Couples Counselling in Melbourne
Find your ideal couples therapist today!
Have you been thinking about starting couples counselling in Melbourne? Explore expert therapy with Talk Your Heart Out (TYHO).
Our accredited couples therapists are here to help you work through relationship struggles or simply grow closer as partners.
Meet Our Couples Therapists in Melbourne
Melbourne couples counsellors on TYHO can help you with diverse issues, such as conflict management, emotional disconnect, past trauma and achieving couple goals.
Scroll down to browse couples therapists and click on ‘Book Now’ to schedule an online audio or video therapy session within minutes. If you wish to continue exploring more therapists, click the ‘Find More Couples Therapists in Melbourne’ button below. Feel free to WhatsApp us if you need help!
Mental Health Insights in Melbourne
Relationship Issues Faced In Melbourne
At-Risk Groups for Relationship Issues
Factors Affecting Couples In Melbourne
Seeking help
~1400 couples in Melbourne and surrounding areas receive couples counselling annually
Common pressures
Work commitments, individual mental health struggles & financial stress are the top 3 pressures
Financial stress
Financial struggles and increasing cost of living contribute to strained relationships in Melbourne
Therapy results
Couples see improvements in communication, trust, and emotional connection post-therapy
Barriers to Seeking Couples Therapy in Melbourne
When starting couples counselling in Melbourne, many couples face challenges such as stigma around mental health, long wait times for therapy, GP referral requirements, and busy schedules.
The Centre for Muslim Wellbeing (CMW) notes that people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and refugee communities in Victoria often face unique challenges and barriers, such as a lack of a sense of belonging, identity, cultural and language barriers, intergenerational conflicts, stigma and taboo surrounding mental illness. Given the fact that a majority of Australia’s CALD population resides in Victoria, these hurdles can make it even harder for them to find the right therapist.
At TYHO, we aim to provide high-quality, accessible mental health care to everyone through:
- Easy-to-schedule online sessions (audio and video)
- Quick access to expert psychologists (ie no GP referral needed)
- Transparent pricing policies and bulk session discounts
- Access to a wide pool of culturally sensitive psychologists
We’re also working towards integrating Medicare rebates and insurance coverage soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) How long is each couples counselling session and how many will we need to attend?
Each couples counselling session at TYHO lasts for 60 minutes (1 hour).
The exact number of couples counselling sessions needed varies depending on each couple’s goals and the issues they seek to address in therapy.
While the average Australian couple engages in 6 to 20 sessions, it’s important to remember that this isn’t a universal timeline. Some issues may be resolved in fewer sessions, while other goals may take longer to achieve. Additionally, many couples choose to continue therapy in the long run through follow-up and booster sessions.
When it comes to session frequency, it’s recommended to start with weekly sessions to achieve the best results. Ultimately, your Melbourne couples therapist will work collaboratively with you to plan the exact duration and frequency based on your needs, schedule and preferences.
2) How much do couples counselling sessions cost in Melbourne?
On our platform, the cost to see couples therapists in Melbourne ranges from A$180 (for care therapists) to A$290 (for empathy and expert therapists).
At TYHO, our aim is to offer reasonably priced services at all times. We provide a 6% discount for a package costing A$600 to A$1199 and an 8% discount for a package costing A$1200 to A$5000.
3) Can we claim couples counselling sessions on Medicare?
TYHO plans to integrate Medicare in the near future to make couples counselling more accessible. In the meantime, you can still save by purchasing sessions in packages.
4) Do both partners need to attend every session of couples therapy in Melbourne?
It’s generally recommended that both partners attend couples counselling in Melbourne together. This is especially true at the beginning, to build a shared understanding of goals and relationship dynamics. Additionally, the focus of couples therapy is on the ‘couple’ and not just the partners as individuals.
However, your Melbourne couples therapist may suggest individual sessions in some cases, such as:
- Sessions to address personal issues that are impacting the relationship, such as individual mental health struggles or addiction. These can happen before or alongside joint couples therapy sessions.
- In situations where one partner is unable to attend a session (due to a schedule conflict or other reasons), but the other wishes to still engage in it.
Thus, while some therapists may also conduct individual sessions alongside joint sessions, both partners are always encouraged to attend couples counselling together for the best therapeutic outcomes.
5) Do we need a GP referral to see a TYHO couples therapist in Melbourne?
No, a GP referral or healthcare plan is not required to engage in couples counselling on our platform. You can get started with Melbourne couples therapists on TYHO through these three simple steps:
- Step 1: Log in or create a TYHO account
- Step 2: Review couples counsellor profiles and find the right fit
- Step 3: Pay and book your session!
TYHO couples therapists also provide after-hour sessions and same-day bookings to make therapy more accessible and flexible for everyone. If you’d like additional support with finding the right Therapist, feel free to reach out to our team at [email protected]!
6) How do we choose the right couples therapist in Melbourne?
Choosing the right couples counsellor in Melbourne can feel daunting. But here’s a quick guide to help you and your partner with the process:
- Step 1: Identify your goals for therapy
Do you want to address a particular relationship struggle, like communication gaps or intimacy issues? Or are you looking to deepen your bond and grow together as a couple? Sit down with your partner to note down the issues you are facing and what you’d like to achieve through therapy.
Identifying your exact therapy goals can help you understand which type of therapy, approach and professional will be ideal for you.
- Step 2: Explore different types of therapy services
We recommend exploring different types of therapy and approaches after you note down your therapy goals.
Some couples benefit from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) while others may see progress with Gottman’s method couples therapy. By understanding different approaches, you can easily shortlist couples counsellors who use your preferred approach.
However, we’d like to remind you that this step is not a requirement on your part. Most professionals on TYHO use a holistic, integrated approach that draws on various therapeutic modalities. During your initial sessions, your couples therapist will create a tailored plan and approach that suits your unique needs and goals.
- Step 3: Review profiles and shortlist couples therapists in Melbourne
Based on your inferences from the above steps, ie your goals and preferred approach(es), take some time to review and shortlist profiles of couples counsellors in Melbourne.
On our platform, you can browse each couples therapist’s detailed profile, including their educational background, the issues they help with, the languages they speak, and the approaches they use in sessions. If you’re engaging in therapy to focus on a particular issue, look for couples therapists who specialise in the area.
You can also watch introductory videos of Therapists to understand what a session with them may look like. Remember, it’s important for both partners to feel comfortable and safe with the Therapist.
- Step 4: Book your first session
Once you’ve shortlisted your list of couples therapists in Melbourne, all you need to do is go through a final round of review and book your first session with one that feels right for you.
Remember: The pressure of trying to find the ‘perfect’ couples therapist can sometimes be counterproductive. We therefore encourage you to follow the above steps and go into your initial sessions with an open mind. Building trust and rapport between clients and therapists takes time, just as in any other relationship.
However, if you feel like you’re not connecting with the Therapist or that they don’t align with your needs, you can always switch to a different Melbourne couples counsellor on our platform.
7) Is online couples counselling available if I live outside Melbourne?
Yes, online couples counselling at TYHO is available even if you live outside Melbourne.
Online couples therapy has several unique advantages, including making support accessible to those who live in regional or rural areas around Melbourne or anywhere in Victoria.
As soon as you shortlist a Melbourne couples therapist based on your needs, you can select your preferred date and time slot, and book your session by making a payment. The only requirement to connect with our Therapists through online sessions is a stable internet connection and a device with audio/video capabilities.
8) What can I do if my partner is unsure about starting couples counselling in Melbourne?
Choosing to start couples counselling in Melbourne is a big step, although a positive and rewarding one. It’s thus normal for one partner to feel apprehensive about engaging in it.
Below are some helpful tips to navigate this situation:
- Have an open conversation with your partner about why they feel unsure. Listen to their perspective and address any fears or misconceptions. Acknowledge and validate their feelings before gently explaining your reasons for wanting therapy as well.
- Provide factual information and resources to help them understand the process. You can also encourage them to do their own research and read testimonials from other people who have engaged in therapy.
- Reassure your partner that many couples seek couples therapy, and that it’s a sign of strength, not weakness. In fact, it’s an investment in and commitment to your relationship.
- If you know someone who has been to couples therapy, suggest meeting them with your partner. Hearing about their experience and clarifying concerns can help normalise the idea of therapy.
- Assure them that Melbourne couples therapists maintain strict confidentiality, ensuring a safe space and proceeding only at a pace that works for both of you.
- Suggest attending one session as a trial to experience the process without the pressure to commit to future sessions.
If your partner is still unsure about trying couples counselling even after all these steps, you can still consider engaging in individual counselling in Melbourne.