Couples Therapy
At Headz Up Health, our couples therapy services are designed to help couples overcome relationship challenges and improve communication, intimacy, and trust. In some circumstances, however, it may involve supporting a couple to navigate irreconcilable differences intelligently in mitigating the negative impacts and processes of separation.
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Therapy will involve both reflective and experiential discussion with a couple that identifies and explores feelings about the relationship, underlying beliefs and thought patterns, and the resulting behaviours that shape how partners interact. Our therapy team has experience working with a diverse range of couple experiences, including those centred around infidelity, financial stress, parenting difficulties, and high emotional expression or conflict.
1. What You Can Expect
The relationship between a therapist and both partners within a relationship (the couple) is critical. The therapist's approach, in terms of engaging, questioning, and challenging the beliefs and/or behaviours of either partner should ideally feel respectful. Where there is a dispute between a couple, the therapist will not take sides but may call out individual behaviours that contribute to relational problems that are identified.
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Our couples therapy service involves scheduling an initial session/s to engage both partners, with the aim of completing a comprehensive assessment of relational dynamics and communication patterns. The assessment will involve gathering information on each partner's perspective concerning their relational experiences and interactions. Often this will occur in a joint session where partners are seen together. On occasion, a partner may initially prefer to be seen on his/her own, noting the circumstances leading to seeking couples therapy. Either approach is acceptable. Please ask about this when making a service inquiry.
2. Therapeutic Approaches
Our couples therapy service is designed to help both partners to clearly articulate their thoughts and feelings, enhancing communication. From this position, couples can be supported to navigate situational and relationship challenges with a focus on increasing self-awareness and personal change among partners that can contribute to improving relational experiences and interactions.
There are a few different approaches to couples therapy with each generally having the goal of improving a couple’s relational experience and functioning, whether focused on bringing partners closer together or ending a partnership intelligently. Your therapist will draw on these varied therapeutic approaches as is needed.
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Where the therapy goal is focused on bringing partners closer together, the therapist will seek to stimulate the relationship to grow to be a source of deep meaning and satisfaction for both partners. Therapy will explore the roots of partners’ current problems with the intent of resolving dysfunctional patterns of interaction. This approach emphasises increasing awareness around emotional engagement in the relationship, dealing with emotional damage, and strengthening emotional bonds. Individual partners are supported to understand themselves and their own needs, so they know how to ask for what they want in the relationship. They are also supported to engage, inquire, and understand their partner’s needs so they can learn to improve the support they provide their partner.
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Where the therapy goal is focused on ending a partnership intelligently, the therapist will seek to support the process of working through irreconcilable differences and dilemmas in the relationship. Each partner will be encouraged to learn to develop compassion for both their partner and oneself, learning ways of constructively managing negative thoughts and feelings, and recognising the journey and approach that is required beyond the immediacy of separation.
3. Presenting Problems
Our therapists have experience working with couples dealing with a range of issues, including:
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Communication difficulties and conflict
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Conflict associated with financial stress
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Conflict associated with parenting
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Intimacy difficulties
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Infidelity
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Trauma and trust difficulties
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Relationship stage transition/adjustment difficulties
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Pre-marital discussions
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Irreconcilable relationships, separation, and divorce
4. What Else You Need to Know
Couples therapy sessions will typically last 50 minutes, conducted as face-to-face appointments in our Therapy Centre in Caringbah. Arrangements for undertaking couples therapy using a videoconference appointment schedule will be considered when needed. You will be provided details to assist you and your partner attend your appointment once you have made your booking.
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If attending your scheduled appointment at the Therapy Centre, you and your partner can seat yourself in the waiting area and wait for your therapist to come and greet you both.
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The initial session will include introductions, the therapist outlining what you and your partner can expect in participating in therapy, and how to make the most of participation. The therapist will likely see you and your partner together and individually, if needed, within the allocated 50-minute appointment timeslot. The therapist may inquire about the broader life experiences of you and your partner, not being limited to asking about the presenting concern.
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Some areas of inquiry may include addressing sensitive topics and your therapist will be gentle in speaking with you and your partner about this. At the end of the initial session, the therapist will provide feedback about the presenting concerns and options for working towards addressing those concerns. This may include the therapist offering to work with both you and your partner through a combination of joint and individual sessions, providing indication as to the number and frequency of therapy sessions that may be required.
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Eligibility for access to Medicare and private health insurance rebates will be considered on a case-by-case basis, noting these insurance programs are focused on the treatment of mental health difficulties. Please ask about this when making a service inquiry.
Individual Therapy
We offer individual psychotherapy to help our clients manage a range of mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, and relationship problems. Our therapists are trained to provide non-drug therapies, strategies, and techniques to promote positive psychological function and growth.​​
Family Therapy
Our family therapy service focuses on the interpersonal experiences of the members that make up a family system. Our therapists are here to help families communicate and navigate relationship challenges, working towards growth and improved interactions.
Child Therapy
Our child therapy services are designed to help children navigate challenges and improve communication and understanding while offering emotional support. Our therapists have experience working with children dealing with a range of issues, including behavioural difficulties, sibling conflict, and grief and loss.