Relationships

Relationships – whether romantic partnerships, marriages, or long-term commitments – go through different phases and challenges. If you and your partner are struggling to communicate, reconnect, or navigate conflict, counselling can help you build a stronger foundation.

What Relationships Counselling Addresses

Relationships counselling supports couples at all stages – from those preparing for marriage or living together, to those navigating challenges in established relationships, to those considering the future of their relationship. Common areas include communication difficulties, conflict patterns, loss of connection, differing expectations, parenting disagreements, financial stress, or infidelity. Relationships naturally evolve. Early connection can shift over time. Life changes – children, career demands, moving, health challenges – affect how couples relate. Sometimes partners develop different goals or values. These aren’t signs of failure; they’re normal parts of long-term relationships. Counselling provides space to understand what’s happening and develop new ways of relating.

How Relationship Difficulties Might Show Up

When relationships are struggling, many things can be affected. Communication might become defensive or withdrawn. Conflict might escalate, with the same arguments repeating without resolution. You might feel disconnected, lonely even with your partner present. Intimacy – emotional or physical – might decrease. One or both partners might feel resentful, unheard, or unsupported. Parenting differences, financial stress, or major life transitions can strain even solid relationships. Over time, struggling couples often withdraw, avoid each other, or live in a state of tension and sadness. The good news is that many couples who seek support find they can reconnect, develop healthier communication, and rebuild their relationship – sometimes discovering a deeper understanding of each other.

Our Approach to Relationships Counselling

Working with a psychologist at Growth Psychology, you and your partner will find a non-judgmental, supportive space. We’re not here to decide who’s “right” or “wrong”; we’re here to help both of you be heard and understood. We help couples understand the patterns that have developed – what triggers conflict, how you typically respond, and what keeps the cycle going. We teach communication skills that help you express yourselves more effectively and listen more deeply to each other. We help you identify the positive foundations in your relationship and build on them. Some couples work on reconnecting and rebuilding their relationship. Others use counselling to have important conversations about the future of their relationship, whatever that might look like. Your psychologist works collaboratively with you both, creating safety and understanding. Learn more about our therapeutic approaches.

When to Seek Help

If relationship difficulties are causing distress, affecting your wellbeing, or you’re unsure about the future of your relationship – seeking support can help. Counselling can prevent small issues from becoming bigger ones, help couples reconnect, or support important conversations. There’s no “right time” to seek help; if your relationship matters to you and you want support, it’s worth reaching out.

Ask about our Relationships services.

If you’d like to explore how therapy might help, we’re here to talk through your needs.

Enquire today

Our practicitioners with a focus on Relationships

Lara Patty - Psychologist

Lara is a registered Psychologist who offers a warm, collaborative, and emotionally grounded approach to therapy. She supports adolescents (16+) and adults across experiences such as anxiety, depression, stress, identity concerns, relationship and attachment patterns, the impacts of difficult childhood experiences, and life transitions. Lara integrates evidence‑informed approaches—including Schema Therapy, CBT, and ACT—to help clients explore their inner world and develop compassionate, authentic ways of relating to themselves and others.

Berni Cooper - Wellbeing Strategist & Educator

Berni is a professional coach with a Master of Applied Positive Psychology and a Bachelor of Social Sciences Hons (Psychology). She has over 15 years’ experience in coaching, mentoring, advising and training.

Shelley Phillips - Psychologist

Shelley Phillips is a registered Psychologist who offers a warm, caring, and evidence‑informed approach to supporting mental health and wellbeing. She draws on CBT, ACT, Positive Psychology, and strengths‑based practices to help clients explore challenges in life and work. Shelley also supports clients navigating job selection processes, career development, and workplace stress. She has experience working with emergency services personnel and has worked as a psychology lecturer, mentor, and supervisor.

Gregory Dean - Endorsed Counselling Psychologist

Greg is an Endorsed Counselling Psychologist with more than thirty years of experience supporting people across a wide range of life challenges. He works collaboratively with clients to explore the impact of past experiences, strengthen emotional wellbeing, and navigate patterns that influence relationships and daily life. Greg uses evidence‑informed approaches tailored to each person’s needs. Greg has worked in counselling and psychotherapy private practice in metropolitan centres and remote rural areas, in schools, government organisations, emergency services, military veterans’ organisations and in industry. He has also worked as an academic, teacher and in management and specialist roles in the mining industry.

Rita Mesch - Psychologist

Rita is a registered teacher and Psychologist who offers a supportive, non‑judgemental space for clients experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, grief, difficult or traumatic events, life transitions, and relationship concerns. She works from a Process‑Oriented Psychology framework, helping clients explore inner experiences and the patterns that influence wellbeing and personal growth.

Beth Keane - Psychologist - Practice Owner

Beth is a registered Psychologist who supports adults across a range of wellbeing and mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, life transitions, and career‑related challenges. She draws on CBT, ACT, Schema‑informed strategies, and strengths‑based, person‑centred approaches. Beth also provides services under Queensland emergency services support programs and works in training, development, and career‑related support.