Couples & Marriage Counselling
Improve communication. Resolve Conflict. Reconnect. Supporting Australian couples
Meet Lachlan Laing
I specialise in relationship and marriage counselling and take a holistic, practical and honest approach to support couples to better understand their relationship.
I believe healthy relationships are built around qualities such as love, appreciation, trust, attraction, communication, safety, intimacy and growth. When any of these areas break down, couples can easily become caught in patterns of conflict, withdrawal, frustration, resentment, hurt, disconnection, or hopelessness — very often without understanding why.
A large part of my work is helping couples understand those underlying dynamics, rather than simply dealing with the latest issue or argument. I have trained extensively in relationship-focused approaches including Attachment Theory - attachment styles, Gottman Institute, Emotion Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Love Languages and the Drama Triangle.
Attachment styles in particular can be incredibly useful in helping couples understand why each partner responds so differently to conflict. Often during challenges one partner desires closeness and resolution, whilst the other shuts down and seeks distance. When both partners begin to understand themselves and each other better, the way they communicate and relate significantly improves.
I support couples with the following pressures that can affect a relationship such as communication, conflict resolution, rebuilding trust, infidelity and betrayal, intimacy and sexual compatibility, parenting and co-parenting, blended families, money, work and business pressures, ADHD, health challenges, grief, porn, alcohol or drug concerns, anxiety, depression, and trauma.
I’ve also experienced many of the challenges couples bring into counselling. I’m currently in a quality long-term relationship, and previously had two long-term relationships of 9–12 years, including marriage, and I’m a father of three. My experience includes parenting, co-parenting, relationship breakdown, couples counselling and mediation.
I’m passionate about helping couples work consciously on their relationship and resolve their challenges rather than tolerate them. I also support couples who are considering separation, or trialling time apart.
Understanding relationships and what helps people create genuine change has been a significant part of my life for nearly three decades.
In that time, I have been actively involved in my own personal development, focused on understanding relationships, trauma, human behaviour and what helps people change.
I believe quality counselling guidance comes not just from theory, but from having genuinely experienced and grown through relationship challenges myself. I want clients to feel they are supported by someone who understands and empathises with the reality and complexity of relationships — not simply applying a counselling model from a textbook.
My training includes a highly intensive two-year counselling program, a Diploma in Relationship Counselling, Gottman Institute relationship training, Emotion Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and more than 15 residential personal-development programs.
Before counselling I created and operated several businesses, giving me an understanding of the pressures work, finances and ambition can place on relationships.
I’m personally passionate about health, personal development, business, the environment and travel. Honesty, integrity, and love are paramount to my life.
Getting Quality Support
Seeking relationship or marriage counselling can feel like a big step, but needing support doesn’t mean your relationship is failing. Australian research found that more than 80% of people who experienced marriage counselling would recommend it to others. Counselling can provide a neutral perspective to help you understand each other better, work through challenges and feel more connected again.
1.
Foundation
2.
Attachment styles
3.
Emotional Safety
4.
Repair
5.
Gottman Four Horsemen
Communication
Communication is one of the most common areas couples struggle with. Learning to communicate more effectively can help both partners feel heard and understood, reduce misunderstandings and build greater connection.
Conflict resolution
When issues don't get resolved, couples can become stuck in the same arguments and patterns. Learning healthier ways to manage conflict can reduce frustration, withdrawal and hurt, and help you work through issues together.
Intimacy
When a relationship is struggling, intimacy and affection can easily become affected. Rebuilding emotional and physical connection can help couples feel closer, more valued and more connected as partners.
Rebuilding trust
Trust is fundamental to a healthy relationship and can be damaged in many ways — including hurtful words, repeated conflict, dishonesty or infidelity. Counselling can help you understand what's happened and work towards rebuilding trust and security.
Sessions & Fees
Individual intake sessions — $165 each. Up to 90 minutes.
I begin by meeting with each partner separately. This gives each of you the opportunity to speak openly and honestly about your relationship, without needing to filter what you say because your partner is in the room. It allows me to understand each of you, your background and your experience of the relationship as quickly and thoroughly as possible.
In my experience, starting this way gives couples counselling a much stronger foundation and helps our joint sessions become more focused, productive and effective.
Couples sessions — $175 total per couple. 60 minutes.
Additional individual sessions — $140 per session. 60 minutes (Available when required throughout the counselling process).