Relationship Counselling

Catherine's relationship counselling is informed by over 35 years' experience: Relationship Counselling at Relationships Australia, training in Marital and Family Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Emotionally Focussed Therapy and Level 3 Gottman Method Couples Therapy.

People come to see Catherine for relationship formation, enrichment, education, or managing conflict around such issues as: communication, personality differences, children and parenting, step-parenting, extended family and friends, sexual or emotional intimacy, affairs, finances and housework. Where there is no will or love left to work on the relationship, Catherine will endeavour to help you separate as amicably as possible. Follow-up individual sessions can be offered to help you deal with the grief of separation.

Catherine will conduct a thorough relationship assessment, establish treatment goals with you, and teach you skills to help you rebuild your friendship and intimacy and manage your differences. Sometimes individual counselling, not relationship counselling, is required e.g. where one person frequently misuses power through physical, emotional, verbal abuse or has severe drug and alcohol problems.

Research shows that the earlier one seeks professional help to manage relationship conflict and learn relationship skills, the better the outcome.

Gottman Method Couples Therapy

The Gottman Method Couples Therapy is based on Dr John Gottman's ongoing research that began in the 1970s. The research has focused on what makes relationships succeed or fail. From this research, a method of therapy was designed to help teach specific tools to deepen friendship and intimacy and to help you productively manage conflicts.

Gottman Method Couples Therapy recommends 90-minute couple therapy sessions and involves:

The assessment phase consists of three interviews:

Joint interview to understand your concerns and relationship history.
An individual interview to gain personal histories, feelings and perceptions
Joint interview for feedback and treatment planning.

After the first joint session, you will be asked to complete an online questionnaire before your individual sessions. This forms part of the assessment. Clients often report therapeutic benefits from completing the questionnaire.

Treatment: Most of the work will involve sessions in which you will be seen together as a couple. However, there may be times when individual sessions are recommended. The length of therapy will be determined by your specific needs and goals.

In the Termination stage of therapy, sessions will be less frequent in order for you to test out new relationship skills and to prepare for termination of therapy.