Relationship Counselling

Relationship Counselling

Relationship counselling is a powerful tool for couples who are experiencing challenges in their romantic partnership. Dr. Stan Tatkin and John and Julie Gottmann are two influential experts in the field of relationship counselling who have contributed valuable insights to this practice.

Dr. Stan Tatkin is a renowned therapist and author who focuses on helping couples develop secure and lasting relationships. He emphasizes the importance of understanding each partner's attachment style and how it affects their interactions. Tatkin's approach emphasizes building a strong foundation of trust, empathy, and communication, which can help couples resolve conflicts and deepen their emotional connection.

John and Julie Gottmann, on the other hand, are pioneers in the field of couples therapy and have developed the Gottman Method, a research-based approach to relationship counselling. Their method is based on decades of scientific research and focuses on teaching couples practical skills to manage conflict, improve communication, and strengthen their bond. They also emphasize the importance of building a positive relationship culture that fosters appreciation, fondness, and admiration between partners.

Together, the insights of Dr. Stan Tatkin and John and Julie Gottmann offer a comprehensive approach to relationship counselling that can help couples navigate the challenges of maintaining a healthy and fulfilling partnership. Through a combination of understanding attachment styles, developing practical communication skills, and building a positive relationship culture, couples can work towards creating a secure and loving connection that lasts a lifetime.

Get relationship counselling support from a therapist today.

Human beings are relational by nature, so it goes that the quality of our relationships dictate the quality of our lives. The way we show up in our relationships is often due to the early lived experiences with our parents, loved ones and friends. These relationships shape how we view ourselves and the world around us. Some people are very fortunate to have had secure role models in their formative years, who then go on to form healthy relationships into their adult lives. Whilst others through no fault of their own, experience dysfunctional relating dynamics resulting in painful patterns of thinking and behaviour.

However even people with secure functioning relationships can get stuck from time to time and those that have not had healthy models of relating can become securely functioning and attached. Couples often just need the skills, tools and awareness to help them get them back on track.

Adults seeking relationship counselling support is one of the key first steps in developing healthier relationships. With the help of a compassionate and understanding Gestalt therapist, you and your partner can start the path to a richer, more fulfilling relationship.

At the Relational Clinic, our resident Gestalt therapist is Nate Petersen, a PACFA-registered Counsellor and Gestalt psychotherapist. Nate has a particular interest in relationship work and can help you and your partner find better ways to navigate the various issues that impact relationships. He also draws from the work of a few well-known experts in the field especially John and Julie Gottman and Dr. Stan Taktin.

Book an appointment

Whether you and your partner are dealing with conflict, trust, infidelity, intimacy, communication issues or navigating a seperation, the compassionate team at the Relational Clinic are here to help you both move forward. With years of real-world, lived psychotherapy experience and a passion for helping people achieve their desired relational goals, you can trust us to be your guide in that process.

Feel free to contact us to learn more about our services, or book an appointment and begin your journey to a healthier functioning relationship.

FAQs

  • Here at the relational clinic we are trained Gestalt practitioners, so the foundation upon which we work with couples is relationally based. We focus on helping couples raise their awareness in the present moment, by doing so couples can see first hand the impact they are having on each other and how this might be getting in the way of a secure functioning relationship. Couples also get to explore their own subjective experiences, beliefs and ideas in the presence of the other, and how seeing the world this way impacts the quality of their relationship(s) and their lives.

    We also incorporate the great work of both Dr. Stan Tatkin and John and Julie Gottman. Couples will learn and experience how their early attachment styles impact how they see and show up in relationships as well as learning, based on research, what a sound secure functioning relationship typically looks like. Couples will learn how to work on these areas together, and develop strategies that will help them navigate the inevitable challenges of life and coupleship.

  • The length of time it takes for couples to work through their relationship challenges and learn new ways of relating issues depends on many factors. A commitment from both people to show up and do the work is required and typically most couples come weekly or fortnightly to help the work integrate properly.

    Ultimately, the therapist and the client determine the length of a therapy session. A typical therapy session is 60 minutes in length.

  • Gestalt Psychotherapy in conjunction with the skills couples learn in therapy is very effective in helping couples move towards a more secure functioning relationship. Couples often describe finding a new found appreciation and understanding of their partner and how by taking responsibility for the relationship and their role in it, leads to better relationship outcomes. People will often comment they wish they’d done it sooner, now having their own relational roadmap.