Couples counselling in Brisbane
Psychologists with training in couples therapy, including Certified Gottman Method and EFT.
What couples come to us for
Most couples arrive after the same conversation has repeated itself for a long time. Some come because something specific has happened — an affair, a diagnosis, a decision about children, a move. Others come because the relationship has gone quiet and neither of them can name why.
You do not need to be in crisis, and you do not need to arrive with an agreed account of what is wrong. Disagreeing about the problem is often the problem.
Common reasons couples see us:
- The same argument, on repeat, with no resolution
- Feeling more like housemates than partners
- Rebuilding after an affair or a breach of trust
- Deciding whether to stay together
- Adjusting after a baby, a diagnosis, a redundancy, a move
- Parenting disagreements
- Sex and intimacy
- Preparing for marriage.
Our couples therapists
Chris Hepperlin, Couples Therapist
I am an experienced Clinical Psychologist who seeks to understand your goals and priorities and to work with you with empathy, compassion and skill. I help couples through building safe, satisfying relationships, including long-term intimate relationships, and managing when things are unexpected.
Claire Pang, Couples Therapist
I am a Clinical Psychologist with a special interest in helping couples with a wide range of relationship problems. I believe in supporting strong relationships as it is an incredibly powerful way to improve individuals’ wellbeing. My approach is based on the Gottman Couple Therapy method, a successful approach supported by decades of empirical evidence. The structured and goal-directed framework provides couples with a roadmap to target their specific problems and helps them to create strong and intimate bonds.
Elsabé le Roux, Couples Therapist
I take a relational and integrative approach to Couples Therapy, drawing on psychodynamic principles, attachment theory, and emotion-focused strategies to help partners deepen their connection and understanding. I work collaboratively with both individuals in the relationship, and all sessions are attended by both partners unless we agree on a different arrangement.
Dr Jane Austin, Couples Therapist
I am a Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years of experience. My authentic, warm and direct style allows me to initiate and grow one-on-one relationships, navigate challenging conversations and quickly grasp client needs. I work with adults, both individuals and couples. For Couples Counselling, I use evidence-based methods such as the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focussed Therapy (EFT) for couples, Schema Therapy and EMDR Therapy. In addition, I skilfully translate complex psychological theories into practical, meaningful solutions for individuals.
Katarina Gabor, Couples Therapist
I have a particular interest and vast experience in helping clients with relationship challenges. My passion for Couples Therapy guides partners toward healthier communication, deeper emotional connections, and improved intimacy. I am certified as a Gottman Method Couple Therapist and run ‘The Seven Principles of Making Marriage Workshop’ for Couples based on the Gottman Couples Method.
Leisa Petersen, Couples Therapist
My approach to Couples Therapy is grounded in Gestalt principles. It is a process-oriented model that emphasises awareness, responsibility, and authentic contact. The goal is to help partners become more fully present with themselves and with each other, identify repeating relational patterns, and experiment with new ways of relating in the safety of the therapeutic space.
Couples can expect to move through a series of phases designed to deepen understanding, increase openness, and foster lasting change.
Couples counselling fees and rebates
Fees are set by each psychologist. The range for couples counselling at Brisbane City Psychologists is currently $325 to $400 per standard session.
All figures are current from 1 July 2026.
| Psychologist | Session | Fee | LENGTH |
|---|---|---|---|
 Chris Hepperlin, Clinical Psychologist | Initial couples session Follow-up couples session | $550 $400 | 100 min 50 min |
 Claire Pang, Clinical Psychologist | Couples session | $325 | 50 min |
 Elsabé le Roux, Clinical Psychologist | Couples session | $360 | 60 min |
 Dr Jane Austin, Clinical Psychologist | Couples session | $325 | 50 min |
 Katarina Gabor, Registered Psychologist | Couples session | $339 | 50 min |
 Leisa Petersen, Registered Psychologist | Couples session | $395 | 50 min |
Private health
Most funds pay a rebate on couples counselling through extras cover. The amount depends on your own policy and your fund can give you an exact figure if you ask about psychology under extras. When speaking with your insurer, they may ask for an item code to be able to confirm the exact rebate amounts for you.
- In person appointments — 300 (initial and subsequent appointments)
- Online appointments — 901 (initial and subsequent appointments).
We process private health rebates on site through HICAPS, so you pay the balance on the day rather than claiming afterwards.
Medicare
Couples counselling is not claimable through Medicare, so the fee above is what you pay out of pocket, less any private health rebate. Rebates under a Mental Health Treatment Plan apply to individual treatment only. If one of you also sees a psychologist individually under a plan, those appointments are rebatable in the usual way.
Does couples counselling work?
Couples therapy has been studied in randomised trials for several decades, and the approaches our psychologists use, including the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy and Schema Therapy (EFT), are among the most researched. Most couples who complete a course of therapy report improvement in how they communicate and how satisfied they feel in the relationship [1].
Outcomes vary. Some couples find things shift quickly. Others find therapy helps them understand the relationship clearly enough to make a decision about it. Your psychologist will talk with you about what is realistic in your situation rather than predict a result.
When couples counselling isn’t the right place to start
Couples counselling works when both people can speak openly in the room and neither is at risk afterwards. There are situations where seeing a psychologist together is not the right first step:
- Where there is violence, intimidation or fear of a partner. Joint sessions can make this less safe. Individual support is the appropriate starting point.
- Where one partner has already decided to end the relationship and is seeking help to communicate that decision.
- Where untreated substance dependence or an acute mental health episode makes joint work unworkable for now.
If you are in immediate danger, call 000. For confidential support, 1800RESPECT is available on 1800 737 732, 24 hours a day.
How satisfied are you in your relationship?
Take this assessment to find out.
This validated self-assessment is designed to assess the level of satisfaction within romantic relationships.
Whether you’re in a new relationship, a long-term partnership, or experiencing some doubts or conflicts, get started and assess your level of relationship satisfaction.
Couples counselling in Brisbane and online
In person, you and your partner sit together with your psychologist, who can see what happens between you during the session. Online suits couples who travel, work shifts, live in different places, or have young children at home. It asks a little more of you: a private space where neither of you will be overheard, a stable connection, and a device positioned so your psychologist can see you both.
Most of our psychologists prefer to meet couples in person for the first session and are happy to continue online after that. If that is not practical, tell our Intake Team and we will match you with someone who works online from the start.
Couples counselling FAQs
What is the difference between Couples Therapy and Couples Counselling?
What is the difference between Couples Therapy and Couples Counselling?
The terms Couples Therapy and Couples Counselling are often used interchangeably. People may also refer to them as Relationship Counselling, Marriage Counselling, or Relationship Therapy.
In professional practice, therapy typically involves a deeper, structured, and evidence-based approach, such as the Gottman Method of Couples Therapy or Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Counselling, on the other hand, often focuses on short-term guidance, conflict resolution, and communication strategies.
Regardless of the terminology, a Registered or Clinical Psychologist with specific credentials and training in couples therapy will have undergone extensive, evidence-based education and clinical experience.
How do you know if you need Couples Counselling?
How do you know if you need Couples Counselling?
All relationships go through ups and downs. However, certain signs may indicate you and your partner could benefit from seeking professional help. These signs include:
1. Communication breakdowns: If you find it challenging to communicate effectively with your partner, or if your conversations often escalate into arguments or silence, couples counselling can help improve your communication skills.
2. Frequent conflicts: If you find yourselves constantly arguing over the same issues without finding a resolution, couples counselling can guide you on how to address conflicts in a healthy and productive way.
3. Emotional disconnect: If you feel emotionally distant from your partner or no longer feel connected on an intimate level, couples counselling can help you rebuild emotional intimacy and strengthen your bond.
4. Trust issues: If trust has been broken in the relationship, whether through infidelity or other breaches, couples counselling can help you address these issues and rebuild trust.
5. Issues stemming from significant life transitions: If you’re going through a major life transition such as marriage, parenthood, or retirement, couples counselling can help you and your partner navigate the challenges and ensure a smooth transition.
It’s important to remember that seeking couples counselling is not a sign of weakness or failure. It’s a proactive step towards improving your relationship and creating a healthier and happier future together.
Does Couples Counselling work?
Does Couples Counselling work?
Yes. Research studies find that couples counselling can help 70-75% of couples move from distress to recovery, and approximately 90% show significant improvements in relationship satisfaction [1].
What are the benefits of Couples Therapy?
What are the benefits of Couples Therapy?
Couples Therapy offers several benefits to couples experiencing difficulties in their relationship.
Improved Communication – One of the main advantages partners experience through Couples Counselling is the improvement of their communication skills. Communication is the bedrock of healthy relationships, and couples counselling can help you and your partner learn how to express your needs sustainably and respectfully. Couples can develop better communication patterns and break free from destructive cycles of blame and defensiveness through guided exercises and learning communication techniques from a couples counsellor.
A Safe and Neutral Space for Open Dialogue – Couples Counselling provides a neutral space for partners to safely explore their emotions and concerns. Your couples counsellor will work with you and your partner to create a non-judgmental environment where you can express your feelings without fear of criticism or rejection. Working in a safe and neutral environment is critical to allowing couples to cultivate empathy and better understand each other. Safety will enable couples to build a stronger emotional bond, rebuild trust and restore intimacy.
Effective Conflict Resolution – Couples counselling also provides a safe space for couples to address and resolve conflicts. Conflict is a natural part of any relationship but can create resentment and distance between partners when left unresolved. During Couples Therapy, couples learn conflict resolution strategies and skills that will allow them to address their differences constructively and respectfully.
Deepen Connection and Intimacy – Relationship Counselling can help couples deepen emotional intimacy. Often, couples are caught in a cycle of emotional detachment, feeling disconnected from each other’s needs. Through couples counselling, couples can explore their emotional barriers and learn to create a safe and supportive emotional environment. Couples can foster a deeper sense of trust, vulnerability, and intimacy in the relationship with relationship counselling.
What to expect in a Couples Counselling session?
What to Expect in a Couples Counselling Session?
Couples Counselling sessions typically involve both partners attending together. The initial session is an opportunity for the therapist to get to know you as a couple, understand your concerns, and establish the goals for therapy. The couples therapist facilitates open and honest communication between partners during joint sessions.
A couples therapist may use various techniques and strategies to help you address your concerns and work towards your goals. Subsequent sessions occasionally involve individual sessions with each partner, depending on the couples counselling model the therapist uses.
During couples counselling, some of the following are expected:
- Active listening: The couples therapist will help facilitate active listening between partners, ensuring each partner feels heard and understood.
- Communication exercises: Couples will be given exercises and tools to improve their communication skills, such as effectively expressing their needs and concerns.
- Conflict resolution: The therapist will guide couples through conflict resolution strategies, helping them address conflicts constructively and respectfully.
- Emotional exploration: Couples will explore their emotions and underlying issues that may be contributing to their relationship challenges.
The duration and frequency of couples counselling sessions will depend on the couple’s specific needs and goals and the techniques used by the couple’s therapist. Approaching couples counselling with an open mind and a willingness to participate actively is essential.
How does Couples Therapy work?
How does Couples Therapy work?
Couples Therapy involves a series of sessions in which you and your partner meet with a professional couples counsellor or therapist. A couples counsellor will work with you and your partner and guide you through discussions and exercises to address your specific needs and challenges.
Couples Therapy sessions are adapted to your specific needs and objectives to allow you to explore the underlying issues that contribute to relationship difficulties. During couples counselling, you and your partner will learn valuable tools and techniques to improve your communication and problem-solving skills.
Your couples counsellor will help you both identify patterns of behaviour that cause conflict and provide guidance on how to identify and change those behaviours. When you can understand yourself and each other, you and your partner can work towards resolving conflicts and rebuilding trust.
What if my partner does not want Couples Counselling?
What if my partner does not want couples counselling?
There are times when only one partner is interested in engaging in couples therapy. If this is the case, you can start by booking an individual appointment with a psychologist to work through your relationship issues. Positive change in one partner can lead to a positive impact for both partners in a relationship. As a result, your partner may feel more confident or comfortable about attending sessions as a couple. At times, if one of the partners has been attending sessions individually with a psychologist, the couple may need to seek couples counselling from a different therapist to avoid a conflict of interest.
What is EFT Couples Therapy?
What is EFT Couples Therapy?
EFT for couples is an evidence-based experiential therapeutic approach used in relationship counselling that prioritises building strong and secure connections between partners first and foremost.
The main goal of EFT is to help couples create a secure attachment, which means having a close, safe, and loving bond and increasing each individual’s coping and overall stress management.
Securely attached people navigate the trials of life with greater ease than those who are insecurely attached. There is nothing like knowing that a precious loved one has your back to help you to face what life throws at you.
Overcoming Relationship Issues with EFT Therapy
EFT for couples focuses on the importance of emotions and attachment processes in organising interactions between two partners. It uses emotions as the agent of change in these interactions. Research has shown that it produces a 70-73% recovery rate from marital distress and a 90% rate of significant improvement after 10-12 sessions.
EFT works by the Relationship Therapist expanding on each partner’s emotional responses, re-framing the problem in terms of the negative interaction cycle itself rather than any individual’s fault, and finally creating new and more flexible interactions between the partners. The goal is for each partner to feel a secure and trusting bond.
What an EFT Couples Therapy Session Looks Like
Through EFT, your Relationship Therapist works with both partners to build a strong alliance and bond of trust with each other. Following this, the work involves both partners starting to understand the destructive cycle at the heart of their relationship distress. This is achieved by slowing the process down in the session and focusing on underlying emotions and the needs driving these.
Each partner’s experience is seen as valid, and each is allowed to explore their emotions further. Once there is more safety in the relationship, and both partners are aware of their vulnerable feelings when the cycle is in full swing, they will be asked to communicate these vulnerable feelings and needs to each other. In this way, new interaction patterns are formed, and both partners can communicate more securely.
EFT for couples finishes with a consolidation phase, during which any remaining problems are overcome, and the new interaction patterns are strengthened.
1. Johnson, S.M. (2004). The practice of emotionally focused marital therapy: Creating Connection. New York: Bruner / Routledge.
What is the Gottman Method for couples?
What is the Gottman Method for couples?
The Gottman Method is an evidence-based couples therapy method developed by Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Gottman, renowned marriage and relationship counselling experts. Based on over 40 years of research, it is designed to help couples improve their relationships by strengthening their friendship, managing conflicts, and building a deeper emotional connection.
The Gottman Method provides support for couples at different phases of their relationship:
- Couples struggling in their marriage or relationship
- Couples unsure of the sustainability of their relationship
- Couples who want to improve their closeness and bond
- Pre-marriage counselling.
What is Schema Therapy for couples?
What is Schema Therapy for Couples?
Schema Therapy is an evidence-based approach to psychotherapy that helps individuals identify and change deeply ingrained patterns of thought, emotion, and behaviour that cause them distress. While Schema Therapy has traditionally been used to treat individuals, it can be adapted to help couples understand and change unhealthy relationship patterns.
Schema Therapy focuses on identifying and changing negative patterns of thinking and behaviour that are deeply ingrained. These patterns, called schemas, are developed in childhood and can persist into adulthood, influencing how individuals view themselves, others, and the world around them. By identifying and addressing negative schemas, partners can develop a deeper understanding of each other and a stronger emotional connection.
During marriage counselling, each partner’s schemas are typically identified through interviews, questionnaires, and other assessment tools. The Couples Therapist then works with each partner to understand how their schemas affect their behaviour and interactions with their partner. Coping strategies to address negative schemas can also be developed. This may involve learning new communication methods, setting boundaries, or developing new coping skills. By understanding each other’s schemas, partners can become more empathetic and compassionate towards each other, leading to greater intimacy and connection.
Overall, Schema Therapy can help partners better understand each other’s emotional needs and how to meet them. This can lead to greater intimacy and connection in the relationship.
How much does Couples Counselling cost?
How much does couples counselling cost?
A couples therapist’s out-of-pocket investment or gap fee depends on various factors, such as the therapist fee and any rebates you may be entitled to. Most private health insurance funds provide rebates for couples counselling, depending on your ‘extras’ coverage. To determine whether you are covered, call your private health insurer and find out the exact rebate amounts you would be entitled to. More information about fees and rebates can be found here: PSYCHOLOGIST FEES AND REBATES >
Does private health insurance cover Couples Therapy?
Does private health insurance cover couples therapy?
Yes. Most Australian private health insurance companies cover couples therapy. It is essential to check with your insurance provider to determine eligibility and specific coverage before you start couples therapy. More about private health insurance >
Is Couples Counselling covered by Medicare?
Is Couples Counselling covered by Medicare?
No. If you have a Mental Health Care Plan, you are entitled to Medicare rebates only for individual treatment of specific conditions listed by Medicare. Couples therapy is not claimable through Medicare. More about Medicare rebates >
How do I find the best couples therapist near me?
How do I find the best couples therapist near me?
Finding the right couples counsellor for you and your partner is essential for therapeutic success. When seeking couples counselling, look for therapists experienced in couples therapy and working with similar relationship challenges.
Finding a couples counsellor with whom you and your partner feel comfortable is also essential. Take the time to find and learn about potential couples therapists in Brisbane or Online Therapy who you would like to work with by ensuring they align with your values and expectations and who can provide you with the support and guidance you need.
How much is Couples Therapy in Brisbane?
How much is Couples Therapy in Brisbane?
Follow the link to find out about How Much Couples Therapy Costs in Brisbane >
Sources: The Gottman Institute, ICEEFT, The PACT Institute.
References: [1] Susan Johnson, ICEEFT.
