Couples Therapy & Relationship Counselling
Relationships can be one of the most meaningful parts of our lives — and also one of the most challenging.
Many couples come to therapy feeling stuck in the same painful patterns: recurring arguments, emotional distance, trust issues, communication breakdowns, or the sense that despite loving each other, the relationship has become exhausting.
Couples therapy provides a structured and supportive space to better understand these patterns, improve communication, rebuild trust, and strengthen emotional connection.
At Gateway Psychology, Michael offers couples therapy using Gottman Method Couples Therapy and Schema Therapy. Depending on the needs of the couple, therapy may focus more on practical communication and conflict patterns, deeper emotional patterns and attachment needs, or a combination of both approaches.
Common Reasons Couples Seek Therapy
Couples therapy can be helpful for:
• recurring conflict and the same unresolved arguments
• communication breakdown and feeling unheard
• emotional distance or disconnection
• trust issues and relationship insecurity
• recovering from betrayal or affair repair
• intimacy difficulties
• parenting stress and family pressures
• differences in values, priorities, or life direction
• criticism, defensiveness, withdrawal, or shutdown
• repeated unhealthy relationship patterns
Often, couples are not struggling because they do not care — but because they have become caught in patterns that are difficult to change alone.
Our Approach
Michael draws from both Gottman Method Couples Therapy and Schema Therapy, tailoring treatment to the needs of each couple.
Gottman Method can help with:
• improving communication
• managing conflict more effectively
• reducing criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling
• rebuilding friendship, trust, and emotional connection
• strengthening relationship skills and repair
Schema Therapy can help with:
• understanding the deeper emotional patterns behind conflict
• identifying long-standing patterns such as emotional withdrawal, perfectionism, over-control, people-pleasing, anger, or fear of abandonment
• recognising when “modes” such as the Angry Child, Detached Protector, Punitive Critic, or Vulnerable Child are driving reactions
• helping couples respond from a healthier, more connected place rather than from old survival patterns
Often, couples are not arguing as two calm adults — they are reacting from hurt, fear, criticism, or protection. Therapy helps slow these cycles down and create something different.
Who Couples Therapy is Best For
This approach is particularly helpful for couples where:
• one partner tends to shut down or withdraw
• one partner becomes critical, reactive, or pursues harder
• the same conflict repeats despite good intentions
• standard communication strategies have not been enough
• deeper emotional wounds are affecting the relationship
• one or both partners want to better understand themselves as well as the relationship
Session Structure
Couples therapy is active, structured, and balanced.
The goal is not to decide who is right or wrong, but to understand the cycle both people are caught in and help both partners move toward healthier communication and connection.
Sessions focus on creating safety, reducing escalation, and helping both people feel heard while also working toward meaningful behavioural and emotional change.
Fees
Couples therapy sessions are typically offered as extended sessions to allow enough time for meaningful work.
75-minute couples therapy session
$330
Couples therapy is not usually eligible for Medicare rebates. Some clients may be able to claim a rebate through private health extras if their policy includes psychology, counselling or mental health services. Please check directly with your health fund before booking, as eligibility varies between insurers and policies.
Booking
If you would like to enquire about couples therapy, please get in touch to discuss whether this approach may be the right fit for your relationship.
Many couples come to therapy feeling stuck in the same painful patterns: recurring arguments, emotional distance, trust issues, communication breakdowns, or the sense that despite loving each other, the relationship has become exhausting.
Couples therapy provides a structured and supportive space to better understand these patterns, improve communication, rebuild trust, and strengthen emotional connection.
At Gateway Psychology, Michael offers couples therapy using Gottman Method Couples Therapy and Schema Therapy. Depending on the needs of the couple, therapy may focus more on practical communication and conflict patterns, deeper emotional patterns and attachment needs, or a combination of both approaches.
Common Reasons Couples Seek Therapy
Couples therapy can be helpful for:
• recurring conflict and the same unresolved arguments
• communication breakdown and feeling unheard
• emotional distance or disconnection
• trust issues and relationship insecurity
• recovering from betrayal or affair repair
• intimacy difficulties
• parenting stress and family pressures
• differences in values, priorities, or life direction
• criticism, defensiveness, withdrawal, or shutdown
• repeated unhealthy relationship patterns
Often, couples are not struggling because they do not care — but because they have become caught in patterns that are difficult to change alone.
Our Approach
Michael draws from both Gottman Method Couples Therapy and Schema Therapy, tailoring treatment to the needs of each couple.
Gottman Method can help with:
• improving communication
• managing conflict more effectively
• reducing criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling
• rebuilding friendship, trust, and emotional connection
• strengthening relationship skills and repair
Schema Therapy can help with:
• understanding the deeper emotional patterns behind conflict
• identifying long-standing patterns such as emotional withdrawal, perfectionism, over-control, people-pleasing, anger, or fear of abandonment
• recognising when “modes” such as the Angry Child, Detached Protector, Punitive Critic, or Vulnerable Child are driving reactions
• helping couples respond from a healthier, more connected place rather than from old survival patterns
Often, couples are not arguing as two calm adults — they are reacting from hurt, fear, criticism, or protection. Therapy helps slow these cycles down and create something different.
Who Couples Therapy is Best For
This approach is particularly helpful for couples where:
• one partner tends to shut down or withdraw
• one partner becomes critical, reactive, or pursues harder
• the same conflict repeats despite good intentions
• standard communication strategies have not been enough
• deeper emotional wounds are affecting the relationship
• one or both partners want to better understand themselves as well as the relationship
Session Structure
Couples therapy is active, structured, and balanced.
The goal is not to decide who is right or wrong, but to understand the cycle both people are caught in and help both partners move toward healthier communication and connection.
Sessions focus on creating safety, reducing escalation, and helping both people feel heard while also working toward meaningful behavioural and emotional change.
Fees
Couples therapy sessions are typically offered as extended sessions to allow enough time for meaningful work.
75-minute couples therapy session
$330
Couples therapy is not usually eligible for Medicare rebates. Some clients may be able to claim a rebate through private health extras if their policy includes psychology, counselling or mental health services. Please check directly with your health fund before booking, as eligibility varies between insurers and policies.
Booking
If you would like to enquire about couples therapy, please get in touch to discuss whether this approach may be the right fit for your relationship.