Couples & Marriage Counselling

 

Helping You Build the Relationship You Both Deserve

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Every relationship experiences challenges. Whether you're struggling with communication, conflict, trust, intimacy, or simply feeling disconnected, seeking support is not a sign that your relationship has failed—it is a commitment to strengthening it.

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My approach to couples counselling is collaborative, practical and evidence-based. I work alongside both partners to better understand the patterns that have developed within the relationship, improve communication, rebuild emotional connection, and help you create a relationship that reflects the values you both want to live by.

I am trained in the internationally recognised Gottman Method for couples therapy and integrate this with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy and other evidence-based approaches to provide therapy tailored to your unique relationship.

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Telehealth Couples Counselling

If travelling isn't practical, couples counselling is also available via Zoom.

Many couples are surprised by how effective online therapy can be. Telehealth allows you to participate from the comfort of your own home while maintaining the same structured therapeutic process.

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Intensive Couples Therapy

A Different Way to Experience Couples Counselling

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Traditional couples counselling typically involves attending one session each week. While this approach can be highly effective, emerging research suggests that intensive therapy programs may allow couples to make significant progress in a much shorter period of time by dedicating uninterrupted time to understanding and addressing relationship difficulties.

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Rather than spending weeks or months gradually working through issues, an intensive program allows couples to immerse themselves in the therapeutic process, often resulting in greater momentum, deeper insight and more meaningful change.

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​Intensive Therapy Options

 

Option One

Therapy in the Comfort of Your Own Home

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For many couples, home is where relationship patterns naturally occur. Conducting therapy within your own environment allows us to work with those dynamics in real time while providing the comfort and familiarity of your own space.

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Prior to commencing therapy, a brief environmental safety assessment will be undertaken to ensure the setting is appropriate for therapeutic work.

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Option Two

Therapy at a Local Meeting Room

 

If you would prefer a neutral environment, intensive therapy can also be conducted in a private meeting room within your local community.

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This option provides the benefits of an intensive program without requiring significant travel.

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Option Three

Therapeutic Retreats

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For couples wanting to completely step away from everyday life, I also offer bespoke therapeutic retreats.

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These retreats provide an opportunity to immerse yourselves in therapy while removing many of the distractions that often interfere with meaningful change.

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Retreats are available in carefully selected locations including:

• Thailand

• Sunshine Coast, Queensland

Each retreat is individually designed around your goals and circumstances.

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Please contact admin@edwardmichaelpsychology.com to discuss availability and receive a personalised proposal.

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Areas I Commonly Help Couples With

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• Communication difficulties

• Conflict resolution

• Rebuilding trust following infidelity

• Emotional disconnection

• Intimacy and closeness

• Parenting differences

• Blended family challenges

• Relationship transitions

• Premarital counselling

• Strengthening already healthy relationships

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What Makes My Approach Different?

 

I believe relationships don't fail because people stop loving one another.

 

More commonly, couples become caught in patterns of communication, emotional reactions and protective behaviours that gradually create distance between them.

 

My role is not to decide who is right or wrong.

 

Instead, I work alongside both partners to understand these patterns, identify each person's needs, improve communication and help you reconnect in ways that are meaningful, respectful and sustainable.

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The goal isn't simply to reduce conflict.

The goal is to help you build the kind of relationship that both of you genuinely want to be part of.

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How the Process Works

 

Step One

 

Joint Assessment Session

We begin by meeting together to explore your relationship history, understand your current challenges and observe how you interact as a couple.

This allows me to begin developing an understanding of your relationship dynamics.

 

Step Two

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Individual Sessions

Each partner then attends one confidential individual session.

These sessions provide an opportunity to speak openly about your experiences without worrying about hurting your partner's feelings.

The information gathered forms an important part of the assessment process.

 

Step Three

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Feedback and Treatment Planning

We then meet together again.

During this session I share my observations, explain the relationship patterns that appear to be maintaining your difficulties and present a tailored treatment plan.

From here, therapy begins.

 

Fees

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Intensive Couples Therapy

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$2,500 per day

Where applicable, travel expenses are charged separately and include:

• Flexible return economy airfare from Sydney

• Ground transport

• Accommodation for locations outside the Sydney/Wollongong metropolitan area

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Therapeutic Retreats

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Retreat pricing is individually tailored depending on location, duration and therapeutic goals.

Please contact admin@edwardmichaelpsychology.com for further information.

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Telehealth Couples Counselling

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Standard consultation fees apply ($265 for individual sessions and $295 for couples sessions).