Marriage and couples counselling in Sydney

Effective, tailored, research-based counselling helping couples strengthen their relationship and emotional bond.

Support and guidance to build a strong connection

As humans, we’re hard-wired to seek out close bonds and loving relationships are essential to our health and wellbeing. But Hollywood romantic comedies have a lot to answer for. The reality of love and relationships is far messier.

The team at MyLife Psychologists can help. We believe all couples deserve support and guidance to build a strong and loving connection with each other. Our relationship therapists are highly trained and experienced in couples counselling.

We understand making the decision to go to couples therapy can feel like a big step. It means admitting your partnership isn’t perfect, which can be confronting. Couples in distress are often experiencing high levels of anger, resentment, fear, hurt and mistrust. For those experiencing ambivalence about their relationship, couples counselling can also help partners clarify uncertainty and manage separation in a way that fosters positive relationships.

We’ve established a warm, judgement-free space for you to show up as you – whatever that looks like. It’s important to us that you both feel comfortable, respected and understood at all times. You will feel safe and supported to work through sensitive relationship issues using a proven approach.

You can find out more about our approach to couples therapy and what to expect from your treatment.

Here are some of the things we can support couples with:

  • Improving communication, connection and intimacy
  • Reducing conflict and misunderstandings
  • Expressing your needs clearly
  • Building safety and security to navigate difficult times
  • Recovering from relationship injuries such as affairs
  • Improving intimacy and your sexual relationship
  • Managing sexual concerns (e.g. mismatched libido/desire, sexual pain, erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation)
  • Clarifying and establishing boundaries with each other, negotiating living arrangements and maintaining a friendship after separation
  • Negotiating relationship roles of parenting, housework etc.
couples counselling Sydney

EFT: A Proven Approach to Strengthening Relationships

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is one of the most widely researched and effective approaches to couples therapy. It is based on the idea that strong, secure emotional bonds are the foundation of healthy relationships. When couples get stuck in negative patterns – such as repeated arguments, shutting down, or feeling distant – these patterns often stem from deeper fears about rejection, abandonment, or not feeling valued.

In EFT, your psychologist will help you and your partner:

  • Recognise unhelpful patterns that keep you feeling stuck and disconnected.
  • Understand underlying emotions and needs, such as wanting to feel loved, supported, or safe.
  • Create new ways of interacting, so you can express vulnerability, build trust, and strengthen your bond.

Research shows that EFT is highly effective, with many couples experiencing lasting improvements in relationship satisfaction, intimacy, and emotional connection. It is particularly helpful for couples who feel they have drifted apart, those facing ongoing conflict, or couples trying to rebuild trust after a crisis.

At MyLife Psychologists, we often draw on EFT because it provides couples with a clear, structured pathway towards creating the kind of relationship they want – one that feels safe, supportive, and deeply connected.

FAQs

Couples therapy can help if you and your partner feel stuck in the same patterns, are experiencing frequent conflict, struggling with intimacy, or wanting to strengthen your connection. It’s not just for relationships in crisis—many couples come to therapy to build skills and deepen their bond.Couples therapy can help if you and your partner feel stuck in the same patterns, are experiencing frequent conflict, struggling with intimacy, or wanting to strengthen your connection. It’s not just for relationships in crisis – many couples come to therapy to build skills and deepen their bond.

If you’re not sure, here are some common indicators that couples therapy may be of benefit to you and your partner.

  • You’re stuck in negative communication patterns
  • Your interactions are mostly transactional with little emotional connection
  • You’re afraid to bring things up with your partner
  • Trust has been broken in your relationship
  • You’re so disconnected it starts to feel like you’re living separate lives
  • You’re experiencing ongoing sexual problems in your relationship
  • Your arguments are frequently distressing for either or both of you
  • You’ve gone through something significant or devastating

It’s a common misconception that you only go to couples therapy when your relationship is in serious trouble. This can mean couples wait far too long to get effective support with their relationship issues. After years of conflict, goodwill and kindness have often broken down, making conflict resolution and reconnection more challenging.

The work of Drs John and Julie Gottman, renowned couples therapists and researchers, has helped us better understand the strengths of same-sex relationships. Their research has demonstrated that:

  • Strengths like humour and the ability to calm down during an argument are especially important in the success of same-sex couples.
    Compared to straight couples, gay and lesbian couples use more affection and humour when they bring up a disagreement, with a more positive response to this.
  • Same-sex couples, in comparison to straight couples, are more likely to remain positive after a disagreement, which is important for repair.
  • Same-sex couples use less controlling and hostile emotional tactics, which may reflect a greater degree of fairness and equality in these relationships.
  • In arguments, lesbian couples tend to be more emotionally expressive, both positively and negatively, than gay men.
  • When it comes to repairing after a disagreement, gay men find this more difficult than lesbian or straight couples if the initiator of the disagreement becomes too negative.

Yes. We welcome and support all couples – heterosexual, same-sex, and non-monogamous relationships. Our psychologists provide a safe and inclusive space for everyone.

Every couple is different. Some benefit from short-term therapy (6-12 sessions), while others find ongoing sessions more helpful. Your psychologist will discuss a recommended plan with you.

Yes. We provide both in-person sessions at our practice in Sydney’s Alexandria, and secure online sessions for couples who prefer to meet virtually.

Currently, Medicare rebates are not available for couples therapy. Some private health insurers may provide partial rebates – please check with your fund directly.

Ready to get support?

We offer couples therapy appointments on weekdays in our Alexandria consultation rooms and online via video.