Marriage and Couples Counselling
Connection, community and relationships are a human need, and contribute to greater health and overall well being. However, this doesn’t mean that maintaining healthy relationships is always easy! Relationships can be challenging and we can reach points where we feel hopeless in restoring what has been lost or broken. Whether you are struggling with communication, or grieving through the pain of a betrayal, couples counselling can offer a safe and supportive environment where partners can openly discuss their feelings, concerns, and desires with the guidance of a trained professional.
As a couples therapist, I am motivated to find the spark that drew couples together from the start, through developing deeper connections, empathy and understanding within the relationship.
The Gottman Method is used as the primary framework for couples counselling at Palm Counselling.
50 min | $180
80 min | $250
Couples Counselling FAQ
What is couples counselling?
Couples counselling offers a safe and neutral space for partners to explore and discuss their relationship challenges. It can also help couples improve communication, rebuild trust, and work through conflicts constructively. Whether you are facing challenges with intimacy, trust issues, or simply feeling disconnected, our unique approach to couples counselling, can provide the support and guidance needed to strengthen your relationship.
Benefits of Couples Counselling
Improved Communication: Helps partners learn how to communicate effectively and understand each other better.
Conflict Resolution: Provides strategies to address and resolve conflicts in a healthy manner.
Enhanced Intimacy: Assists in reigniting emotional and physical intimacy in the relationship.
Building Trust: Facilitates trust-building exercises to repair and strengthen the foundation of the relationship.
Identifying Patterns: Helps identify negative patterns in the relationship and work towards changing them.
Emotional Support: Offers a safe space for both partners to express their emotions and feel heard.
Strengthening Commitment: Encourages commitment to the relationship and understanding each other's needs and desires.
The Gottman Method Counselling Process
The Gottman Method is a widely recognized approach in couples therapy that is based 40+ years of research, conducted by Drs. John and Julie Gottman's on relationships. It focuses on improving communication, increasing intimacy, and building a stronger connection between partners. This method emphasizes understanding each partner's perspective, managing conflicts effectively, and fostering a deeper emotional bond. Through structured therapy sessions, couples learn practical skills to strengthen their relationship and navigate challenges more constructively. The Gottman Method has been shown to be effective in helping couples enhance their relationship satisfaction and create lasting change. Below, clinical counsellor Sofia Daulat has outlined the first steps of the couples counselling process to give you an idea of what to expect.
Step One:
Book a counselling session with you and your partner. During your first counselling session, your counsellor will have the opportunity to get to know what has brought you and your partner into counselling, your hopes for therapy, as well as provide information on what to expect in the counselling process.
Step Two:
Following your first counselling session, a thorough Gottman assessment will be sent to each partner to be filled out individually following. The assessment is a comprehensive tool that is used to evaluate various aspects of a couple's relationship. It is designed to identify strengths and areas for growth in your relationship and provides valuable insights into the dynamics of a relationship.
Step Three:
After both assessments have been completed, each partner will book an individual session with the couples counsellor. This gives your counsellor the opportunity to ask each person specific questions about their history that might be impacting the relationship.
Step Four:
To complete the assessment process, please book a session with you and your partner. In this session, your counsellor will explain your strengths and areas for growth and work with you collaboratively to discuss a treatment plan tailored to your specific relationship needs.