Couples Therapy
Couples Therapy
We all have unique stories and attachment histories which have shaped our view of ourselves, close others, and relationships. Whether we are conscious of it or not, this impacts how we turn up in our romantic relationships. The hope of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy is to shine a light on what is currently happening in the interaction between the two of you, make sense of how and why this happens, then bring about new ways of reaching for connection in a way that feels good for you both.
Q. What should I expect of couples therapy?
In Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT; the gold-standard approach for couples therapy), the first session is a joint couple session that aims to understand your reasons for presenting for therapy, your relationship history and hopes for therapy. Following this joint initial session, each partner will then have one individual session, after which we then return for ongoing joint sessions.
Q. How many sessions will we need?
The duration of therapy really depends on your goals. If you are seeking to engage in preparation as a preventative measure to bolster an already healthy relationship, then you may only need 3-4 sessions. If on the other hand you are looking for support to improve a relationship with difficulties, depending on the degree of difficulty, research indicates that Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy usually takes between 8-20 sessions for significant positive (and lasting) change.
Q. When is couples counselling NOT recommended?
There are a few instances where couples counselling would not be appropriate. These instances include:
When there is domestic violence or current abuse in the relationship
When either partner is struggling with a current addiction
When there is an active or ongoing affair that is not welcome by the other partner
For couples therapy to be effective, there needs to be a sense of emotional safety to build upon. In the situations above, the recommendation would be to first seek out individual therapy, and then afterwards consider couples therapy.
Q. Can I access rebates?
Please note that couples therapy is currently not rebatable by Medicare. If you would like to access rebates you can check with your private health insurance provider.