Couples and Relationship Counselling
“The course of true love did never run smooth” (William Shakespeare). How true is this? Relationships can run into difficulty but need not be impossible to navigate. I am here to share my knowledge, expertise and tools that will help you to resolve even what seems like insurmountable problems.
I believe “the person is not the problem, the problem is the problem”. This is the main premise of my work.
Many couples today are finding that they have lost that sense of connection that they once had.
This can be due to many factors, including the stress of everyday life commitments.
Having relationship issues, can’t see a way to resolve your problems, going around in circles trying to solve the same issues with no resolution, tired of the fighting and feel like walking away?
Do you feeling lonely in your relationship?
Are you experiencing a disconnect with your partner? Many people are so busy with work and family commitments that they can neglect their relationship and fail to spend quality time together. This can lead to resentment by either one or both partners and resentment is the biggest killer of intimacy, both physical and emotional.
I can show you how to gain more emotional and physical intimacy in your relationship.
Have either you or your partner had an affair that is threatening to destroy your relationship? I have helped many couples who have been in this difficult situation to work through the pain and guilt that this can cause and to re-build their relationship, if they choose to stay together.
Are you and your partner trying to decide whether to stay together or not? Many couples face this question at times in their relationship and I can help you to discern what is really going on for you and your relationship and feel confident in making a choice for how to move forward.
Are you a blended family? This is very common in today’s world and brings with it many joys and also challenges (see my blog on this). I have helped many couples successfully navigate this challenging situation, partly due to my experience and training in working with children and adolescents for many years.
Are you a FI FO family? (fly in and fly out). I have found that this is a common situation for many families in the Northern Rivers of NSW area, due to the lack of industry and therefore limited employment opportunities here. I am therefore very familiar with your situation having counselled a large number of such families. This brings many challenges for the couple and the family and I help to provide the tools in order for them to work together as a team for the sake of their relationship and also the children.
If you have, or are experiencing any of the above, you are not alone I am here to help and guide you towards a more fulfilling relationship.
“The course of true love did never run smooth”
William Shakespeare
I have helped countless numbers of couples to reconnect to each other and find their relationship they once had.
In couples and family counselling there is no judgement or taking sides. My role is purely to assist you as the client – to help navigate your relationships. I provide a safe space for you to explore your issues and listen for you preferred options.
I work very individually with all my clients, having a background of teaching counselling for many years at university level equips me with the many different theories and approaches to counselling. Therefore you may have a similar problem to other clients, such as communication issues, but how you wish to solve it will be unique to your own personal relationship.
Many couples don’t see a counsellor until their relationship is in crisis. Don’t wait until your partner has walked out before you ask for help.
Many of my clients tell me that after our sessions together they gain clarity about their issues in their relationship, whereas at home they go around and around locked in conflict and eventually getting nowhere.
When couples have been in a pattern of communicating for some time it is often hard for them to change.
That’s where a third person trained and experienced in relationship counselling can help people to see the wood from the trees.
With my background in teaching counselling and communication I can teach you how to listen and talk to each other assertively so that each person feels heard and their feelings are validated.
As I often say to clients “we are taught to talk but not to communicate”. You will then feel confident to discuss and solve issues as they arise in the future.
With sixteen years experience in both the academic and personal elements of counselling, I welcome your contact to discuss your specific situation.
I am here to help.
Fees
A couple session is $200 for sixty minutes.
Fast Track Your Relationship: Couples Counselling Sessions
Have a crisis situation that you would like resolved sooner rather than taking several visits over weeks or months to a therapist? Then I offer intensive therapy sessions over the weekend Saturday and Sunday in Bangalow. Sessions comprise of four hours each day with individual and couples sessions. Learn how your family of origin has influenced the way you see the world and how you communicate. I create a safe space for you both to briefly explore the past to see how it may be impacting the present and the future.
Come to beautiful Byron Bay for the weekend and work on renewing your relationship and reconnecting to your partner. Leave with tools that you can then use when you get home. You may be locals who would also like to take advantage of this intensive couples counselling.
Take the First-Step and Call
If you are unsure as to what I may offer you as a counsellor, please feel assured that I welcome your call, and offer the first 15 minutes to you free of expense or obligation.
When my partner and I first starting seeing Helen two years ago, our daughter was one and we were exhausted and couldn’t communicate without yelling at each other. Helen asked us to fill in a form and the reason why we wanted to come. I still laugh at my partner’s answer saying that I forced him to come. It’s very interesting that he is now booking appointments himself.
I’ll always remember a sentence she said to us “the person is not the problem, the problem is the problem”
We would never be where we are today without Helen’s help. Thank you for being very empathic, non judgemental and making us feel comfortable to open up.
After 32 years of marriage we had come to a cross road where old behaviours were leaving us both unhappy. Helen was supportive and active in helping us identify our issues and recognise how to approach these conflicts differently. She enabled us to reconnect as empty nesters and reignite what had brought us together initially. We are both excited now for a wonderful future together that celebrates the best in us both.
Thank you Helen for your guidance in showing us how to understand and accept our issues in our relationship and to navigate the way to a successful resolution
We approached Helen as we needed some help with our relationship as we were about to separate. We contacted Helen and from the beginning we found her to be open, respectful, curteous and above all professional. One of the main reasons that we decided to go with Helen was the way she deals with the issues “the person is not the problem, the problem is the problem. This approach was so beneficial to us working through our main issues of lost communication and intimacy.
Thank you Helen for we are so much more appreciative and supportive of each other and our communication is the best it’s ever been and continues to improve.
My husband and I would like to thank Helen for helping to guide us through a difficult time in our marriage. We had lost our closeness and after dedicating so much of our time and energy to our young children we needed help in finding our way back to each other. Helen was patient and encouraging and although we were hesitant about seeking counselling at first Helen made the sessions as comfortable as she could for both of us. We would not hesitate to recommend her services to anyone finding themselves in a similar situation.
Hi Helen, I just wanted to thank you for your time today. I realise it’s your job, but it is a difficult one and one where you can make significant changes to peoples’ lives. It was a really big day for both of us and we both enjoyed your involvement and what occurred. I think we have a long way to go but we are excited we have found you and what you can do to help us get through this together. Much appreciated.
I have been a client of Helen’s for almost two years. My situation was extremely difficult and I was isolated from friends and family with little support. I recall contacting Helen on a Saturday as the situation with my ex partner was extremely volatile. I was at my lowest point not knowing which way to go. I found Helen to be a lady that understood my grief which was very deep, the word trust comes to mind when I think of her. Helen showed me that I deserved the best and helped me recognise that my situation was not how a relationship should be. I am honoured to have met Helen and will continue to work with her to achieve my dreams of a beautiful loving relationship with a person of equal integrity. Thank you so much Helen
Thank you so much Helen for getting us to this point, we couldn’t have done it without you and we feel so appreciative of you Helen, your personality is so suited to your work we feel like we have known you forever.
Before seeing Helen My partner and I had come to a crossroad, we were having communication issues and after many frustrating discussions we decided that without addressing these issues we would most likely separate. We made an appointment to see Helen.Throughout our therapeutic process with Helen my partner and I found her to be very caring and always concerned about our well being. Over the time we spent with Helen we were able to rebuild our connection and look forward to our happy future together.
Helen is a beautiful soul and I feel blessed that she came into my world at a time when I had lost faith in the future of my long term relationship. I am forever grateful for her support and genuine compassion and absolutely recommend her services to anyone needing a therapist.
I have been a client of Helen’s for almost 3 years now, for both couple and individual couselling. Helen is extremely warm and easy to talk to (good thing in a counsellor). I did not know what to expect when we initiated the couple counselling and we were both very nervous. Helen managed to draw out issues seamlessly and naturally creating a comforting and non threatening environment.
Helen was able to provide significant and useful information/tools that enabled us to identify and manage our individual behaviours so that together we were able to dislodge confusing and destructive patterns that had been created within the relationship. We both now have a greater understanding of each others’ weaknesses and strengths and with Helen’s guidance we have been provided with a better understanding of navigating our way through challenging times more harmoniously ( a good thing in a relationship).
Telephone and Internet Counselling
I work with many people around Australia and the World via the Telephone and Internet.
Mobile Service Area
I also offer a mobile service, for counselling, workshops and speaking engagements to all areas within the Northern Rivers, including;
- Bangalow
- Byron Bay
- Mullumbimby
- Lismore
- Ballina
