Our Approach

The Marriage Psychologist was started by Dr. Simone Irvine, a Clinical Psychologist with training in Gottman Couples Therapy and Relational Life Therapy. Our passion is ensuring that married and committed couples have the tools they need to have long-lasting and successful relationships.

Gottman Method Couples Therapy (GMCT) is an approach based on 40 years of research with thousands of married couples. Following this ground-breaking research, Dr. John Gottman was able to predict the likelihood of divorce with 94% accuracy within just a few minutes of observing a couple. Having identified the 'Masters' and 'Disasters' of relationships, GMCT integrates Dr. Gottman’s own findings and innovative interventions with the most effective techniques from various other types of couples therapy. Ultimately, it aims to pass on the secrets of the 'Masters'.

Relational Life Therapy (RLT) was developed over 30 years by renowned family therapist Terry Real. It is a progressive approach to couples therapy that provides a roadmap for guiding even the most challenging couples back into connection. RLT empowers you to go deep and understand the negative patterns in your relationship quickly to help clients make rapid and substantive changes.

RLT teaches you how to effectively restore balance to bring about profound transformation in each partner and the relationship as a whole. RLT works directly with difficult personalities and effectively, heals relational trauma and teaches essential relational skills to sustain intimacy long after time in therapy comes to an end. 

One of our key specialities is interracial / intercultural relationships. In particular, where existing relationship problems might be amplified by differences in cultural values or family background. As a service, we recognise that ‘one size’ does not fit all. Therefore we offer highly comprehensive assessments and draw on various therapeutic approaches, in order to tailor support to each couple’s unique circumstances.