What Should I Expect from Couples Therapy in Paddington?

If you are thinking about coming to couples counselling in Paddington, Brisbane, you probably have questions. What actually happens in a session? Will it be awkward? Do you have to talk about everything? Will the therapist take sides?

These are the questions almost every couple asks before their first session, and they are worth answering honestly.

Before your first session

You do not need to prepare anything special. You do not need to agree with your partner about what the problem is. You do not even need to be sure that couples therapy is the right decision. A first session is simply a conversation to work out whether this feels like the right fit. There will be some paperwork to fill out, but in terms of our session, I'm here to guide you.

At Brisbane Couples Counselling in Paddington, I ask both partners to share a little about what has brought them in and what they are hoping for. There is no pressure to have all the answers. Most couples arrive somewhere between uncertain and exhausted, and that is completely fine. We will discuss how you communicate, and what a typical fight usually looks like. I'll also ask about your relationship history. This will include things like how you met, and major transitions that have happened over time.

What a session actually looks like

My sessions run for 90 minutes, which is longer than a standard therapy hour. This is intentional. Couples need time to settle, to get past the surface level, and to actually get somewhere useful before they leave. A 60 minute session often ends just as things are getting real.

Sessions are structured and purposeful. I am not a passive observer. I will ask questions, offer observations, and sometimes stop a conversation that is going in an unhelpful direction. My job is to help you have better conversations with each other, not just to witness the ones you have been having at home.

Every session ends with something practical, an insight, a tool, a different way of approaching something, so you leave with more than you arrived with.

Will it feel uncomfortable?

Honestly, sometimes yes. Talking about the hard things in a relationship is not always easy, and doing it with a third person in the room can feel vulnerable. Most couples find that the discomfort eases quickly once they realise the session is a genuinely safe space where neither person is being judged or blamed.

How many sessions will you need?

This depends on what you are working on. Couples managing recurring conflict often see meaningful change within six to twelve sessions. Usually, I will see couples weekly for the first 6-12 weeks. This again depends on the needs of the couple. Affair recovery typically takes longer, often twelve months or more of regular work. That might look like weekly sessions at first, and then gradually checking in with each other every month or so over the first year. A first session will give you a clearer sense of what a realistic timeline looks like for your situation.

Where is the Paddington practice?

Brisbane Couples Counselling is located at 108 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington, Brisbane QLD 4064. Sessions are available Tuesday and Wednesday from 2pm to 9pm and Sunday from 11am to 6pm. Online sessions are also available if coming in person does not suit you.

If you are ready to take the first step, or just want to ask a question first, reach out. I personally respond to every enquiry within 24 hours.

info@brisbanecouplescounselling.com or Book Here