Before & After I Do
Part of my job is to give you the down-low on all the types of relationships services and supports available to you. Even for perfect couples. Even if you are Oprah and Stedman, Barack and Michelle, Kanye and Kanye.
You can still learn things that will take your relationship from strength to strength, and feel more prepped for all of the adventures that life, kids, family, careers, relocations, mid-life crises, and the wrinkles and wisdom that old age brings.
Here are some online resources as well as local face-to-face services in Melbourne.
Online Tools
The Gottman Institute
www.gottman.com
This Seattle-based organisation was founded quite aptly by a husband and wife team (both psychologists and researchers) with a focus on improving relationships. They are dedicated to creating effective therapeutic interventions and tools for couples and parents, and endeavour to make these resources accessible to as many people as possible.
The Gottman Card Decks app is free to download. It is a set of conversation starters grouped by theme, making it easier for couples to discuss varied aspects of life, relationships, conflicts as well as their personal hopes and desires. Other offerings on their site include workshops for parents, relationship quizzes, a blog and a bi-weekly email with tips on how to improve your relationship in 60 seconds or less.
Esther Perel
www.estherperel.com
Perel is an international psychotherapist with over 35 years experience focusing on couples and sexuality. She is particularly interested in how couples keep the flame of intimacy alive over time, and explores how to create a balance between the need for security and stability versus adventure and eroticism.
Image by Ernesto Urdaneto
Perel has produced online workshops, delivered TED talks, and written widely-acclaimed books including Mating in Captivity. She has two popular podcasts which consist of real-life counselling sessions recorded along with her reflections. Where Should We Begin is focused on couples counselling, while How’s Work explores the world of professional relationships.
Face-to-face
Melbourne
Relationships Australia
www.relationshipsvictoria.com.au/services/counselling
Relationships Australia offers affordable counselling sessions, family dispute resolution, relationship education, mental health services and child and family services. Workshops cover marriage and commitment preparation, children and parenting, and programs tailored specifically to men, women and seniors. You can also access online relationship advice through their website. If you are interested in face-to-face support they have many locations across metropolitan and regional Victoria and interstate.
Relationship Matters
www.relationshipmatters.com.au
This Victorian-based organisation (previously known as LifeWorks) provides courses on topics such as communication skills, how to strengthen relationships, assertiveness, achieving work-life balance and self-care. They also offer mediation, adoption support and counselling services for individuals, couples, children and adolescents. Fees are based on your annual household income and the type of service you are seeking.
