Couples Coaching

Whether you’re a new couple going through your first conflict, decades in and tired of the same arguments or dynamics repeating, or you’re in crisis and trying to decide whether or not to stay together, couples coaching can help you radically transform your relationship.

Two women sitting by a lake, one wearing a beige sweater and the other in a black shirt and plaid pants, with a scenic autumn landscape of trees with orange leaves in the background.

I’m Gaia, a certified Relational Life Therapy (RLT) Coach based in Devon, near Totnes, Exeter and Newton Abbot.

I offer in-person or online sessions to help you get to the root of your relationship challenges, and offer practical ways to shift from destructive cycles into a peaceful, joyous and passionate partnership.

Things I often hear in my office

How Couples Coaching Works

Couples coaching is a compassionate and structured space for you to understand what's going wrong and learn how to do things differently, as a team.

My approach is based in Relational Life Therapy. This combines the therapeutic aspects of traditional couples therapy, with practical and doable tools to shift your relationship out of destructive cycles.

1.

Understand the Patterns

We explore what's really happening beneath the surface - the cycles you're stuck in and why they keep repeating.

2.

Heal the Past

Repair the ruptures in your relationship and heal childhood wounds so you can move on from past hurt and create the relationship you both deserve.

3.

Create Lasting Change

Learn practical communication and intimacy tools that allow you to move through conflict smoothly, and experience fulfilling, passionate love.

What’s Different about Relational Life Therapy?

Relational Life Therapy (RLT) was developed in the US by Terry Real. He says:

“Most therapy teaches you tools, we deal with the parts of you that won’t use them”

Maybe you’ve tried something like non-violent communication but still ended up arguing, maybe, despite your best efforts to listen to your partner, you still end up pulling away or getting defensive.

RLT helps you to understand why you react the way you do, and how to calm yourself enough in the moment to be able to choose something different.

Then we tell you what that something different actually is.

Who I Work With

I work with couples of all kinds:

  • Married, engaged, or dating

  • All sexual orientations and gender identities including the trans community

  • Different relationship structures (monogamous and ethically non-monogamous)

  • All ages and stages - from newly together to decades into partnership


“We have all round better communication. We acknowledge and appreciate each other, and spend less time in conflict.

— Rachel

Rates and Booking

  • £150 for 75 minutes

  • £180 for 90 minutes

  • Held via zoom or in person

  • Office Hours 10 - 6:15 Tue | Wed | Thur

New clients are required to start with a block of 6 sessions, weekly or every other week, after which you can book another block or switch to rolling.

Payment plans available on request.

I am based near Newton Abbot, Exeter and Totnes (Devon UK)

To work with me please book a free discovery to find out if this is a good fit, or drop me a message on my contact page

Frequently Asked Questions

  • I am a trained Relational Life Therapy coach - we bridge the depth of therapy with the practical focus of coaching. Traditional therapy can spend months digging into the past without clear progress, I combine both understanding and action. We'll identify the destructive patterns you're stuck in, explore where they come from (often rooted in childhood experiences), and then teach you practical skills to respond differently in the moment.

    You'll learn to recognise your triggers, heal trauma by reparenting your inner child, and show up with greater emotional maturity. This means you're not just learning communication techniques—you're actually healing the wounds that drive the dysfunctional patterns. The combination of the two is what creates profound transformation and lasting change.

  • This is a free 45 minute chat over Zoom. A confidential space to get to know each other.

    You’ll each get the opportunity to share with me what your challenges are and what you hope to get from coaching.

    I’ll share about my practice, create space for any questions, and let you know what the next steps look like so you have everything you need to mull things over and make your decision.

  • You can come to couples coaching at any time. Whether you’re a new couple going through your first conflict, decades in and tired of the same patterns repeating, or in crisis, couples coaching can help you to save your relationship. If you’ve been trying to resolve the same argument or pattern but aren’t getting anywhere on your own - it’s time to get help.

  • This is extremely common, and here's the good news: you don't need your partner's participation to transform your relationship. When you begin to address your side of issue, the dynamic shifts.

    I can work with you individually to understand your patterns and develop the skills to break cycles. Often, when your partner sees the positive changes in you and experiences the relationship improving, they become more open to joining sessions later.

    I also recommend asking your partner to listen to a podcast with Terry Real to understand a bit more about the RLT approach which is very different to other forms of therapy. This recent one with Mel Robbins is great.

  • Most couples see significant shifts within a three month period which is somewhere between 6 and 12 sessions. Unlike therapy where you might talk for months without clear progress, my approach delivers tangible results quickly because we're working on both the root causes (childhood patterns, triggers) and practical skills simultaneously.

    Most couples will work with me over a 3 month to year period, with some choosing to continue longer as a place to regulary check in on the health of your relationship.

    For this work to feel truly integrated, and the skills to become second nature it usually takes around 2-5 years. The initial rewiring of the brain can be quick, but embedding the new neural pathway takes time and regular practice. Think of a well trodden path in the forest - that’s your old way of being - we’re cutting a new path with a machete - and it needs maintaining regularly until the old path has overgrown, and this becomes the new way.

  • Sessions are active, deep, and focused. Often you’ll come with a specific problem or incident you want to address. This will be our starting point.

    I offer direct and kind feedback about what I'm observing in your dynamic, and what each of you are contributing.

    We’ll identify the root causes of these issues and you’ll learn to respond from a place of emotional maturity rather than reactivity.

    Some sessions may focus more on your past and we’ll do focused trauma healing through guided inner child work which will support you to soothe yourself in moments when you want to act out - (we’ll only do this deep work if this feels right and comfortable for you.)

    Other sessions will be more practice based; learning communication tools together, and you'll leave with specific exercises to continue the work between sessions.

    I am not a passive bystander, I get in the ring with you - pointing out specifically where you’re going wrong, and offering suggestions for how to communicate and respond with greater skill and efficacy.