Couples Counselling Singapore | Couples Therapy Singapore

Couples Counselling

How Couples Counselling Works on TYHO

Choose Your Counsellor

Browse through TYHO Counsellors’ profiles, watch their videos, and find the perfect fit for your needs.

Book a Session

Check your Counsellor’s availability and schedule your session for a convenient day and time.

Start Counselling

Join online sessions (video/audio) from anywhere or attend in-person sessions at the provided address.

Our Couple Counsellors in Singapore

Connie

Professional Counsellor

Connie is an experienced counsellor who is able to help clients with a variety of issues such as stress, anxiety, cultural adjustment, and LGBTQ issues…View more

Danial

Professional Counsellor

Danial works with individuals facing anxiety, stress, depression, burnout, self-esteem and relationship issues… View more

Punitha

Counselling Psychologist

Punitha is an experienced psychologist who specialises in couples therapy, self-harm, addictions, trauma and PTSD, burnout & childhood issues… View more

Abigail

Psychotherapist and Counsellor

Abigail specialises in separation, grief and loss, relationship issues, couples counselling, existential issues, trauma & PTSD.… View more

What You’ll Get From Couples Counselling

There are no right or wrong reasons to seek couples counselling. Most couples opt for couples counselling to sort out their differences and forge stronger bonds.

Prioritise Accountability

Develop practises that promote a safe and trusting space within the relationship.

Foster Mutual Respect

Develop tools to appreciate each other's outlooks to create a basis of mutual respect.

Explore Intimacy

Engage in exercises to foster intimacy, trust, and connection at emotional and physical levels.

Prevent Conflicts

Gain insights into triggers that lead to conflicts, and take proactive steps in conflict prevention.

Build Resilience

Strengthen your resilience as a couple, learning to bounce back from setbacks more easily.

Access Expert Advice and Tools

Access valuable resources and engaging webinars for continuous guidance and support.

Types of Couples Counselling in Singapore

Relationship
Counselling

Premarital
Counselling

Marriage
Counselling

Relationship
Counselling

Relationship Counselling

Relationships can be beautiful, but they also come with their fair share of challenges.

Whether you are a new couple wanting to strengthen your bond or a long-term one experiencing a rough patch, seeking guidance can be incredibly valuable in navigating the complexities of your relationship.

By exploring these areas, you and your partner can set realistic expectations and minimise the likelihood of future misunderstandings.

Some of the relationship issues which may be addressed during relationship counselling are:

Trust issues
Infidelity
Intimacy and sexual difficulties
Emotional disconnection
Cultural or religious differences
Lack of support from extended family
Jealousy and insecurity
Anger and resentment
Decision-making and future planning

Premarital
Counselling

Premarital Counselling

Premarital counselling is an emergent mode of therapy that helps couples prepare to transition into a new phase in their relationship. For example, a married life or a long-term commitment.

Couples have the space to learn how to identify potential points of conflict that could arise in the long run. They can set realistic expectations for their marriage.

Through the guidance of an unbiased professional, couples counselling also helps reduce marital friction.

Some of the relationship issues which may be addressed during premarital counselling are:

Emotional and physical intimacy
Money
Parenting style
Decision to have children
Relationship with extended families
Understand each partner’s perspective and role in their relational dynamics;
Roles and responsibilities
Religious differences
Building trust

Marriage
Counselling

Marriage Counselling

Marriage is a journey filled with love, laughter, and challenges. As you navigate through the ups and downs, it is natural to encounter obstacles along the way.

That is where marriage counselling comes in. Contrary to popular belief, seeking couples counselling is not an admission of failure; instead, it is a proactive step towards fortifying the foundation of your relationship.

With marriage counselling, you and your partner can address any doubts or concerns surrounding marriage. In addition, it is a safe space for open dialogue, allowing you to understand each other’s fears and uncertainties.

Setting realistic expectations for your marriage can significantly reduce the likelihood of future strife and create a nurturing environment.

Marriage counselling can address several concerns. These include the following:

Communication issues
Conflict resolution
Intimacy and emotional connection
Developing trust
Financial disagreements
Infidelity
Sexual issues
Role and expectations
Cultural or religious differences
Adjusting to life transition

Issues People Seek Couples Therapy For

Who is couples counselling for?

How do we know whether to go for couples counselling?

What can I do if my partner does not want to go for couples counselling?

Who is couples counselling for?

We provide couples counselling in Singapore for people seeking help with any emotional issues that may be:

Long-standing,
Deep-seated, and
Difficult to articulate.

Below are the common concerns addressed in couples therapy:

Loss of emotional intimacy or issues with physical intimacy
Frequent misunderstandings, arguments or communication issues
Anger management
Addiction or substance abuse
Infidelity
Gambling
Financial trouble
Relationship with in-laws
Physical or mental health issues
Work commitment, work-life balance or time management issues

How do we know whether to go for couples counselling?

These are some signs to look out for:

No longer enjoy spending quality time with one’s partner
Realising that argument about the same issues surface repeatedly
Often exhibiting a negative attitude towards one’s partner
Realising that one is keeping secrets from one’s partner (or vice versa)
Feeling uncomfortable communicating with one’s partner about problems in the relationship
Feeling indifferent to problems in one’s relationship
Dreading going home to face one’s partner
Realising that there are elements of emotional or physical abuse in one’s relationship
Feeling lonely even when one is around one’s partner

What can I do if my partner does not want to go for couples counselling?

Not everyone is receptive to sharing what goes on in their relationship.

If your partner is resistant to the idea of couples counselling, here are some things you can try:

Communicate the purpose of therapy with your partner

Let your partner know why you are considering couples counselling to improve your relationship, and how you envision it will benefit you both.

Clarifying your intentions and articulating clear goals can also encourage your partner to try therapy together.

Address your partner’s concerns

Ask your partner what aspect of relationship counselling makes them feel uncomfortable. As they share their doubts with you, you can try to address them and understand their position.

In the meantime, try not to get defensive when they share. Listening to your partner attentively can provide them with reassurance and validate their uncertainty.

Further, inquire if there is anything you can do to make them feel less uncomfortable about trying therapy.

This way, both you and your partner are able to get a sense of how couples counselling works and assess its suitability for your relationship.

Talk about therapy in a positive way

Many people are reluctant to go for couples therapy due to the stigma and misconceptions surrounding it.

Gently suggesting therapy as an option and expressing your belief in how it can be a source of support for your relationship can help your partner become more receptive.

Offer to choose a therapist together

You can ask your partner what their ideal therapist is like and involve them in the process of selecting a therapist.

This allows them to choose someone whom they feel they can trust and reduces their anxiety about couples counselling.

Respect your partner’s decision

If you have tried these suggestions and your partner is still not open to going for couples therapy together, respect the fact that not everyone is ready for therapy immediately.

While it may be disheartening, you can try individual counselling first and discuss any issues relating to your relationship with a suitable therapist.

Thereafter, consider sharing your counselling journey with your partner as it might help them feel more open to attending sessions with you.

Observing a positive change in you may encourage your partner to try couples counselling.

What Couples Say

I recently had the pleasure of working with Edmund for couples counselling, and I have to say that it was an incredibly positive experience. Edmund was incredibly empathetic and understanding, and he helped my partner and I resolve communication issues that had been causing a lot of tension in our relationship.

Alyssa is very helpful in helping us as a couple to communicate better, which in turn helps us to understand each other better. She provides practical advise and tools for us to practice as well. I’m glad I’m found out about Alyssa through the platform.

Kayden is very approachable and is able to make me feel very comfortable, as if I have known her for a long time. She is able to unpack the issues shared to find the root cause and how we can work on it without any judgement. She has helped me to identify my emotions and reframe my thinking process. After working with her, I learned to handle my past experience more positively, and learned to better communicate with my partner.

Ser Fee was very professional, patient, warm and friendly. I loved how she always remained calm and supportive, and she provides thoughtful guidance and advice all the time. She is able to bridge the gap between therapist/counsellor and client as I find myself being able to open up to her. I am able to take away various insights from each session with her that have helped to improve my reflections about my personal life and my relationship considerably.

Kayden has provided a very safe space for me and my significant other, where we can share about our relationship openly. She has been very insightful and sensitive, and my relationships with people around me has definitely improved.

Couples Counselling in Singapore: What to Expect

For most, the first few couples counselling sessions may seem unfamiliar and confusing.

There is also an added pressure arising from:

The need to find the right therapist
Cost considerations
Distant location
Lack of willingness for both partners to attend therapy

Your couples therapist will journey with you as you and your partner undertake the following:

Delve into the history of the relationship

When you and your partner meet a therapist for the first time, they may ask you a range of questions.

For example, how you and your partner met; what brought the both of you together; how the relationship has progressed over time; as well as how both partners feel about the relationship at present.

These questions allow them to better understand the dynamics of the relationship. Through this exchange, they will work through with you and your partner on what led the relationship to its current state.

Acknowledge stressors in the relationship

Recognising that there are issues in your relationship can be difficult and at times dispiriting.

However, it is this first step of acknowledgement that prompts you and your partner towards pursuing mutual understanding, acceptance and growth; all of which is helpful in improving your relationship.

During the counselling session, you and your partner can raise the different stressors in the relationship with your couples therapist.

They may take the form of recurring arguments, difficult situations that have been avoided and overlooked, anxiety in light of relationship transitions (eg marriage, parenthood or moving to a new country), or even issues you foresee might become potential points of conflict.

Across these discussions, it is also important to be open and honest with your therapist.

This ensures that your therapist can discern the underlying problems in the relationship and provide the right support for both partners in the relationship.

In the initial meetings with your therapist, you and your partner may find certain topics sensitive and uncomfortable to broach.

Nonetheless, always remember that couples counselling is an avenue that enables safe and confidential exchanges.

Depending on where you are with your therapy, your therapist may also want to have individual sessions with one or both partners.

They may suggest indiviual sessions before commencing couples counselling, or even in between couples sessions, to better understand the issues and concerns of one party.

Address any differences

In a relationship, both partners may come from vastly different backgrounds (eg culture, faith, education or socioeconomic status) or face different contextual circumstances in everyday life (eg support network, profession and workplace environment).

At first glance these factors seem extraneous and unrelated to the problems you and your partner face.

However, they may bring into view why both partners diverge in opinions and come into conflict.

Navigating through these differences with your therapist ensures that both partners arrive at a more comprehensive picture of the problem at hand.

Agree on outcomes and achieve balance

What every couple anticipates out of counselling will differ vastly. There is no universal, one-size-fits-all goal for therapy.

Hence, both partners jointly agreeing on goals together is a crucial part of couples counselling.

Having a common outcome or a goal in mind can help both partners work towards building a healthy and positive relationship with a clearer direction.

A common goal also serves as a constant reminder of what they are striving towards, especially when the same problems resurface.

At the beginning of the couples therapy, arriving at goals can be perplexing as both you and your partner may be new to therapy and unsure of what to expect.

Nonetheless, you can approach your therapist for insights on couples goal setting, and start by agreeing on smaller. You can work on more attainable improvements!

Moreover, do note that these outcomes are not stagnant and may change with time as the dynamics between the couple change.

What matters is that partners remain in communication with each other as they envision the growth of their relationship.

In addition, partners may not immediately see eye to eye with regards to the need for or desired outcome of couples counselling.

In situations where couples have divergent goals, it is important to find and maintain a balance in the relationship.

The perspective each partner has can be shared with your therapist, where negotiations on what to focus on first can take place.

Bear in mind that couples counselling involves collaboration and compromise, and your therapist is there to help you do that.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of couples counselling?

How long does couples therapy go for?

How does online couples counselling work?

What can I do after going for couples counselling?

What is the cost of couples counselling?

In Singapore, the cost of couples counselling for an hour-long session typically ranges from S$160 to S$300, depending on the organisation or platform approached.

These charges are subject to slight variations as some organisations do offer package rates.

At Talk Your Heart Out, we strive to keep our prices transparent, competitive and affordable while still providing access to quality marriage counselling services.

For information on pricing, please refer to our pricing page.

View Pricing

How long does couples therapy go for?

There is no stipulated timeline for how long couples counselling lasts as the dynamics of every relationship and the motivations for seeking therapy can differ from couple to couple.

Several factors that result in the varying length of therapy include:

Nature and Complexity of Issue(s)

As mentioned previously, there is a myriad of reasons couples decide to go for therapy together.

On the one hand, some couples are looking for support only at a particular point in their relationship.

For instance, where couples are making the transition into marriage, premarital couples counselling may span only for a few sessions.

On the other hand, some couples may be dealing with long-standing communication problems.

Such issues may have plagued their entire relationship and they may turn to couples counselling for long-term support.

Commitment and Frequency of Sessions

Partners may have vastly different schedules and may not be able to commit to counselling sessions at regular intervals.

The low frequency of sessions can potentially prolong the length of couples counselling.

Engagement Across Sessions

The idea of couples therapy is often foreign to many. As such, the readiness to engage in therapy sessions varies among couples and even between partners.

Couples who struggle and find it hard to open up to each other and their therapist may need to attend couples counselling for a longer period of time.

Conversely, couples who demonstrate positive therapeutic engagement by being fully present at sessions are likely to observe positive developments in their relationship more quickly.

How does online couples counselling work?

On Talk Your Heart Out, we offer couples counselling through an online medium (ie via video / audio). F

or many couples, online counselling is preferred as it is more streamlined and accessible than an in-person visit.

These are some reasons why couples would opt for online counselling:

Location

When both partners are residing in different countries, online counselling may be more applicable as it overcomes the geographical barriers couples may face.

It allows both parties, regardless of distance and time difference, to attend the sessions together.

Uncertainty with Traditional Therapy

Couples may find in-person therapy challenging and uncomfortable, especially because it involves the physical presence of all parties.

Hence, access to online counselling services reduces the stigma surrounding therapy and the initial apprehension that may come with couples who are trying out therapy for the first time.

Comfort

Couples who prefer to attend counselling in a more familiar and casual environment may find online counselling to be a perk as it can take place in the comfort of their homes.

Work

Some partners may be in occupations where they have to frequently travel.

In these situations, online therapy would, similarly, be more beneficial and convenient as hectic travelling schedules would not compromise the opportunity to seek of therapy.

What can I do after going for couples counselling?

Reflect at your own pace

Take time between sessions to process what has been shared during therapy and ponder over the input from your therapist.

Both partners can take a few moments after each session to pen down what goes on in their mind and revisit them later when they feel more ready to take on these thoughts.

Reflecting on the conversation between you, your partner and your therapist can help to increase your awareness and understanding of the present issue or situation.

Consistent reflection also allows regulation of your emotions and helps prepare yourself for the next session without feeling overwhelmed.

Affirm effort and change

Review the progress you and your partner have made since going for couples counselling. Celebrate all attempts – however small – at improving the relationship.

Change and adaptation take courage and time. For your partner, your affirmation lets them know that their efforts are being recognised and allows them to feel appreciated.

This can be particularly uplifting and reassuring when your partner is facing difficulty adjusting to new habits.

Check in and consider next steps

After several meetings with your therapist, it may be useful to check in on how your partner is feeling about the past couples counselling sessions and share your takeaways with them.

Both partners can schedule a recurring time to assess if the objectives and desired outcomes that were agreed upon at the beginning of couples counselling have been met.

Beyond that, both partners can also start to consider what is their next step forward with regards to their relationship.

Couples Counselling SG