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I’m Elaine, an ACA Registered Level 2 Counsellor with over 10 years of experience and a strong focus on relationship and couples counselling in Adelaide.

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I work in a relational, experiential and attachment-focused way, helping couples slow things down so we can understand what is really happening beneath conflict, distance or repeated patterns. Rather than focusing only on communication strategies, I support couples to notice and shift the emotional dynamics that sit underneath their difficulties.

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My approach is grounded in attachment theory and draws on Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman-informed couples counselling, Gestalt Therapy and Narrative Therapy. This allows us to work in both the present moment and the deeper relational history that shapes how you respond to each other.

 

How I work with couples

In sessions, I help couples:

• slow down reactive patterns so you can understand what is really being triggered

• feel heard and understood by both partners in the room

• identify stuck cycles of conflict, withdrawal or miscommunication

• rebuild emotional safety and connection

• gain new perspectives on your relationship that often feel clarifying and transformative

• move from blame and disconnection toward understanding and repair
   

My style is very present, engaged and responsive. I pay close attention to both verbal and non-verbal dynamics, helping you notice patterns that can be difficult to see when you are in the middle of them. Many couples describe this as gaining a “zoomed out” view of their relationship, where things suddenly make more sense and new possibilities open up.

I am warm, genuine and direct in my approach. I work in a supportive but honest way, helping both partners feel safe enough to be open while also gently challenging unhelpful patterns. Couples often say that our sessions continue to stay with them at home, and they find themselves asking, “What would Elaine say about this?” when they notice old patterns returning.

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Cross-cultural and communication experience

Alongside my counselling work, I hold a joint honours degree in French and Spanish and have lived in several countries over the course of my life. This has given me a deep appreciation for cultural difference, communication styles, and the ways relationships can be shaped by language, identity and background.

This experience supports my work with couples from diverse cultural backgrounds and helps me understand the complexity that can arise when people are navigating differences in communication, values or life experience.

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Who I work with

Couples often come to see me when they are experiencing:
communication breakdown, recurring conflict, emotional distance, trust issues, infidelity, parenting stress, anxiety in relationships, life transitions, or uncertainty about the future of their relationship.

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Others come because they want to strengthen and deepen an already stable relationship and communicate more effectively. I welcome proactive couples and individuals just as much as those in more difficult or crisis points in their relationship. Many of the most meaningful changes happen when couples choose to come in early, before patterns become more entrenched.

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What to expect

How many sessions do we need?
This varies depending on your goals and the complexity of what you’re working through. Some couples attend short-term focused work (6–10 sessions), while others prefer longer-term support for deeper relational patterns. We will regularly review progress together.

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Can I come alone if my partner doesn’t want to attend?
Yes. Many people begin couples counselling individually when their partner is unsure or unwilling to attend. This can still be very helpful in understanding relationship dynamics, clarifying your needs, and exploring how you want to respond moving forward.

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What happens in the first session?
The first session is about understanding your relationship story, what has brought you to counselling, and what you are hoping to change. I will also get a sense of the patterns between you and begin to identify the dynamics that may be keeping you stuck. It is a space for both partners to feel heard and for us to begin building a shared understanding of the relationship.

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My training and approach

My work is informed by over 2,000 hours of clinical counselling practice and seven years of specialising in relationship and couples counselling.

My approach integrates Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman-informed relationship counselling, Attachment Theory, Gestalt Therapy and Narrative Therapy, alongside advanced training and applied learning experiences in contemporary relationship therapy approaches, including the work of Esther Perel, Ellyn Bader and Terry Real.

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A final note

Sometimes couples arrive feeling unsure whether their relationship can change. My role is to help you slow things down, understand what is happening beneath the surface, and create space for new ways of relating to emerge. Many couples find that even small shifts in understanding can create significant change in how they connect at home.

 

Let’s work together

If you are looking for couples counselling in Adelaide or support with relationship difficulties, you are welcome to get in touch to book a session or ask any questions.