Couple / Family Therapy
Little wonder, then, that some of our most profound struggles in life can also come within these relationships. Some clients we see for couple or family therapy are seeking to address concerns built up over time, while others are seeking more practical strategies to help build upon existing strengths and address warning signs early on. Whatever the presenting concerns, we aim to work with couples and families in a warm and inclusive manner, helping all parties to feel welcome in the process, and to work collaboratively towards a successful outcome together.
Couple Therapy
Mainly utilising the Gottman Method of couple therapy, along with solution-focused and strength-based elements, we strive to work with the reality of your relationship struggles in the context that they present. We will spend the first few sessions getting a very clear picture of both the challenges and the strengths of your relationship, to create a road map to guide us in the therapy itself. Sessions are designed to focus on what is present and current for you at that time, and will provide practical strategies and new experiences that you will be able to practice and build on between sessions.
Family Therapy
Families take many different forms – whether parents looking to explore their strategies for supporting their children’s development; inter-generational relationship challenges such as couples and parents/in-laws; sibling relationships; or adult-child relationships – and can come with many different types of challenges, conflict, grief, or historical and unfinished business. While we view the ‘family’ as our client, we also offer different combinations of sessions depending on the needs of each family, whether always working together as a whole system or meeting in smaller combinations such as individuals, dyads or sub-relationships. We strive in all of our sessions to help provide new experiences of family relationship, rather than simply repeating challenging engagements that already occur.
FAQ
We are stuck in a cycle of constant arguing; how can the Gottman Method help us?
The Gottman Method is built on over 40 years of research into what makes relationships succeed or fail. Unlike traditional “venting” sessions, we start with a structured assessment to identify your relationship’s specific “Sound Relationship House” dynamics. We focus on practical tools to manage conflict, increase intimacy, and replace defensive communication with productive dialogue.
Next Step: Learn more about our therapeutic approach here.
My partner is hesitant to attend therapy. Can I come by myself?
Yes. While having both partners present is ideal for relationship work, systemic therapy recognizes that a family is an interconnected web. By working with you individually, we can explore your responses and boundaries within the relationship. Often, when one person changes their “moves” in the relationship dance, the other person is naturally invited to change theirs as well.
What is ``Systemic`` family therapy, and why does it matter?
Systemic therapy looks at the “big picture.” Instead of seeing one person as the “problem,” we look at the patterns, history, and communication styles of the whole family unit. This approach is highly effective for resolving long-standing conflicts, as it helps every member understand how their actions influence the others, creating a more cohesive and supportive home environment.
How long does a typical course of couple or family therapy take?
Every family is different, but we operate from a solution-focused framework. This means we aim for “efficient growth” rather than indefinite therapy. After our initial assessment, we will discuss a tailored plan—some couples find significant relief in 6–10 sessions, while complex family dynamics may benefit from longer-term support.
Can you help with specific parenting challenges during family sessions?
Absolutely. We often integrate evidence-based programs like 1-2-3 Magic or Engaging Adolescents into our family therapy sessions. This provides parents with a concrete “manual” for managing behavior while using the therapy sessions to heal the emotional connection between parent and child.
Next Step: View our available Parenting Group Programs.