Question 1

What do we need to do to prepare before our first session?

Accepted Answer

Please complete your Gottman Connect Questionnaire and Intake/Consent Forms 48 hours prior to our first session. This helps me adequately prepare for our time together. You don’t need to prepare a summary or agree on a version of events beforehand. The most helpful thing you can do is come with an open mind and a willingness to be honest. If there’s something you’re worried about raising in the session, you’re welcome to mention it to in the individual portion of our session. I personally respond to all enquiries and I’m happy to answer any questions before you book your first couples counselling session in Brisbane.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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108 Latrobe Terrace Paddington Brisbane, Brisbane Couples Counselling office entrance

This is our entrance via Ellena Street.

Brisbane Couples Counselling Paddington, private couples therapy office exterior

Parking is available onsite, just off Ellena Street.

Question 2

How many sessions will I need?

Accepted Answer

This varies depending on what you’re working on. Some couples come in for a focused short-term block of six to twelve sessions and leave with the tools they need. Others working through something more complex like affair recovery may need longer. I work in a short-term model focused on sustainable results, which means I’m not interested in keeping you in therapy longer than necessary. We’ll review progress regularly so you always know where you’re at. Most couples I work with notice a meaningful shift within the first few sessions of Gottman Method couples counselling in Brisbane.

Question 3

Are sessions claimable with my private health fund?

Accepted Answer

Please check your level of cover to see if counselling is included. The current funds I'm registered with include Medibank, AHM, HCF, Bupa, and ARHG (emcompassing St Luke's Health, Police Health, GMHBA, Emergency Services Health, Phoenix Health, see-u by HBF (previously CUA), AIA Health, Mildura Health, Teachers Union Health, Westfund, Teachers Health, Nurses & Midwife Health and Unihealth)

Question 4

Is couples counselling ever not recommended, such as when there is domestic violence?

Accepted Answer

This is an important question. Couples counselling is generally not recommended when there is active domestic violence, coercive control, or a significant power imbalance in the relationship. This is because the couples counselling format assumes both partners can speak freely and safely, which isn’t possible in those circumstances. If you’re experiencing domestic violence, the priority is your safety and individual support. In Queensland you can contact DVConnect on 1800 811 811 at any time. If you’re unsure whether your situation is appropriate for couples counselling, feel free to reach out and I’m happy to have an honest conversation about whether it’s the right fit.

Question 5

Where is Brisbane Couples Counselling located and is there parking nearby?

Accepted Answer

’m located at 108 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington, Brisbane QLD 4064. Paddington is an inner Brisbane suburb easily accessible from Bardon, Auchenflower, Red Hill, Kelvin Grove, and the broader inner west. Street parking is available on Latrobe Terrace and also onsite. I also offer online Telehealth sessions for couples across Brisbane and beyond if coming in person isn’t convenient.

Question 6

How much is relationship counselling?

Accepted Answer

Sessions are $195 for 1 hour and $350 for 2 hours.

Question 7

Does relationship counselling work?

Accepted Answer

Research consistently shows that therapy can lead to significant improvements in relationship satisfaction, communication, and emotional connection. A study published in BMC Public Health found that couples who engaged in counselling showed greater relationship satisfaction and mental health improvements over time. 
Additionally, a review of various therapeutic methods, including Gottman Method Couples Therapy, found that couples who undergo therapy experience better conflict resolution skills and increased intimacy (gottman.com).

Question 8

What type of counselling is best for couples?

Accepted Answer

The choice of therapy should align with the specific needs and dynamics of the couple. Consulting with a qualified therapist can help determine the most suitable approach for your relationship. What I particularly love about the Gottman Method is that it is not only evidence based but also grounded in decades of rigorous research. Research has shown that 70% to 75% of couples who engage in the Gottman Method experience significant improvement, and many report increased intimacy and communication skills.

Question 9

What happens in the first session of couples therapy?

Accepted Answer

In your first session of couples therapy, the main goal is to get to know you both and to create a space where you each feel heard and understood. I’ll start by asking what’s brought you in today. I always want to hear from both of you because your individual perspectives matter, even if you’re not totally sure what to say at first.

We’ll talk a bit about how you communicate, how you tend to argue or resolve conflict, and also get a sense of how your relationship began, how you met, what drew you to each other, and what your journey together has looked like so far. That includes the highs, the lows, and the in-between moments that have shaped your connection.

I’ll also ask what each of you is hoping to get out of therapy. Whether you’re looking to improve communication, rebuild trust, reconnect emotionally, or something else entirely, knowing your goals helps shape the work we’ll do together.

Toward the end of the session, we’ll chat about next steps. That includes how often we might meet, what the general timeframe for therapy could look like, and booking in future sessions if you’d like to continue.

Question 10

Can couples therapy bring back feeling in love?

Accepted Answer

Yes, couples therapy, particularly the Gottman Method, can help rekindle feelings of love and intimacy. Developed by Drs. John and Julie Schwartz Gottman, this approach is grounded in over four decades of research with more than 3,000 couples. It focuses on building a strong foundation of friendship, respect, and shared meaning, which are essential for reigniting love and connection.

Question 11

When should couples consider couples therapy?

Accepted Answer

Couples should consider therapy whenever they feel the need to strengthen their relationship. Research indicates that many couples wait an average of six years before seeking professional help for marital issues. This delay allows negative patterns to become entrenched, making resolution more difficult.

Preventative care is crucial. Engaging in therapy proactively, even when things are going well, can help couples build resilience and improve communication skills. Studies show that premarital counselling can reduce divorce rates by 31%.

Question 12

Can couples counselling help after an affair?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it’s one of the things I specialise in. Affair recovery is my primary area of expertise, whether that’s a physical affair, an emotional affair, or online infidelity such as secretive texting or online relationships. Many couples who come to me after a betrayal aren’t sure whether they want to stay together or separate. That’s okay. My job isn’t to push you either way. It’s to help you understand what happened, process the impact, and make a clear decision from a grounded place rather than a painful one. Couples counselling for affair recovery in Paddington, Brisbane with a Gottman-trained therapist gives you the structure and support to navigate one of the hardest things a relationship can face.

Question 13

How does affair recovery counselling work in Brisbane?

Accepted Answer

Affair recovery counselling is a structured process, not just a space to vent. Using the Gottman Method, we work through three evidence-based stages: understanding what happened and why, rebuilding trust and emotional safety, and deciding together what kind of relationship you want going forward. Sessions are 90 minutes, which gives us enough time to go deep rather than just skim the surface. I see couples for affair recovery counselling in person at my Paddington, Brisbane office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays, and online across Brisbane and beyond.

Question 14

What is the Gottman Method and how does it help couples?

Accepted Answer

The Gottman Method is one of the most extensively researched approaches in couples therapy, developed by Drs John and Julie Gottman over four decades of studying what makes relationships succeed or fail. Rather than just giving you communication tips, it works with the underlying patterns, the friendship, the conflict dynamics, and the shared meaning that hold a relationship together or pull it apart. As a Gottman-trained couples counsellor in Paddington,Brisbane currently on the certification track, I use this method because the evidence behind it is strong and because I’ve seen what it can do for couples who felt completely stuck.

Question 15

Do you offer couples counselling for childfree couples?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it’s a niche I’m particularly drawn to.  I’m genuinely interested in the couples who are building a meaningful life on their own terms, whether that means you’ve chosen to be childfree, you’re still figuring out what you want, or you simply want a relationship that feels strong and fulfilling regardless of which direction you choose. If you’re a childfree couple in Brisbane looking for a counsellor who gets it, you’re in the right place.

Question 16

Do you offer couples counselling before having a baby?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and I’d encourage it. The transition to parenthood is one of the most significant shifts a relationship goes through, and most couples go into it without any preparation for what it does to their dynamic. Research shows that relationship satisfaction drops significantly in the first year after having a baby for couples who haven’t done this work. Pre-baby couples counselling in Brisbane helps you understand each other’s expectations, build a stronger foundation, and go into parenthood as a team rather than being blindsided by it. Sessions are available in person in Paddington and online.

Question 17

Do we need a mental health care plan, or do we have access to Medicare rebates?

Accepted Answer

You don’t need a mental health care plan and couples counselling is not eligible for Medicare rebates

Question 18

Is couples counselling the same as couples counseling?

Accepted Answer

Yes, completely. Couples counselling and couples counseling are the same thing, just spelled differently. In Australia we use British spelling, counselling with a double l. In the United States the spelling is counseling with a single l. If you have been searching for couples counseling in Brisbane, couples counselling in Brisbane, or relationship counseling near me, you are looking for exactly the same service. At Brisbane Couples Counselling, Michelle Janssen offers Gottman-trained couples counseling and counselling for affair recovery, infidelity, constant fighting, and communication breakdown. Sessions are available in Paddington Brisbane and online across Australia.

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