Couples counselling at Mindnest Counselling in Illawong, Sutherland Shire

Couples Counselling

For couples who keep getting stuck in the same conversations, arguments or distance.

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In-person sessions in Illawong, Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, and online across Australia.

How Couples Counselling Can Help

Couples counselling gives you a chance to slow things down and really look at what is happening between you.

It is not about taking sides or deciding who is right. It is about understanding the patterns you keep getting stuck in, what each of you is needing, and what might need to shift.

We can work through things like communication, conflict, trust, emotional distance, unresolved hurt, family pressure, parenting stress or major life changes.

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You both get heard
Sessions give each person room to speak without the conversation turning into another argument.
You understand the pattern
We look at what keeps repeating between you — the shutdowns, defensiveness, blame, distance or hurt underneath the surface issue.
You learn what to do differently
You work on practical ways to communicate, repair and respond to each other outside the session room.
You decide what comes next
Counselling can help you work out what the relationship needs from here, whether that is rebuilding, reconnecting or making clearer decisions together.

Who Couples Counselling Supports

Communication Breakdown
Conversations that turn into arguments, or where one or both partners feel they can't be heard without it escalating.
Ongoing Conflict
Recurring arguments about the same issues that never seem to fully resolve, leaving both partners exhausted and frustrated.
Loss of Trust
Rebuilding after infidelity, betrayal or a significant breach that has created distance and hurt between partners.
Emotional Distance
Feeling like housemates rather than partners — coexisting but disconnected, without the closeness or intimacy that once existed.
Life Transitions
Navigating parenthood, career changes, loss, illness, or relocation — life events that place new pressure on even strong relationships.
Relationship Strengthening
Couples who simply want to deepen understanding, communicate better, or prepare their relationship for future challenges.

My Approach to Couples Counselling

Couples counselling with me is practical and honest. I am not there to take sides or decide who is right.

You have come to counselling for a reason, so I will not leave you to figure it all out on your own. I will listen properly, ask honest questions, and help slow things down so we can look at what keeps happening between you.

I draw on emotionally focused, Gottman-informed and trauma-informed approaches, but I keep the work grounded in what is actually happening in your relationship.

01
Slowing the conversation down
I help you pause the argument or distance long enough to understand what is actually happening underneath it.
02
Saying things differently
I support you to talk about hard things without it turning into blame, shutdown or another fight.
03
Working through hurt
If there has been distance, resentment or broken trust, I help you talk through what happened and what repair would need to look like.
04
Making changes outside the session
We look at what needs to be different day to day, not just what gets talked about in the room.

What to Expect in Your First Session

Your first session is a chance for me to understand what has been happening between you.

You do not need to come prepared or have everything figured out. You can just show up as you are, and I will guide the conversation and make sure both of you have room to speak.

This is not a performance review, and I am not there to put either person on trial. The aim is to understand what is happening and where to go from here.

01
What has brought you to counselling
02
What keeps coming up between you
03
How each of you has been experiencing the relationship
04
What feels stuck, hurtful or hard to talk about
05
What you are hoping might change
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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Couples Counselling at Mindnest.

  • Not at all. Many couples come to counselling to improve communication, deepen connection, or navigate a life transition — not just when things have broken down. The earlier you seek support, the more options are available to you.

  • Yes. Couples counselling works best when both partners attend together. If one partner has already had individual sessions, we won’t be able to proceed with couples counselling. We can clarify this before your first session.

  • Yes. Mindnest Counselling offers secure online couples counselling sessions for couples across Australia, in addition to in-person sessions at our Illawong rooms in the Sutherland Shire. Online sessions are just as effective for most relationship concerns.

  • Couples counselling sessions are $185 for 50 minutes. You can find more information about payment, rebates, NDIS and cancellations on the Fees page.

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Book Couples Counselling

If you keep getting stuck in the same arguments, distance or hurt, couples counselling can help you slow things down and work out what needs to change.

  • No referral required

  • Fees and rebate information available on the Fees page

  • In-person and online sessions available

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CONTACT MINDNEST