What Are the Best Couples Therapy Options in Brisbane?
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
And How to Know Which One Is Right for You
Michelle Janssen | Brisbane Couples Counselling | Paddington Brisbane
If you have spent any time searching for couples therapy in Brisbane, you have probably noticed that the options seem endless and the differences between them are not immediately obvious. Everyone claims to be warm, non-judgmental, and effective. Most websites look similar. Most practitioners list the same credentials.
So how do you actually choose?
This post is my honest answer to that question. I am going to explain the main approaches to couples therapy that are available in Brisbane, what the research says about each of them, and what questions to ask before you book a first session. I will also be upfront about my own approach so you can decide whether it fits what you are looking for.
Finding the best couples therapy options in Brisbane comes down to understanding what each approach actually offers and matching that to your specific situation.
The Approaches You Will Encounter
Gottman Method Couples Therapy
The Gottman Method is one of the most extensively researched approaches to couples therapy in the world. It was developed by Drs John and Julie Gottman, whose research began in the 1970s and involved observing thousands of couples over decades to identify what actually predicts whether a relationship succeeds or fails.
The research identified specific patterns that damage relationships, most famously the Four Horsemen: criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. It also identified what healthy couples do differently, including maintaining friendship, turning toward each other during conflict, and building genuine shared meaning.
In a Gottman-informed session, work is structured and purposeful. It typically begins with a thorough relationship assessment before any intervention begins. From there, sessions focus on specific, evidence-based tools for managing conflict, rebuilding friendship and intimacy, and creating shared meaning.
Gottman therapy is particularly well suited to couples dealing with affair recovery and infidelity, recurring conflict that has not responded to other approaches, and communication breakdown where patterns are entrenched.
Not all practitioners who mention Gottman have completed formal Gottman training.
The Gottman Referral Network lists practitioners who have completed accredited training. When choosing a Gottman-informed therapist it is worth asking what level of training they have completed.
I have completed Gottman Method training through Level 3 and am a member of the Gottman Referral Network. Couples therapy is my sole clinical focus.
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy, known as EFT, was developed by Dr Sue Johnson and is based on attachment theory. It focuses on the emotional bond between partners and the ways that unmet attachment needs drive conflict and disconnection.
EFT is particularly effective for couples where one or both partners carry significant attachment wounds, where emotional withdrawal is a central pattern, or where rebuilding emotional safety is the primary goal. The research base is strong and well established.
Some practitioners in Brisbane are trained in EFT and some use it alongside Gottman. It is worth asking a prospective therapist whether they use EFT, Gottman, or a combination, and what informs that choice for your specific situation.
Imago Relationship Therapy
Imago therapy, developed by Harville Hendrix, focuses on how childhood experiences and early relational patterns shape adult relationship dynamics. It uses a structured dialogue process called the Imago Dialogue to help partners feel genuinely heard.
It is less research-heavy than Gottman or EFT but has a dedicated following and works well for couples interested in understanding the deeper roots of their conflict patterns.
General Counselling Without a Specific Framework
When exploring the best couples therapy options Brisbane has available, it is worth asking any prospective therapist what evidence base guides their work.
Many practitioners in Brisbane offer couples counselling without a named, evidence-based framework. This is not automatically worse, and the therapeutic relationship matters enormously regardless of approach. But for complex presentations like affair recovery, significant communication breakdown, or entrenched conflict, an evidence-based framework gives both the therapist and the couple a clearer roadmap.
If you are considering a therapist who does not name a specific framework, it is reasonable to ask what guides their clinical approach and how they measure progress.
Finding the Best Couples Therapy Options in Brisbane: Questions to Ask Before You Book
Choosing a couples therapist is a significant decision and most practitioners are happy to answer a few questions before a first session. Here are the ones worth asking:
What is your clinical training in couples therapy specifically? General counselling training and specific couples therapy training are different. Ask what model they work from and what formal training they have completed in it.
Do you see individuals as well as couples? A therapist whose practice is exclusively couples-focused will have seen more of what you are dealing with and will have more refined skills in this specific area. A generalist who occasionally sees couples is a different proposition.
How long are your sessions? Standard therapy hours of 50 to 60 minutes are often too short for meaningful couples work. Sessions of 90 minutes or more allow time to get past the surface level and actually get somewhere useful before you leave.
What does a first session look like? A good couples therapist will do some form of assessment before jumping into intervention. Understanding what is happening in your specific relationship before trying to fix it is a basic quality marker.
Do you have experience with our specific situation? If you are dealing with affair recovery, ask specifically about that. Not every couples therapist has training or experience in the specific clinical landscape of infidelity.
Who Is Couples Therapy For?
A common misconception is that couples therapy is only for relationships on the brink of ending. The research actually suggests the opposite: the earlier couples access support, the better the outcomes. Gottman research found that couples wait an average of six years after problems begin before seeking help. Six years of accumulated hurt and entrenched patterns is significantly harder to work through than addressing something earlier.
Couples therapy is for couples who are recovering from an affair or infidelity and trying to work out what comes next. It is for couples stuck in the same arguments on repeat who want to break the cycle. It is for couples navigating big life decisions, whether to have children, how to survive the transition to parenthood, or how to build a shared life that works for both people. And it is for couples who are doing reasonably well and want to invest in their relationship before things get harder.
Whatever has brought you to start looking, the best couples therapy options in Brisbane will share one thing in common: a structured, evidence-informed approach delivered by someone with specific training in couples work.
About My Practice
I am Michelle Janssen, a Gottman-trained couples counsellor based in Paddington, Brisbane. I work exclusively with couples. My core specialisations are affair recovery and infidelity counselling, conflict and communication breakdown, and childfree and life stage counselling for couples in their 20s and 30s.
My sessions run 90 minutes because this work needs real space. I am direct and structured. Every session has a purpose and you will leave with something concrete to work with.
I work from 108 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2pm to 9pm and Sundays from 11am to 6pm. Online sessions are available across Australia.
If you have questions about whether my approach is the right fit for your situation, reach out. I am happy to have a brief conversation before you book.
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