Relationship Therapy for Deeper Connection and Healing
Our Belief
Relationships can be deeply meaningful and deeply challenging at the same time. Many couples seek therapy not because they have failed, but because they care enough about their relationship to slow down, understand what is happening between them, and find new ways of relating.
Our process is goals-driven, trauma-informed, and affirming
At The Connection Ground, couple therapy (also known as relationship therapy) offers a structured, trauma-informed, and affirming space for partners to explore patterns, heal relational wounds, and strengthen emotional connection. We work with:
Couples and partners at any stage of their relationship
Same-sex and LGBTQIA+ relationships
Polycule and consensually non-monogamous relationships
Couples navigating trauma, infidelity, conflict, distance, or life transitions
When Might Couple Therapy Be Helpful?
Couple or relationship therapy can be helpful when partners are experiencing:
Ongoing conflict or communication breakdown
Emotional distance, loss of intimacy, or trust ruptures
Impact of trauma on the relationship
Infidelity or breaches of trust
Differences in needs, values, or life direction
Stress related to caregiving, parenting, work, or major transitions
Challenges unique to same-sex relationships, polycule dynamics, or minority stress
Many couples also come to therapy proactively, to deepen understanding, strengthen connection, or learn healthier ways of navigating challenges together.
Our Therapeutic Approach
Couple therapy at The Connection Ground integrates two evidence-based models:
Gottman Method Couples Therapy
The Gottman Method provides a strong research-based framework for understanding relationship patterns and building skills related to:
Communication and conflict management
Emotional attunement and friendship
Trust, commitment, and shared meaning
This approach offers clear structure and practical tools, while remaining deeply relational.
IFIO (Intimacy From the Inside Out)
IFIO is an attachment-based approach grounded in Internal Family Systems (IFS). It recognises that:
Each partner brings their own inner world, attachment history, and protective patterns into the relationship
Relationship conflicts often arise from unmet attachment needs rather than “bad intentions”
Healing happens when partners learn to relate to themselves and each other with more curiosity, compassion, and leadership
This model is particularly helpful when working with trauma in relationships, emotional reactivity, or long-standing relational patterns.
The Relationship / Couple Therapy Process
Phase 1: Assessment & Understanding (First 4 Sessions)
All couple therapy begins with a structured four-session assessment process based on the Gottman Method. This phase allows us to build a shared understanding of the relationship before moving into intervention.
Session 1: Conjoint Session
Both partners attend together
Exploration of relationship history, current challenges, strengths, and hopes
Clarifying what brings the couple to therapy at this point
Sessions 2 & 3: Individual Sessions
Each partner attends one session individually
Exploration of personal background, attachment history, relational experiences, and individual needs
Understanding how personal histories and inner patterns show up in the relationship
Session 4: Feedback & Goal-Setting
Review of assessment findings
Identification of key relational patterns and strengths
Collaborative goal-setting for therapy moving forward
This assessment phase helps ensure that therapy is intentional, tailored, and grounded in a clear shared direction.
Phase 2: Therapy & Intervention
Following the assessment, ongoing sessions may include:
Understanding emotional and attachment patterns between partners
Working with trauma and protective responses that show up in the relationship
Learning and practising communication and conflict-management skills
Building emotional safety, trust, and attunement
Individual exploration within joint sessions when helpful
Witnessing and repairing moments of disconnection in real time
Sessions often involve a balance of:
Insight and reflection
Skill-building and practice
Experiential work where partners learn to relate differently in the room
The pace and focus of therapy are adjusted to meet the needs of the relationship.
Inclusive & Affirming Relationship Therapy
We recognise that relationships exist within broader social, cultural, and systemic contexts. Therapy at The Connection Ground is:
Affirming of LGBTQIA+ identities and relationships
Inclusive of polycule and consensually non-monogamous structures
Sensitive to cultural background, family expectations, and minority stress
Trauma-informed and non-pathologising
The goal is not to force relationships into a single model, but to support partners in building a relationship that feels safe, authentic, and sustainable for you.
Moving Forward Together
Relationship therapy is not about deciding who is “right” or “wrong” or about making sure the relationship stays the way it is. It is about slowing down, understanding what is happening beneath the surface, and learning how to respond to each other with greater awareness and care. It is also about facilitating each partner to find their own insight and clarity.
If you are considering couple or relationship therapy, you are welcome to reach out for an initial discussion to explore whether this approach feels like a good fit.