Couples Counselling Cottesloe & Applecross

Social media paints a pretty picture of relationships and marriage. It presents a highlight reel of romance, connection and happiness. But in the real world?

There are ups and downs, and as we grow and change so does our relationship. As humans, nobody is perfect. We all carry baggage from our past that may affect the way we relate to our partners in the present. Dysfunctional ways of communicating and negative patterns of behaviour result in tension, and over time, these can erode a relationship.

Sometimes we are unable to work through these dynamics alone. Reaching out to a neutral party with an objective point of view can reveal a new perspective, and give us the tools to relate to each other in more loving ways.

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How can couples counselling COTTESLOE and APPLECROSS help?

Gone are the days when relationship and marriage counselling was looked upon as a last ditch effort to save a marriage or fix a serious problem. It is now common for “happy” couples to get counselling to maintain the health of their relationship.

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Every couple has a sore spot where there is an opportunity for healing. New couples come to me to help them navigate unrealistic expectations of marriage. Long-term married couples ask me to help them reignite their sex life or help them become unstuck from negative patterns. Other couples come for extra support during a hard transition or stressful situation, such as early parenthood.

Couples counselling can be beneficial for everyone. It helps us to talk to and hear our partners differently, to work with our differences rather than against them, and perhaps deal with old hurts that have been “brushed under the carpet”. Once we acknowledge what is really going on behind our words and actions, we learn new ways of being.

Benefits of couples counselling Cottesloe and Attadale (near Applecross):

Provides a safe, neutral space to look at our thoughts and feelings
Provides an opportunity to work through pain and resentment from the past
Helps us work with our differences
Reignites intimacy
Improves the way couples talk to and hear each other
Helps us learn how to better deal with each others' differences and manage conflict

What to expect in couples counselling?

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At your first session, I try to get to know you and your partner and what brings you to therapy. One of you might want to be there, and one of you may not. This is normal, and I work with this too. I might ask questions about your relationship history, or just work with what you have brought to the session.

Going forward, I give each of you space to voice your concerns about the issues you are facing and the feelings you have about various situations. I help you navigate hard topics. I take time to observe and understand how you function as a couple, and how you function individually.

Throughout the process, where necessary, I suggest things you can try at home (like homework). These may be ways of communicating or activities relating to the issues you face.

Signs you may benefit from couples counselling Cottesloe and Applecross

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You are fantasising about leaving the relationship
You are experiencing a loss of intimacy
You are feeling disconnected from your partner
You feel you and your partner are unable to understand one another
You find you are having the same fight over and over

You resent your partner and feel they are the enemy
You rarely talk anymore and when you do it’s negative
When there’s a big change in your sex life — either an increase or decrease
You or your partner are having an emotional or physical affair
You or your partner are lying and keeping secrets