Couples counselling - Deep connection, friendship and erotic aliveness

Maybe you can't remember the last time you had sex that wasn't predictable. Or the last time you felt genuinely curious about each other. Maybe you're stuck in the same fight, the one that starts with something small and ends with one of you walking away.

Maybe you're a great team. You parent well, run the household well, support each other through the hard stuff. But somewhere along the way, attraction faded and you don’t know how to turn it back on.

You've tried to talk about it. You've tried to ignore it! You've tried to push through. But something still isn't shifting. What if the next step isn't doing more? What if it's doing less? Less striving. Less trying to fix each other.

Effort keeps you in your head and pleasure and connection don't live there. The harder you try to fix the problem, the more stuck you become. So we stop trying. We slow down and we come back to your felt sense and embodiment. At your pace.

Knowing something in your head isn't the same as feeling it in your body/bodies. You can know all the right communication scripts and still not be able to feel your own needs or hear your partner's. That's not a lack of education but a lack of embodiment. And that's what we’re here to help restore in your relationship.


Partner and couple sessions

I bring over 20 years of experience in conflict resolution, mediation, and systems change to my couples work. I'm trained in Gottman Method and Couples Institute frameworks - research-backed approaches for communication, desire discrepancy, and repair after conflict.

But my primary orientation is process-oriented psychology. That means I follow what's emerging between you, rather than imposing a formula. We get curious about the patterns you're caught in - the ones you can feel but can't seem to name.

I also draw on somatic sexology, which means I understand how these patterns live in the body, not just in the mind - and why talking alone isn't always enough to shift them. My job is to help you see those patterns and give you practical tools to shift them. Sessions are:

  • 80 mins long and $220 per session (inc. GST)

  • In-person in Armidale or online across Australia

  • Unfortunately, Medicare rebates are not available but please do reach out if cost is a barrier

  • If you’d like to connect prior to booking, email kylie@theembodiedpractice.com.au or text 0433531433 and I’ll get back to you within 24 hours

Frequently asked questions

  • Yes, absolutely. Many couples wait longer than they need to because they feel embarrassed or unsure. Creating a space where you can talk openly, without judgment, is at the heart of my work. You don't have to figure this out alone.

  • This varies. Some couples feel a shift within a few sessions. Others choose to come for longer, especially if they're rebuilding trust after infidelity or working through longstanding patterns. We'll check in regularly about what's working.

  • The first session is a conversation. We'll talk about what's bringing you to therapy, what you're hoping for, and how we might work together. It's also a chance for you to get a sense of whether this feels like the right fit. It's completely normal to feel nervous or unsure what to say. There's no pressure to share more than feels comfortable.

  • Yes. Everything discussed in sessions is confidential, with a few legal exceptions (risk of harm to yourself or others, child safety concerns, or if required by law). I'll explain these limits clearly in our first session.

  • Yes. Rebuilding trust after betrayal is one of the most common reasons couples come to see me. My approach is trauma-informed and focuses on repair, communication, and small, concrete steps toward rebuilding trust - not just promises.

  • Yes, but with care. If there's active violence or ongoing safety concerns, specialist domestic violence services are the right first step — and I'll help you connect with them if needed. If the crisis is around infidelity, betrayal, or a major rupture but both partners are physically safe, we can usually begin working together. When in doubt, book a free 15-minute phone consultation. We'll talk through your situation and work out the best path forward.

  • Yes. I see couples online across Australia via Zoom. Both partners can join from separate locations if needed. For some couples, online sessions actually work better — especially if there's been trauma or shame, or if logistics make in-person difficult. Research supports that online therapy can be just as effective as in-person work for relationship concerns.

  • Absolutely. My practice is LGBTQIA+ affirming and inclusive of all relationship configurations.

  • I ask for 24 hours notice where possible.

    For online sessions (paid at time of booking): cancellations with 24+ hours notice receive a full refund.

    For in-person sessions (paid on the day): cancellations with less than 24 hours notice may be charged the full session fee.

    I'm flexible in genuine emergencies.


Support for Men

I focus my practice on working with women and couples. If you're a man seeking individual therapy for sexual concerns, relationship issues, or personal growth, I can refer you to my partner Andrew Lindsay, a registered psychologist practicing in Guyra who works with men and couples.

Please note, Andrew is unavailable for bookings until August 2026.

Portrait of a middle-aged man with a beard and bald head, wearing a white shirt, outdoors with greenery in the background.

What you’ll gain

Over time, you'll learn to have more choice in how you respond to each other - breaking old patterns and creating new ways of connecting that actually work for both of you including:

  • Conflict repair sequences so arguments don't leave lasting damage

  • Communication skills for naming what you need without blame or shutdown

  • How to turn toward each other even during disagreement

  • Tools for mismatched desire understanding the different types of desire and how to bridge the gap

  • Sensate focus and touch practices (client-directed) to reconnect with pleasure and each other

  • How to rebuild trust - small, concrete steps, not just promises

  • How to recognise the patterns keeping you stuck - the ones you can feel but couldn't name

  • Navigating life transitions together such as menopause, illness, parenthood, retirement