... appointments available immediately - daytime, evenings & weekends 

The Relationship Experts ... Specialising in Couples

Karen and Neil are the two principle counsellors at NorthSide Counselling and are both passionate about making a difference in their client's lives.

Between them they have experienced a large number of the challenges that relationships, parenting, families and individuals may encounter, so when setting up NorthSide Counselling ten years ago, it was to build a service in which those experiences could be drawn on (along with standard counselling practices) to really connect with and help future clients, as well as to make as much information available via the website to anyone who may need it.

Working from 2 locations, Karen and Neil continually develop and refine the methodologies, strategies and handouts used based on courses, findings and writings, as well as peer group discussion work. It is this continual development and refinement that guarantees that you will receive the very best of assistance possible.

Why Relationships Struggle

We all have programmed into our non-conscious minds a set of beliefs and values which shape our needs and wants, thus influencing our own unique behaviours.

As adults these behaviours become more firmly entrenched as the years pass ... and consequently can destroy relationships and marriages, sometimes over things that are not even of major consequence.

At NSC we encourage you to truly look at yourselves, your partner and the relationship objectively, and question if how you feel and act is thoughtful or caring towards your partner, and if the issues that you see as problems really do matter in the bigger picture.

No two individuals are alike yet generally people's differences - friends, work colleagues, acquaintances, etc - are usually acceptable as they don't impact us directly.

When we are in a relationship however it is a different story, as the dynamics are so much more interdependant. Consequently those unique differences that we initially may have found attractive can often end up being the very things that we struggle with, especially if they are coupled with selfishness and thoughtless behaviour.

When we are in a relationship however, we must be willing to:

• listen attentively
• communicate thoughtfully
• speak truthfully
• behave respectfully
• act caringly
• acknowledge and validate our partner's feelings and opinions

         ... and most importantly,  be willing to put our partner's needs equal to or above our own  (as long as they are reasonable).

At NorthSide Counselling, we will listen to your situation, challenge you where appropriate, give you material to read together, assist with with new strategies - and pro-actively help you build a relationship that is better and stronger than it has ever been before.

During the course of the counselling we help you understand:

• Communication styles and how to communicate better
• The differences between men and women and how it affects a relationship
• How to avoid arguments, and how to act when caught up in one
• The 5 Love Languages and their importance in a relationship
• How to deal with stress and anxiety
• The impact of our non-conscious minds and how our past shapes who we are
• The damage that Defensiveness causes, and alternative strategies to replace it
• How to let go of anger, hurt and betrayal
• How Trust is the most fundamental building block in every relationship

 ... thanks ever so much for all you did to resurrect our lives. H & H

We provide  marriage, relationship and couples counselling across the Sydney north shore district (including Turramurra, St Ives, Hornsby, Pymble, Gordon and Lindfield).