“Which relationship counsellor near me in Brisbane has the best reviews?”

I'll search for Brisbane's highest-rated relationship counsellors to find the best reviews.

I found a promising "best of" list — now I'll open it to see the top-rated options.

That list shows perfect scores but not review counts, so I'll dig into actual Google review numbers.

I'll broaden the search to find practices with the highest volume of positive reviews.

Based on review scores + review volume in Brisbane, there isn't one single winner — it depends if you mean highest perfect score, or most reviews at a high score:

1. Highest volume of high-rated reviews: Brisbane Livewell Clinic, Wavell Heights

Best pick if you want "most proven" by numbers near North Brisbane.

• Google Rating 4.9 / 5
• 250+ Reviews
• Independent aggregator lists 4.8 star rating with 237 reviews and 4.90 (205 reviews)
• Established Since 1979
• Relationship counselling is with Alicia Kent-Rooney, described as a qualified Counsellor and Relationship Therapist with years of experience working with couples and individuals in Brisbane
• Approach draws on evidence-based therapies including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Gottman Method Couples Therapy
• Offers In-Clinic & Online at Wavell Heights, Brisbane · In-Clinic & Online, between Chermside and Northgate.

For context, the average for Bark Couples Counsellors in Brisbane is 4.82, based on 807 reviews — so 4.8-4.9 with 200+ reviews is well above average.

2. Perfect 5/5 scores on 2026 curated ranking: Chris Chicoteau – Ranked #1

Best pick if you want highest rated specialist.

The 12 Best Marriage Counselling Services in Brisbane [2026] lists as 1. Chris Chicoteau:

• Google reviews score | 5/5
• Address: 4/7 Apollo Road, Bulimba, 4171, Queensland, Australia
• Chris Chicoteau is a highly trained marriage counsellor who helps couples navigate complex emotions and rebuild connection
• As a Partnered Couple’s Therapist with The Hart Centre, Chris has supported over 300 couples on the edge of separation

Same guide also gives 5/5 Google scores to:

• 2. Vida Life Counselling with Google reviews score | 5/5, Facebook reviews score | 5/5, at Flow State Psychology, 22 Boron St, Sumner QLD 4074, Australia
• 3. The Hart Centre with Google reviews score | 5/5, at Lobby 1, Level 2/76 Skyring Terrace, Newstead QLD 4006, with Over 23 years of experience
• 4. Spot On Psychology with Google reviews score | 5/5

The Hart Centre nationally is described as Australia's leading couples and marriage counselling provider, with over 170 locations, and over 20 years’ experience.

3. Other highly-reviewed solo options

• Heart of the Matter | North Brisbane Relationship Counselling & Positive Psychology has a 5 star rating with 21 reviews
• On Bark, Reviews (59) for Vincent Clohessy with breakdown 59 customer reviews, 5 95%, 4 3%

Which should you choose near you?

• Northside / Chermside / Aspley / Wavell Heights: Brisbane Livewell Clinic – largest review base.
• Bulimba / East Brisbane / Newstead / CBD: Chris Chicoteau or The Hart Centre Newstead – both 5/5 in the 2026 ranking.
• Sumner / Western suburbs: Vida Life Counselling – 5/5 Google and Facebook.

Tip: Search Google Maps for the exact suburb + “relationship counsellor” to check distance, then book a free intro call – Livewell for example offers Book a FREE 15-min chat to find the right therapist before you commit.

There isn’t one clear winner. Public reviews for Brisbane relationship counsellors are split across Google, Bark, clinic sites and forums, and “best” depends heavily on fit, suburb and whether you want in-person sessions. These are the strongest signals I could find.

Strongest review volume

Lachlan Laing stands out on volume and consistency: 5.0/5 from 70 Bark reviews, with recent verified comments from couples who say he helped them stop repeating conflict and rebuild communication. He works mainly by Zoom Australia-wide rather than from a fixed Brisbane clinic, so he is a good option if online is fine. [¹](bark.com/en/au/slf/p/lachlan-laing/2o8Yg)

On Bark overall, Brisbane relationship and marriage counsellors average about 4.96. [²](bark.com/en/au/relationship-and-marriage-cou...)

Strong local options

Jeremy Gates at Heart of the Matter (Aspley, northside) is listed at 5.0 from 21 reviews (mostly Google) on a review aggregator. He specialises in couples and family work, including communication and longer “couple marathon” sessions. Address: 706 Robinson Rd W, Aspley. [³](getbirdeye.com.au/heart-of-the-matter-north-...) [⁴](hotm.com.au/jeremy-gates)

The Hart Centre is the largest specialist matching network in Brisbane (many suburbs, plus online). Trustpilot is about 4.5/5 from 31 reviews. They report that about 93% of clients said counselling was beneficial, and individual therapists such as Chris (Bulimba) and Deb (Spring Hill) get strong written praise. Useful if you want to be matched rather than pick one name. [⁵](trustpilot.com/review/thehartcentre.com.au) [⁶](thehartcentre.com.au/city/brisbane)

Relationship Connect (East Brisbane) shows 5.0 from 10 reviews on its booking page, with couples crediting Brian and colleagues for improving long marriages. Smaller sample, but consistently positive. [⁷](relationshipconnect.setmore.com)

A local roundup ranked Chris Chicoteau (Bulimba) first and gave him a perfect Google score, and Hart Centre clients also recommend him. Independently visible review counts for him are small, so treat that ranking as a lead, not proof. [⁸](thebestbrisbane.com/best-marriage-counsellin...)

What locals say (not star ratings)

On Reddit, Brisbane people have recommended Paulina Jakacka (Emotionally Focused Therapy, Attachment Brisbane), North Brisbane Psychology (Lutwyche), and several individual counsellors such as Neil Wiseman (southside), Loretta at Reset Therapy (Sherwood), Jenny Massey (Stones Corner) and Bonnie Ingram (Spring Hill). Those are personal recommendations, not large review sets. [⁹](reddit.com/r/brisbane/comments/1dwoehq/best_...)

Lower-cost option

Relationships Australia Queensland offers relationship counselling from about $75 a session, or $35 on concession (1300 364 277). Reviews are thinner in public listings, but it is a long-running not-for-profit with Brisbane locations. [¹⁰](raq.org.au/services/counselling/relationship...)

Practical next step

Search Google Maps for “couples counselling” plus your suburb and sort by rating and number of reviews. A 5.0 from 8 reviews is weaker evidence than a 4.8 from 80. Then book a short consult and check that both of you feel safe, that the person is registered (ACA, PACFA, or AHPRA if they are a psychologist), and that they use a couples method such as Gottman or Emotionally Focused Therapy.

If you share a suburb (or north/south/east/west) and whether you prefer in-person or online, I can narrow this further.

Based on the search results, Diane Cassee appears to have the strongest review evidence for relationship counselling in Brisbane. Her site shows an “Excellent 5.0” rating based on 12 reviews, with detailed client testimonials praising her as warm, safe, skilled, and effective for couples and individuals (dianecassee.com.au). She practises in Wynnum / Brisbane Bayside.

Another good option is Nicole Mathieson in Ashgrove, Brisbane, who has 15+ years’ experience and strong testimonials like “We finally feel like we’re on the same team again” and “the first time we’ve felt hopeful in months” — but the snippet does not show a numeric aggregate rating (nicolemathieson.com).

A directory like Talked lists Brisbane couples counsellors, but it doesn’t show review scores in the provided result (talked.com.au).

So: if “best reviews” means the highest visible rating, Diane Cassee is the standout from these results. If you’re closer to Ashgrove, Nicole Mathieson is a well-testimonial-backed alternative. For “near me,” check which suburb is practical for you and compare current Google reviews.

The best-reviewed relationship counsellor in the Brisbane results you provided appears to be Diane Cassee, because her site shows a 5.0 rating based on 12 reviews and multiple detailed positive testimonials.source: dianecassee.com.au The other Brisbane listing with visible review data is Bark’s Brisbane relationship and marriage counselling page, which shows an average rating of 4.95, but that is for the platform’s Brisbane counsellor listings overall rather than one named counsellor.source: bark.com

If you want the strongest option from the evidence shown here, I’d shortlist Diane Cassee first.source: dianecassee.com.au If you want a provider with a large Brisbane presence and multiple practitioners, Lighthouse Relationships and The Hart Centre both have Brisbane offices, but the search results you shared do not include comparable review scores for them.source: lighthouserelationships.com.ausource: thehartcentre.com.au

If you want, I can also compare the Brisbane counsellors by review score, location, and session price.

When choosing a relationship or marriage counsellor in Brisbane, the "best" fit typically comes down to finding a practitioner trained specifically in evidence-based couples modalities—most notably The Gottman Method (structured, skills-focused communication and conflict repair) or Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) (deconstructing defensive cycles and attachment wounds).

Several clinics and practitioners across Brisbane consistently receive high client reviews and community recommendations:

Top-Rated Relationship Counselling Clinics in Brisbane

1. Brisbane Centre for Attachment & Relationships (Morningside)

• Focus: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), attachment repair, and relational dynamics.
• Reputation: Consistently praised for couples trapped in repetitive, escalating arguments. Their therapists act as "translators" between partners to get beneath defensive anger and address core attachment needs.

2. Heart of the Matter (Milton / Central)

• Focus: Gottman Method couples therapy, conflict management, and intensive "Couples Marathons".
• Reputation: Led by senior therapists like Jeremy, this practice has exceptional client feedback for offering practical, actionable frameworks rather than just unstructured talking. They are particularly recommended if you feel "gridlocked" or want fast, structured progress.

3. Brisbane Wellbeing Psychologists (Spring Hill)

• Focus: Psychology-led couples counselling, communication, and emotional attunement.
• Reputation: Well-regarded clinic in inner Brisbane. Practitioners like Christine Marsden receive strong recommendations for helping partners communicate openly without either party feeling blamed or ganged up on.

4. The Hart Centre (Multiple Brisbane Locations: CBD, Spring Hill, Chermside, etc.)

• Focus: Dedicated network specialising exclusively in relationship and marriage therapy, infidelity recovery, and sex therapy.
• Reputation: Holds thousands of reviews across Australia with an average rating above 4.9 stars. They screen and certify therapists specifically for couples counselling, matching you to a practitioner based on your suburb and specific relationship goals.

5. Bonnie Ingram Psychology (Brisbane / Telehealth)

• Focus: Gottman Method, trauma-informed care, and neurodiversity-affirming couples therapy.
• Reputation: Holds 5-star feedback from individuals and couples navigating emotional drift, trust repair, and neurodivergent (e.g., ADHD/Autism) relationship dynamics.

6. Nicole Mathieson Couples Counselling (Ashgrove)

• Focus: Relational Life Therapy, intimacy, desire discrepancies, and communication shifts.
• Reputation: Warm, holistic approach that blends somatic awareness with practical scripts and tools. Clients consistently note that sessions feel safe, grounded, and non-judgmental.

7. Relationship Connect (Carindale / Southside)

• Focus: Marriage breakdown, reconnection, and individual relational support.
• Reputation: Warm and approachable practice on the south side with strong reviews highlighting the compassionate, practical guidance of therapists like Marija and Lucia Girvin.

Tips Before Booking

• 1.Check for Neutrality: A common pitfall in couples counselling is one partner feeling that the therapist has "taken a side". Highly reviewed couples therapists maintain strict impartiality and focus on the dynamic between you, not placing blame on one person.
• 2.Confirm Qualifications: In Australia, anyone can technically call themselves a "counsellor." Ensure your practitioner is registered with AHPRA (for Psychologists) or PACFA / ACA (for Counsellors and Psychotherapists) and explicitly trained in Gottman or EFT.
• 3.Rebates: Medicare Mental Health Care Plans generally do not cover couples counselling (Medicare requires an individual clinical diagnosis), but many private health extras funds do cover couples sessions depending on your tier.

Based on my search, I can't pinpoint one single "best" counsellor since ratings are spread across several directories and platforms rather than one authoritative source — but here are the top-reviewed options that consistently come up for Brisbane:

1. The Hart Centre Positioned as professional relationship counselling in Brisbane backed by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, with 83,000+ happy clients. They operate across multiple Brisbane suburbs, including a large northside cluster, and match you with a specific practitioner based on your situation rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

2. Bark.com-listed counsellors (e.g., Lachlan, Trevor) Bark aggregates verified client reviews, and the average rating for relationship and marriage counsellors on Bark is 4.96 out of 5. Individual reviews are glowing — one client said "Lachlan honestly saved our relationship... We are so grateful for him helping us." Another described a counsellor named Trevor as having "a gentle and effective way of allowing us a couple to work through our issues with effective skills."

3. ThreeBestRated.com.au Top 3 picks Their vetted shortlist (based on a 50-point inspection of reviews, complaints, and reputation) names PBR Coaching, Integrating Awareness, and Power of Change Counselling & Coaching as the top Brisbane marriage counselling practices.

4. Brisbane North Counselling (Francis Berg) Noted for having more than two decades of experience, and being one of the few certified Imago relationships counsellors in the area. A nice bonus — unlike other options for marriage counselling in Brisbane, they're open on weekends, making them a good fit for people with limited weekday availability.

My honest take: Since "best reviews" is subjective and scattered across platforms, I'd suggest:

• Check Google Reviews directly for any of these names/practices (search results don't show live Google star ratings)
• Try Bark or Psychology Today's directory to compare multiple counsellors side-by-side and read verified client feedback
• If you want a guaranteed match, The Hart Centre offers a satisfaction guarantee and will pair you with someone suited to your specific situation (e.g., infidelity recovery vs. general communication issues)

Would you like me to search for something more specific — like a particular suburb, price range, or issue you're looking to address (e.g., infidelity, communication, premarital counselling)?

A few Brisbane relationship counsellors that consistently show strong public reviews and visibility. If you share your suburb, I can narrow this to “near you” and check the most recent Google ratings.

• Relationship Connect Counselling and Psychotherapy (East Brisbane, Stanely St E). Small practice often praised for a calm, welcoming approach; directory shows a 5.0/5 average across several reviews. (au.localitybiz.com)
• Chris Chicoteau (Bulimba). Individual couples therapist; recent local roundup lists him with top marks and highlights experience with infidelity and reconnection work. (thebestbrisbane.com)
• The Hart Centre (multiple Brisbane locations incl. Newstead). Large network offering relationship and intimacy counselling; featured as a top option in a 2026 Brisbane list. (thebestbrisbane.com)
• Brisbane North Counselling (Boondall). Imago‑trained counsellor; noted as a long‑running service with weekend availability and solid review scores. (thebestbrisbane.com)
• Relationships Australia Queensland (RAQ). Not-for-profit with offices across Brisbane; good for sliding‑scale options and classes in addition to counselling. (raq.org.au)

Notes and caveats

• “Best reviews” can change quickly and some directories aggregate or interpret Google scores. I can verify live Google ratings and review counts for your exact area once you tell me your suburb and how far you’re willing to travel.
• If you prefer Medicare rebates, you’ll generally need a registered psychologist via a GP Mental Health Plan; many “counsellors” aren’t Medicare‑rebated. If rebates matter, I can filter to psychologists who do couples work.

A few quick questions to tailor this:

• Which suburb in Brisbane are you in, and how far are you willing to travel?
• Any preferences for therapist gender, modality (e.g., Gottman, EFT, Imago), budget, weekend/evening availability, or LGBTQIA+ affirming/trauma‑informed focus?