Why understanding your relationship style could transform your love life. If I were given one wish as a couples counsellor, it wouldn't be to magically stop couples arguing. It would be to help every person understand that intimacy is learned, not inherited. After working with many couples over nearly a decade here at The Edge Counselling in Subiaco, Perth, one truth continues to stand out above all others: People don't usually marry the wrong person. They simply haven't lear

By Catherine Christie | The Edge Counselling, Perth Affair Recovery: The Hard Road Back to Trust When a couple sits in front of me, I don't simply see two individuals. I see their relationship as my client. Whether that bond is three years old, ten years old or thirty years old, it has developed its own history, language, memories, wounds and hopes. I regard that bond as something almost sentient, nascent and sacred, an entity deserving of protection and care in its own right

Here’s something I see almost daily in my work with couples: two good people, often together for decades, sitting across from me. Both are convinced they are giving love, yet both feel completely unseen. It’s not because they don’t care. It’s because they’ve forgotten how to love each other in a way that truly resonates. This is where The 5 Love Languages, written decades ago by Gary Chapman, remains relevant. It’s not just a trendy concept; it’s a practical reset tool when a

Infidelity is one of the most painful breaches a relationship can endure. As a couples counsellor and relationship coach based in Subiaco, Perth, I’ve sat with many individuals and couples navigating the aftermath of an affair—or multiple betrayals over time. These are not just “relationship issues.” They are deep attachment injuries. For those who value loyalty, monogamy, and family, the devastation can feel overwhelming. Often, I meet a partner—frequently a wife, mother, an

There’s something I see time and time again in my work with couples—and if I’m honest, I’ve seen it in myself too. We become quietly, fiercely devoted… not to each other, but to our own version of reality. Our own story. Our own pain. Our own interpretation of events. Before we know it, we’re no longer in a relationship—we’re in two parallel worlds, running side by side, rarely touching. It’s like living in the same home but speaking completely different emotional languages.

If you’re in a FIFO relationship, you already know this isn’t your average love story. It’s a rhythm of departures and returns. Intense connection… followed by distance. Independence… followed by sudden togetherness again. And while many couples start strong, over time something begins to shift. Not always dramatically.Often quietly. A growing emotional distance.More misunderstandings.Less patience.More “we’re just not on the same page anymore.” I see this every week in my pr