Online Couples
Counselling Australia
Compassionate Online Relationship & Telehealth Therapy
Relationship counselling by secure video call,
with Gottman-trained counsellors,
wherever you are in Australia or overseas.
For married couples
Online marriage counselling for couples at any stage of marriage, from the early years to decades in.
ADHD Couples Therapy
For couples where one or both have ADHD
Online ADHD couples therapy that is affirming and informed, focused on how each of your brains works, not on what’s “wrong”. No diagnosis required.
Online Relationship Therapy
For every couple
Online relationship counselling with a Gottman-trained counsellor, whatever stage you are at. LGBTQIA+ couples are welcome.
Wherever you are, you don't have to work this out on your own.
What is online couples counselling?
Online couples counselling is relationship counselling by secure video call, with both of you and your counsellor, from wherever you are. At Lighthouse Relationships every counsellor is trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and sessions are available across Australia and overseas. You don't need a referral.
Is online couples counselling right for us?
If getting to a counselling office every week is the thing standing in your way, online may suit you.
Couples often choose it when:
they have full, busy lives, and appreciate saving time not driving to therapy
they live in a regional or remote area, or a long way from a couples specialist
one partner works FIFO, shifts, or travels for work
they have young children and opportunities are scarce
they live in different cities, or one of them is overseas
they would simply feel more at ease talking from their own lounge room
Where and when are sessions available?
Anywhere in Australia, and overseas. All that is needed is a reliable internet connection and a private space. Our office operates on Brisbane time (AEST), however your reminders arrive in your own time zone.
How do we get ready for an online session?
Find a private space where you won't be overheard or interrupted.
Sit together on one screen if you can.
Use a laptop or tablet set at eye level instead of a hand-held phone.
Use headphones if that helps with privacy.
Leave ten minutes free before and after, so you are not rushing in or straight back to work.
Privacy matters more than the technology. In one Australian study, couples said they did not feel comfortable opening up until they knew their space was private (Kysely et al., 2020).
How much does online couples counselling cost?
Our current fees are on our FAQs & Fees page. You don't need to make payment when you book. Medicare rebates do not apply to couples counselling.
What is the Gottman Method?
The Gottman Method is a structured approach to couples therapy developed by Dr John Gottman and Dr Julie Schwartz Gottman. It draws on decades of relationship research and focuses on the patterns that can strengthen connection, trust and friendship, or leave couples feeling stuck, distant or hurt.
Therapy begins with a thorough assessment of your relationship and each partner's perspective. From there, we develop a shared understanding of the concerns that have brought you to therapy and a plan tailored to your goals.
The work may involve learning ways to communicate more openly, manage conflict with greater care, deepen friendship and intimacy, rebuild trust after a breach, and navigate major life changes together. Couples may seek support for recurring conflict, emotional distance, an affair or other rupture of trust, differences in parenting or values, or a transition that has placed pressure on the relationship.
Couples therapy is not about deciding who is right. It offers a supported space to understand recurring patterns, practise new ways of relating, and make considered decisions about the relationship.
Our online couples therapy follows the same steps as counselling in our Clayfield office. The only difference is that you join by video.
Book online. Choose your counsellor and a time that suits you both. No referral is needed, and you don't need to pay when you book.
Join by video. Sessions are on Zoom. We email you the link before your session.
Your first session together. In 50 minutes, your counsellor gets to know you both: what has brought you in, how you met, and what you each hope will change. You don't need to prepare anything.
The Gottman Connect survey. You each complete an online questionnaire on your own. It is tick-a-box and takes most people 45 to 60 minutes.
One session each. Your counsellor meets with each of you individually to hear your side and your hopes.
Your feedback session. Together, you go through your relationship's strengths and sticking points, and your counsellor recommends what to work on.
Ongoing sessions. Most couples then meet weekly or fortnightly. Sessions are 50 minutes, and longer 110 minute sessions are available if you would like more time.
How does online couples counselling work?
Looking for something more specific?
Prefer to meet in person? Couples Therapy in Clayfield, Brisbane, or our two-day Marathon Couples Therapy.
Lighthouse Relationships is not a crisis service. If you need urgent support in Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 000 in an emergency.
Our Team
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Georgia Byles - Couples & Individuals, including ADHD Relationship Counselling
Georgia is an empathic and caring counsellor who is deeply committed to helping individuals and couples move through challenges and to find fulfilment in their lives and in their relationships… read more
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Isabella Bucciol - Couples Therapy Specialist and Individual Counselling
Isabella is an experienced practitioner, with a focus on relationships and family dynamics. She is a Gottman Couples Therapy-trained practitioner. Blending academic knowledge with practical experience... read more
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Josephine Bernoth-Doolan - Couples & Individuals, including ASD & ADHD Relationship Counselling
Josephine is a warm and accepting counsellor who supports neurodiverse and neurotypical individuals and couples to improve communication, understand their differences, and …read more
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Kate Cavdarski - Couples Therapy and Individual Therapy
Kate has a friendly welcoming approach; she helps clients gain fresh insight, and make meaningful progress in life and relationships. Kate is well-versed in both individual and couples therapeutic techniques. As a Gottman trained practitioner.... read more
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Matt James - Couples & Individuals, including ADHD Relationship Counselling
Matt is an experienced and compassionate counsellor specialising in couples therapy, premarriage preparation and with an ongoing interest and expertise in individual therapy… read more
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Nahum Kozak - Psychologist Couples & Individuals
Note: Nahum is not currently taking new clients. Nahum is a warm, friendly psychologist providing a range of therapeutic techniques via couples therapy and individual psychology sessions. He also provides supervision to psychologists and counsellors… read more
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Megan Kozak - Director & Couples Therapy Specialist
Note: Megan is not currently taking new clients. Megan is Lighthouse Relationships’ Director and Couples Therapy Specialist; a trusted and safe pair of hands. A recognised authority in helping couples build a love that lasts… read more
Questions about
online couples
counselling
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For some couples, yes, according to early research, though the evidence is still limited. A small Australian randomised trial of 30 couples found no significant difference between video and face-to-face sessions in relationship satisfaction, mental health, or how well couples worked with their therapist (Kysely et al., 2022). That study used a short six-session skills program, not the Gottman Method, and the couples had mild relationship distress, so it cannot tell us the results will be the same for every couple.
Experiences vary too. In interviews from the same research group, many couples found video comparable to being in the room, while others preferred to meet face to face (Kysely et al., 2020). Your counsellor will talk with you in your first session about whether online is a good fit for what you are facing.
References: Kysely, A., Bishop, B., Kane, R. T., McDevitt, M., De Palma, M., & Rooney, R. (2022). Couples therapy delivered through videoconferencing: Effects on relationship outcomes, mental health and the therapeutic alliance. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 773030. Kysely, A., Bishop, B., Kane, R., Cheng, M., De Palma, M., & Rooney, R. (2020). Expectations and experiences of couples receiving therapy through videoconferencing: A qualitative study. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2992.
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Yes. Sessions take place on Zoom, and your counsellor is bound by the same confidentiality and privacy obligations as in person. The part you control is your end of the call, so choose a space where you won't be overheard. Privacy Policy
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No. Sitting together on one screen is ideal, but partners can join from two different places if they need to.
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That's very common. It's normal for one partner to feel more ready than the other. The first session is a chance for you both to meet your counsellor, ask questions, and see how it feels before deciding anything further.
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Yes. Sessions are available anywhere in Australia and overseas. Session times are set in Brisbane time (AEST).
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It varies from couple to couple. Many couples attend between 12 and 20 sessions. We suggest booking your first 10 so you can keep a regular time that works for you both. How many sessions should we book?
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No. You can book directly online. Medicare rebates and mental health care plans do not apply to couples counselling.
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Yes. All of our counsellors welcome LGBTQIA+ couples. LGBTQIA+ Relationship Counselling