Couples Therapy at Compass Therapy Australia
Supporting Healthy, Resilient Relationships
At Compass Therapy, we offer couples therapy tailored to helping partners strengthen their connection, resolve conflicts, and foster deeper intimacy – without the therapist ever taking sides.
Our approach is inclusive, welcoming couples of all relationship types. Including same-sex, polyamorous, and non-traditional arrangements. With Level 3 Gottman Couples Therapy training, we are committed to providing effective, evidence-based support for couples at any stage of their relationship.
A Relationship-Centered Philosophy
We view the relationship itself as the client, rather than individual partners. This ensures an unbiased approach. This enables the therapist to evaluate behaviours based on whether they nourish or harm the relationship, without any bias toward individual partners/fault.
Our focus is on the relationship’s health and vitality, fostering growth from a place of shared commitment and mutual respect.
Our Approach – Gottman Level 3 Trained
We utilise the Gottman Method, a research-backed framework designed to disarm conflict, increase respect and affection, and create a deeper sense of shared meaning. The first session is comprehensive, lasting 4.5 hours and involving a psychometric test battery completed prior to the session.
It begins with both partners together, exploring the strengths of the relationship, how they met, and laying out the therapy structure. The subsequent hours involve individual sessions with each partner, followed by a half hour break, then the final hour is used by the clinician to outline the treatment plan; outlining the specific strengths and areas for development within the relationship, and the corresponding specific skills/protocols to help aid with each.
This intensive initial process helps develop a tailored plan to foster healing and growth.
The Therapy Process
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Subsequent therapy sessions are typically structured into sessions of at least three-hour blocks, which research indicates minimises conflict and emotional injury between sessions.
These multi-hour sessions can be scheduled over consecutive days or weeks, with a preferred setup of 3-8 hours per day over two weeks (marathon therapy), as this has been shown to be most effective.
Standard ongoing sessions are not covered by Medicare and require all partners’ presence and willingness to participate.
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Couples therapy is only effective when all parties are committed and willing to work collaboratively. It cannot serve as a mediation or conflict resolution service when one partner refuses to address ongoing issues, such as active affairs that have not been ceased.
In some cases, individual therapy may be recommended before engaging in couples therapy to address personal issues that could impede progress.
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Our primary goals include disarming destructive verbal communication, increasing intimacy, respect, and affection, removing barriers to fulfilment, and fostering empathy and mutual understanding. Over time, therapy aims to strengthen your relationship by improving communication, reinforcing friendship, and developing a shared purpose and meaning.
Get Started Today
If your relationship is at a crossroads or simply in need of revitalisation, don’t hesitate to contact us. Together, we can work toward building a more loving, resilient, and fulfilling partnership.
Book your initial consultation and take the first step toward transforming your relationship into a source of strength and joy.
