Schema Couples Therapy

Reconnect, repair and grow — together

Even strong relationships can get caught in painful patterns.
Maybe you keep having the same arguments.
Maybe one of you shuts down while the other reaches out.
Or perhaps the closeness that once felt easy now feels harder to find.

Schema Couples Therapy helps you and your partner understand why you get stuck — and how to move toward each other again with empathy, safety and trust.

Go deeper than communication skills

Many couples already know how to talk — it’s what happens underneath that creates distance.

Schema Couples Therapy goes beyond surface communication tools. It helps you both recognise the emotional patterns (schemas) and protective parts (modes) that get triggered in your relationship.

You’ll learn to:

• Notice when old fears — like rejection, criticism or failure — are shaping how you respond today

• Understand what’s happening beneath anger, withdrawal or defensiveness

• Replace reactive cycles with empathy, curiosity and repair

• Build emotional safety and connection that lasts

This approach draws on Schema Therapy, attachment theory, and trauma-informed practice to help couples heal the deeper patterns that standard couples counselling often can’t reach.

Who this therapy can help

This approach may be right for you if:

• Arguments end with shutdowns, defensiveness or silence

• You’re recovering from betrayal, stress or emotional injury

• One or both of you have past trauma or attachment wounds

• You want deeper understanding, not just communication skills

• You love each other but feel disconnected or misunderstood

It’s especially suited to thoughtful, reflective couples who value personal growth and want lasting change.

What sessions look like

Couples sessions are 50 minutes and can be attended in person at Carlton North or Camberwell, or online from anywhere in Australia.

We’ll begin by exploring your history and patterns, then move into practical work — learning new ways to slow down conflict, repair after hurt, and build emotional safety.

Some couples come for short-term work focused on repair; others stay longer to explore deeper patterns together.

A balanced, compassionate space for both partners

At Waxflower Psychology, Schema Couples Therapy is warm, balanced and deeply compassionate.
There’s no blame or taking sides — instead, both partners are supported to feel understood and safe.

This work helps you make sense of your reactions, find empathy for each other’s pain, and rebuild the trust and closeness your relationship needs to thrive.

Grounded in Schema Therapy, this approach helps you change not just how you communicate, but how you connect.

Practical details

• Session length: 50 minutes

• Format: In-person (Carlton North or Camberwell) or Telehealth

• Fees: $290 per session. Couples sessions are billed privately, Medicare rebates generally don’t apply.

• Availability: Next availability November 2025

Ready to begin?

Reaching out for help isn’t a sign of failure — it’s a step toward protecting something that matters.
You don’t need to keep having the same fight. You can learn to feel safe, connected and understood again.

If you’d like to explore whether Schema Couples Therapy is right for you, get in touch to book a free 15-minute phone call.