Most couples who book their first therapy session sit in the car for a few extra minutes before walking in. Sometimes one of them has been dragged.
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Most couples who book their first therapy session sit in the car for a few extra minutes before walking in. Sometimes one of them has been dragged. Sometimes both of them are not sure they should be there. Sometimes one of them is not even sure the relationship can survive the next month.
If any of that sounds familiar, you are in extremely normal company. This guide is the honest version of what couples therapy actually involves in Australia, what it costs, and what realistic outcomes look like.
Couples therapy in Australia typically involves both partners attending sessions together with a psychologist or counsellor. Sessions are usually 60 to 90 minutes, every one to two weeks initially. Many couples attend somewhere between 8 and 20 sessions. Couples therapy is not currently covered by Medicare in most situations because it is not a treatment for an individual mental health diagnosis. It is generally a private, out-of-pocket cost. Therapists do not take sides. Two widely researched approaches are Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method. Couples therapy works best when both partners are committed to the process, even if one is more sceptical than the other.
The first session is mostly about understanding. The therapist will want to know how you got here, what is happening now, and what you each hope might change. Expect questions about:
You will probably both speak. The therapist will manage the conversation so it does not become an argument, but they will not stop you from being honest. They will likely notice patterns, like who interrupts, who shuts down, who escalates, who shifts the topic. They are mapping the dynamic, not judging anyone.
Many therapists also do one or two individual sessions early on, where each partner attends alone. This is to understand each person's history, attachment style, and any individual factors that shape how they show up in the relationship.
No. A trained couples therapist holds the relationship as the client, not either individual. This is one of the things that makes couples therapy fundamentally different from individual therapy.
That does not mean the therapist will not call out behaviour. If something one partner is doing is harmful, dismissive, or escalating the conflict, a good therapist will name it. But they will also do the same to the other partner. The job is to help the couple see the patterns they are stuck in, not to crown a winner.
If you ever feel a therapist is genuinely siding against one of you over time, that is worth raising directly with them. A good therapist welcomes that feedback.
This varies enormously, but a common pattern is:
Most couples doing meaningful work see somewhere between 8 and 20 sessions. Some are done in 6. Some need 30 or more, particularly if there has been infidelity, long-standing resentment, or trauma in the picture.
What matters more than session count is the gap between sessions. Weekly or fortnightly tends to work better in the active phase. Once a month rarely creates enough momentum to shift entrenched patterns.
Generally, no. The Better Access scheme that funds Medicare rebates for psychology covers individual treatment for diagnosed mental health conditions. Couples therapy is not classified as treatment for an individual condition, so it does not attract a rebate in most cases.
There are a few exceptions worth asking your GP about:
It is worth checking your private health policy and asking the practice directly when you book.
Fees vary by city, practitioner experience, and session length. As a guide, in 2026:
Couples sessions are often longer (75 to 90 minutes) than individual sessions, so the per-session cost is higher than typical individual therapy. Without Medicare rebates, this is a real consideration. Many practices offer a complimentary phone consultation so you can sense-check the fit before committing.
Honest answer: it depends on what you mean by fix.
What couples therapy does well is help two people understand the patterns they are stuck in, develop better tools for navigating conflict, repair ruptures, and decide together what they want the relationship to be. Research on Emotionally Focused Therapy and Gottman-informed approaches supports their use for relationship distress, though every couple's experience is different.
What couples therapy cannot do:
Sometimes the most useful outcome of couples therapy is a clear, mutual decision to separate well, with less collateral damage to children and to each person's mental health. That is also a successful outcome.
The couples we see at Unbound usually arrive after a period of trying to fix things on their own. Most are not in crisis. Many are functional on the outside and quietly miserable on the inside.
Our approach is to take time in the first few sessions to genuinely understand the dynamic before recommending a direction. We draw primarily on Emotionally Focused Therapy, which works with the underlying attachment patterns that drive the surface conflict, and on Gottman-informed practical communication tools. Both have strong evidence bases for relationship distress.
We are honest with couples about what therapy can and cannot do. If we form the view that one partner is fundamentally not engaged, or that the relationship is not safe, we will say so. We see clients at our two clinics, Kingswood (Nepean Health Hub) and Gledswood Hills (Gregory Hills Health and Business Centre), and by telehealth across NSW. Couples come to us from Glenmore Park, Jordan Springs, Emu Plains, St Marys and nearby suburbs.
Couples often wait too long. Many couples wait years before seeking help, by which point patterns are entrenched and resentment is high. You do not need to wait for a crisis. Reasonable signs it is time to consider couples therapy include:
It is also reasonable to come in for a tune-up when nothing is dramatically wrong, just to strengthen the foundation. Some couples come back for a few sessions every couple of years.
If you would like to learn more about what therapy involves generally, our guide to what to expect at your first psychology session covers the basics, and our piece on how to find a good psychologist includes guidance on choosing a couples therapist specifically.
The therapist gathers history about your relationship, what brings you in now, and what you each hope might change. Both partners typically speak. The therapist will manage the conversation so it does not escalate, and may schedule a separate individual session with each of you in the first few weeks.
No. A trained couples therapist holds the relationship as the client and works to help both of you see the patterns you are stuck in. They will name harmful behaviour from either partner, but the goal is never to crown a winner.
Most couples doing meaningful work need between 8 and 20 sessions. Some are done in 6. Where there has been infidelity, long-standing resentment, or trauma, it can take 30 or more. Weekly or fortnightly cadence works better than monthly in the active phase.
It can help many couples where both partners are willing to engage. Research on Emotionally Focused Therapy and Gottman-informed approaches supports their use for relationship distress, though every couple's experience is different. It cannot fix a relationship where one partner is fundamentally checked out, where there is ongoing unaddressed abuse, or where one partner has already decided to leave.
Generally not, because Medicare's Better Access scheme funds individual treatment for diagnosed mental health conditions, and couples therapy does not fit that category. Some private health funds cover counselling under extras. It is worth checking your policy.
Roughly $120 to $200 per 60 minutes for a counsellor, $200 to $280 per 60 minutes for a registered psychologist, and $250 to $400 per 60 to 90 minutes for a clinical psychologist or experienced couples therapist. Couples sessions are often 75 to 90 minutes, which is longer than typical individual sessions, so the cost per session is usually higher.
Unbound Minds offers couples therapy across Western Sydney. We work with couples at all stages, from "we are mostly fine but want to be better" to "we are not sure if we want to stay together." If you'd like to talk about whether we're a good fit, call 1300 151 110. No referral is needed to book.
Sitting in the car park before walking in is a very normal part of this. So is feeling cautiously hopeful afterwards.
Not sure where to start?
Call and we’ll talk it through with you. No GP referral needed.
More guides and articles from our psychologists.
Locations
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KingswoodLevel 3, 302/13 Barber Avenue, Kingswood. We call from (02) 8528 4620.
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Unbound Minds provides general mental health information and professional psychological services. This website is not a substitute for personalised advice, diagnosis or treatment.