients the opportunity to fill your appointment time. If the required notice is not given, you may be charged a cancellation fee of up to 100% of your appointment cost.