Nurturing your love and your relationship

We are so happy with our relationship that we are getting married. Why do we need to nurture our love?
Regardless of how amazingly happy you are and how much you love each other, every relationship is bound to face challenges.  That's not me being pessimistic; that's me being honest and genuine with you.  Life is hard sometimes, and it will test us as individuals and as couples.  Below is some information I am required to share with you under the Marriage Act 1961, Happily Ever Before and After.  I've then added some resources for enriching your relationship that are available in the Melbourne area, including my "Nurture Love" package.  I want to make sure you are starting the rest of your lives together in the strongest place possible.
Relationship Services in the Melbourne Area
Resources can be accessed face-to-face, over the phone, or online.  The services vary from structured education courses to flexible counselling.
 
Topics that may be covered include: personality differences, lifestyle expectations, communication and listening skills, conflict management, friends and interests, family backgrounds, sexuality, and attitudes towards parenting, money, etc.
 
Please remember, if you are concerned about anything that you read online, contact a relationship service and have a chat to someone.
 
Nurture & Celebrate
  • Prepare/Enrich service (online and in person)
  • Website: www.nurtureandcelebrate.com.au
  • Phone: 0435 916 268
  • Locations: Based in Glen Waverly, available online
 
Family Relationships
  • Family Relationships is funded by the Australian Government.
  • Offers online information, advice phone line, and Family Relationship Centres for in-person services.
  • Website: www.familyrelationships.gov.au
  • Phone: 1800 050 321 (Advice Line)
  • Locations: Family Relationship Centres are run by various organisations.  Call to find your local centre.
 
Relationships Australia
  • Relationships Australia is a secular, community based, not-for-profit organisation.
  • Offers Prepare/Enrich and Counselling (online and in person) service
  • Website: www.relationshipsvictoria.com.au
  • Phone number: 1300 364 277
  • Locations: Boronia, Cranbourne, Greensborough, Kew, Sunshine, Ballarat, Shepparton, and Taralgon
 
CatholicCare
  • CatholicCare is the social service agency of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Diocese of Sale.  They provide support to people regardless of their religious belief or background.
  • Offers FOCCUS (Pre-Marriage Education Program), Partnerships (Pre-Marriage Education Program), The 2of US (Pre-Marriage Education Program), Marriage Enrichment workshops, Bringing Baby Home workshops, and counselling.
  • Website: www.ccam.org.au
  • Phone number: 9287 5555
  • Locations: Different services available at different locations. Please call or check website for local information.
 
The Gottman Institute
Nurture & Celebrate's Nurture Love Package
With my background in social work and my commitment to supporting my clients to have the best wedding and start to marriage possible, I have completed my Prepare/Enrich facilitator certification.  I offer this service as my "Nurture Love" package.
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​Okay Sophie, what's involved with this "Nurture Love" package?

Great question!  Each of you will complete an online inventory that is designed to assess couple's strengths and growth areas.  It is a research based assessment, and has been rigorously tested for validity and reliability.  This inventory then generates a report, which we go through together.  I do three one-hour sessions with you, explaining the report, sharing the insights that I'm seeing in the report, and developing skills to address any areas of growth that have been identified.  You walk away with a couple's report and a workbook for skills development.

​And as always, I'm available down the track for to chat about how things are going!