Rebuilding Connection, Trust and Understanding

Even strong relationships can face difficult periods — times when communication breaks down, distance grows, or conflict becomes overwhelming. Couples therapy offers a safe, structured space to explore these challenges together and begin to rebuild understanding, trust and closeness.

At Collaborative Connections Counselling, I provide couples therapy that focuses on practical communication tools, emotional awareness, and repairing the connection between partners. My approach draws on evidence-based frameworks, including elements of the Gottman Method, to support couples in creating stronger, more satisfying relationships.

What to Expect

Couples therapy is a collaborative process where both partners work together to understand what has brought them to this point and how to move forward.
Here’s a general outline of what the process looks like:

Phase 1 – Relationship Assessment

This first phase lays the foundation for meaningful change. It helps us build a clear picture of your relationship’s history, strengths, and challenges before beginning the therapy work.

As part of this process:

• Both partners complete a confidential online Gottman Connect questionnaire. This assessment explores areas such as communication, friendship, conflict patterns, shared values, and emotional connection. The results are incorporated into your overall fee and provide a detailed snapshot of how your relationship functions day-to-day.

• You’ll attend a 90-minute joint relationship history session to explore how your relationship developed, the key moments that shaped it, and the difficulties you’re currently facing.

• Each partner then meets with me individually for a 60-minute session. This provides space to share your personal perspective and what you each hope to gain from counselling.

• We then come together for a 60-minute feedback and goal-setting session, where I share insights from the assessment and interviews. Together, we’ll identify clear goals and the best therapeutic pathway for your relationship moving forward.

By the end of this phase, you’ll have a shared understanding of what’s been happening between you and a plan for how we’ll work together to improve your relationship.

Phase 2 – Therapy Sessions

Once we have a clear picture of what’s happening between you, we’ll begin focused sessions aimed at rebuilding trust, improving communication and creating emotional safety. These sessions often include guided conversations, reflection, and practical exercises to help you develop new ways of relating to one another.

Therapy is not about blame or taking sides — it’s about building awareness, learning new skills, and reconnecting in ways that feel genuine and respectful.

Phase 3 – Integration and Practice

Between sessions, couples are encouraged to practise what we’ve explored together. This might include communication tools, small rituals of connection, or strategies for managing conflict. Over time, these new habits help create lasting change.

Phase 4 – Maintenance and Growth

As progress is made, some couples choose to return for occasional check-ins — a chance to reflect on growth, address new challenges, and keep the relationship strong. Just like physical health, emotional connection benefits from regular care.

Who Can Benefit

Couples therapy can support partners who are:

• Struggling with communication or conflict

• Healing from hurt, betrayal, or loss of trust

• Feeling disconnected or emotionally distant

• Adjusting to major life transitions (parenthood, relocation, retirement)

• Wanting to strengthen their relationship, not just repair it

A Collaborative Process

My role is to help both partners feel heard, respected, and understood. Counselling is most effective when both people are committed to the process and open to exploring change. The goal is not simply to “fix” problems, but to strengthen the foundations of your relationship so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.

Fees:

Assessment Phase

• $220 (incl. GST) for the Gottman Connect questionnaire and administration (per couple)

• $308 (incl. GST) for the 90-minute joint session

• $220 (incl. GST) for each 60-minute session (three total)

Total for the assessment phase: $1188 (incl. GST)

This comprehensive assessment phase ensures that therapy begins with a clear understanding of your relationship’s strengths, challenges, and goals. It also ensures that couples therapy, with Grant, is appropriate for you at this time.

Ongoing Couples Counselling

After the assessment phase, most couples continue with regular sessions to deepen insight and practise new communication skills.

• 60-minute session: $220 (incl. GST)

• 90-minute session: $308 (incl. GST)

Sessions are payable at the time of appointment by card or before by invoice.
Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice incur the full session fee, as that time is reserved exclusively for you.

General Duration

Most couples therapy runs between 6 and 20 sessions, depending on the complexity of issues, motivation of both partners, and the approach used. At the later stage of counselling, appointments tend to be spaced apart to help support maintenance and growth.

• Short-term work (6–10 sessions): Often suitable for couples dealing with a specific issue (communication patterns, parenting differences, life transitions, etc.) who are both engaged and motivated to make changes.

• Medium-term work (10–20 sessions): Common for couples where trust repair, repeated conflict, or emotional disconnection are present.

• Longer-term work (20+ sessions): Sometimes needed for deep relational trauma, infidelity recovery, or where long-standing patterns need gradual repair.

Get Started

If you’re ready to begin, you can book an initial session or contact me to learn more.
Let’s start by having a conversation about what’s happening in your relationship and what you hope to change.

📞 Call or text Grant: 0432 280 248
📧 Email: grantfinlay@collaborativeconnectionscounselling.com.au