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Relationship Counselling for individuals

The most important relationship you will ever have is the one you cultivate with yourself.


Relationship Counselling for individuals 

The most important relationship you will ever have is the one you cultivate with yourself.

Relationship Counselling for individuals is designed to help you explore and transform how you navigate your vulnerabilities, emotions and inner world, to develop a greater understanding of yourself, others and your relationships in all their diverse aspects.      

The quality of our relationships influences our sense of belonging and wellbeing. To truly feel secure in our relationships, we need to embrace our unique qualities, individual differences and identities to connect more fully with ourselves, who we were before the world told us how we should be.  

The most important journey you will ever take is one of self-discovery. The tools we need are courage, self-compassion, emotional agility, and equanimity; the ability to create calm and even mindedness in the face of relational challenges.  


“Love is not to be found in someone else, but in ourselves; we simply awaken it."   - Paulo Coelho 


“The strongest love is the love that can demonstrate its fragility.”   - Paulo Coelho

Relationship counselling for individuals – inner work and emotional growth in Melbourne

Relationship Counselling at landscape of life 

is informed by the science of attachment, relationships and wellbeing. Jo (she/her) integrates the paradigms and practices of modern psychology and neuroscience, Western relational psychology and Eastern contemplative practice to help people develop a better understanding of themselves, others and their relationships to be more fully who they really are, as they navigate the challenges and transitions of life.

Jo's practice is grounded in person centred, humanistic attachment orientated Emotionally Focused Therapy for Individuals (EFIT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), the principals and practices of Mindful-Self Compassion (MSC) and other frameworks tailored to resource you to respond to specific relationship dynamics. 

What is Emotionally Focused Therapy for Individuals (EFIT)?

Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) is a powerful therapeutic approach designed to help individuals reconnect with disowned aspects of themselves—those parts of their emotional experience or identity that have been suppressed or ignored. These disowned aspects often arise from past trauma, shame, or negative self-judgments, leading people to disconnect from certain feelings, desires, or vulnerabilities. 

The EFIT process is attachment orientated and trauma informed. The EFIT therapist works collaboratively, to create a safe, inclusive space where individuals can acknowledge, explore and integrate neglected parts of self, emotions or traits and how they drive perceptions, behaviours and relationships. 

As a result EFIT helps reduce internal conflict, developing healthier ways of responding to feelings and ultimately aims to build self-awareness, emotion regulation and resilience, and create a stronger, more compassionate connection to oneself. 

Jo Gniel, Individual Therapist – EFIT sessions for personal clarity and healing

Relationship Counsellor · Jo Gniel (she/her)

  • Professional affiliations
    • ICEEFT, Certified Emotionally Focused Therapist and Supervisor in training
    • MCEFT, founding member of organising group
    • PACFA, Clinical Psychotherapist and Supervisor
    • USCD, Trained teacher of Mindful Self-Compassion
  • Academic Qualifications
    • B App Psych (Hon) 
    • B Sc (Bio-medicine)
    • Grad Dip Psy​ch
    • Grad Dip Counselling
  • Professional training in 
    • Narrative Therapy 
    • Internal Family Systems (IFS)
    • Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) 
    • Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)

Relationship counselling for individuals in Melbourne or Online

IN PERSON (Glen Iris, Melbourne)

IN PERSON Relationship Counselling appointments are held in Glen Iris, Melbourne. If you are near me in the adjacent suburbs of Camberwell, Malvern, Malvern East, Chadstone, Carnegie, Canterbury, Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Surrey Hills or other Inner Eastern suburbs of Melbourne or happy to travel from further afield we are located near the High Street exit of the Monash. 

Online

ONLINE Relationship Counselling appointments are held via Zoom if you are based in regional, rural or remote parts of Victoria, Australia, US (after hours) Asia, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Middle East, UK, Europe.

Resource library

To help you navigate the landscape of life we've carefully curated a resource library and invite you to explore some of the leading voices in the field of relationships and wellbeing. Each resource provides the opportunity to deepen your understanding, nurture self-awareness, and connect more fully with yourself and others. Should you choose to wander through these resources, please know that some links are affiliate-based. If you make a purchase, we may receive a small commission—at no extra cost to you. It's a simple way to support our work while you nourish your own growth. 

Cover of The Love Secret by Dr Susan Johnson

The Love Secret

Dr Susan Johnson

In The Love Secret, Dr. Sue Johnson reveals that lasting, loving relationships are achievable, debunking societal pessimism. Drawing from attachment theory and her own research, she explains how our brains are wired for connection and provides insights to build stable, fulfilling bonds.

Cover of Fierce Self-Compassion by Kristin Negg

Fierce Self-Compassion

Kristin Negg

How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive
Explore how balancing fierce action with tender self-acceptance can empower women to protect their well-being, foster authentic relationships, and drive meaningful change, both personally and in the world.

Cover of The Relationship Cure by John Gottman

The Relationship Cure

John Gottman

In The Relationship Cure, Dr. John M. Gottman presents a simple five-step program to improve relationships with spouses, family, and colleagues. Based on 20 years of research, the book emphasizes emotional connection and introduces the concept of emotional "bids" to strengthen bonds and improve communication.


Cover of Secure Love by Dr Julie Menanno

Secure Love

Dr Julie Menanno

Love: Create a Relationship That Lasts a Lifetime
A practical guide to building secure, lasting relationships. Learn to deepen intimacy, communicate with vulnerability, understand your needs, and stay connected through conflict for stronger, more fulfilling partnerships.

Cover of  Self-Compassion by Dr Kristin Neff

Self-Compassion

Dr Kristin Neff

This is Kristin Neff's most prominent work, (Who's Ted Talk we have linked) This book provides a thorough exploration of what self-compassion is, how it is a key ingredient to emotional wellness, and how to apply it to your life. It is a very accessible and practical guide.

Cover of Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach

Radical Acceptance

Tara Brach

Believing that something is wrong with us is a deep and tenacious suffering," says Tara Brach at the start of this illuminating book. This suffering emerges in crippling self-judgments and conflicts in our relationships, in addictions and perfectionism, in loneliness and overwork—all the forces that keep our lives constricted and unfulfilled.

Relationship journals

Navigating Grief Disappointment Expectations

Life doesn't always go as planned. Learning how to navigate grief and disappointment when our expectations fall short is essential for emotional resil...

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How to survive Christmas: maintaining your relationships and wellbeing

It’s almost Christmas. That means different things for each of us. For some, there is a hankering for the relief that comes with time away from the me...

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How to enjoy a family holiday

Many come to the end of a year and reflect on what they want to leave behind. Whether your year was filled with delight, disappointment or the unexpec...

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Get the resources you need to start enhancing connection in your relationship.


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