Why choose us?

When choosing a couples counsellor, it’s essential to choose someone who is registered with a governing counselling association such as PACFA or ACA. It is also critical that the couples counsellor has trained in the specific area of relationship counselling and has ongoing supervision. Couples counselling differs from individual therapy and requires expert skills.
It’s also important to choose a therapist who uses evidence-based methods. At Hopeful Counselling, we employ the world's leading evidence-based couples' therapies: The Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).

Evidence-based therapy:

Opting for a couples' therapist who utilizes evidence-based methods is vital for several reasons. These approaches are grounded in rigorous scientific research, ensuring proven effectiveness and boosting confidence in the therapeutic process. By incorporating the latest findings, evidence-based therapists can tailor interventions to address specific couple needs, offering a dynamic and informed approach. This commitment to structured, research-backed methods enhances the likelihood of achieving meaningful and lasting improvements in the relationship.

Why couples' counselling?

• Are you experiencing perpetual conflict over the same issues?

• Are you experiencing an escalation in your fights?

• Are you experiencing more and more distance between each other?

• Are you unable to discuss your concerns about the relationship without ensuing conflict?

• Are you having sex less or not at all?

• Are you spending little or no time together?

• Are you considering a romantic relationship outside of your relationship with your partner?
  

How couples counselling can help:

It can help couples to:

• learn how to communicate in ways that minimise unnecessary conflict

• better understand the struggles, challenges, needs and fears of each other

• foster safety in the relationship

• address addictions

• build intimacy and more satisfying bonds of connection

• learn how to move through perpetual communication gridlocks

• have healthy boundaries in their relationship

• navigate transitions in life (i.e. childbirth, empty nest, divorce)

• address sexual problems

• with infidelity, affairs and betrayals
  

What to expect in couples counselling:

It's completely normal for you to be nervous about attending couples counselling. Often we are afraid that the counsellor may have a bias and blame a particular partner for the issues. We can also feel shame about attending counselling or admitting to having struggles in a relationship. The truth is, no one has the perfect relationship, and all of us have struggles. We are keenly aware of this and take a very optimistic, realistic and empathetic approach with each of our clients.

You can expect the following:

• The first sessions will typically involve assessment and mutual sharing. Your counsellor will ask each person to offer their individual perspective on the relationship concerns that are presented. Assessment may include an opportunity to do an online relationship assessment such as the Gottman Relationship Checkup.

• Your counsellor will work with you to identify and examine the underlying dynamics behind the cycles and perpetual patterns that exist in your relationship.

• A tailored action plan will be developed by your counsellor in consultation with you that is aligned with your specific goals in therapy.