Couples

Couples therapy is a form of talk therapy designed to help partners navigate relationship challenges, strengthen their connection, and develop healthier patterns of communication. It can support couples experiencing conflict, communication breakdown, trust issues, infidelity and betrayal, intimacy difficulties, desire discrepancies, neurodiversity in relationships, sexual trauma, or major life transitions (e.g., parenthood, career changes, loss). It is equally well-suited to couples who simply want to invest in and deepen their relationship before difficulties take hold.

Sessions are typically 50 minutes in length and involve both partners attending together. We recommend beginning on a weekly basis to build momentum and ensure you get the most out of the process.

The therapeutic approach will vary depending on your psychologist's training and background. Common evidence-based modalities used in couples therapy include the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Attachment Theory, and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Our couples therapist has received intensive training in each of these approaches, including direct training with some of the most highly regarded educators in the field of relationship psychology.

At Grove, we take a strength-based, trauma-informed, and person-centred approach to couples therapy, recognising that no two relationships present with the same needs. We believe that both partners bring their own inner wisdom to the room, and that therapy works best when it helps couples translate that insight into meaningful, lasting change. Our couples therapist is an LGBTQ+ affirming provider.

During your initial session, your psychologist will work with both of you to develop a shared treatment plan that reflects your goals as a couple.

We offer both in-person and virtual couples therapy sessions. A virtual format is available for those unable to attend the clinic, those in long-distance relationships, or couples who find it more convenient to attend from home.

We offer both short-term and long-term couples therapy.

Short-term therapy (e.g., around 12–16 sessions) can be effective for targeted concerns such as a specific conflict, a difficult life transition, or a breakdown in communication that has emerged relatively recently.

Long-term therapy is often better suited to deeply ingrained relational patterns, recurring cycles of conflict, or concerns involving trust, attachment, and betrayal repair. The recommended duration of treatment will be discussed collaboratively with your psychologist in the early sessions and revisited as your work together progresses.

• Not at all.

  Many couples come to therapy proactively — to strengthen communication, build shared goals, or prepare for significant life changes such as moving in together, getting married, or starting a family. Investing in your relationship before things reach a breaking point is one of the most effective things you can do.

  Therapy can help you and your partner develop tools that support a healthier, more connected relationship for the long term — including increased self-awareness, active listening, clear communication, compassion, and a balance of boundaries and flexibility that builds genuine relational resilience.

Our couples therapy service has specialist expertise across a wide range of relationship concerns, including:

• Communication breakdown and conflict patterns

• Infidelity, betrayal, and trust repair

• Intimacy and sexual concerns, including desire discrepancies and life after sexual trauma

• Neurodiversity in relationships

• Attachment and relational patterns

• Life transitions and major decisions as a couple

• LGBTQ+ relationship concerns

• Individual concerns that are impacting the relationship, such as anxiety, depression, addiction, and trauma

Our couples therapist also brings extensive experience working with individuals across a broad range of presentations, which informs a systemic and holistic understanding of how personal history and wellbeing shape our relationships.

The Australian Psychological Society recommends a fee of $318 per 46–50 minute session with a registered psychologist.

At Grove, fees for couples therapy will depend on the clinician and the service being offered. You can expect session fees to range from $110–$285. If you have concerns about cost, please raise this with your clinician — we offer a sliding scale and concession rates for those in need.

Please note that Medicare's Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) does not currently cover couples therapy, as it is not classified as an individual mental health service under Medicare. We recommend checking with your private health insurer, as some providers offer rebates for couples sessions.

We also accept funding from NDIS, ADF, Victim Services, and Workers Compensation where applicable.

It is very common for one partner to be more hesitant about starting therapy than the other. If your partner is unsure, it can help to frame therapy not as a sign that something is broken, but as a proactive investment in your relationship. Sometimes attending an initial session together with no ongoing commitment can ease the pressure.

In some cases, one partner may begin individual sessions first to work through their own concerns before both partners feel ready to engage jointly. Please speak with your clinician if this is your situation — we are happy to discuss what might work best for you.