Separation and Divorce Counselling on the Gold Coast
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Separation & Divorce Counselling, Gold Coast
Separation and divorce counselling on the Gold Coast.
Whether you are deciding whether to stay or go, in the middle of separating, or finding your feet on the other side, you do not have to navigate it alone. I am Christina Feyes, a counsellor with training in psychology, social work and intuitive healing, supporting people through separation in person across the Gold Coast, by appointment and depending on venue and availability, or online and by phone from anywhere in Australia.
Book a free 15-minute assessmentWhat is separation and divorce counselling?
Separation and divorce counselling is support for the person, or the couple, going through the end of a relationship: deciding whether to stay or go, separating with less conflict, co-parenting, and rebuilding afterwards. It is not legal advice or mediation. I offer it in person by appointment from the Gold Coast to Tamborine Mountain, depending on venue and availability, or online and by phone, in sessions of 60 to 90 minutes. A free 15-minute assessment is the first step.
Related: Couples and marriage counselling Gold Coast · Grief counselling Gold Coast
Five-star Google reviewsPeople keep saying the same thing.
One conversation in, most clients say they have finally been understood.
“I truly felt heard for the first time in all my life and deeply understood.”
“I instantly felt at ease upon our first meeting, and comfortable in sharing my feelings and worries.”
“Christina is a breath of fresh air in the counselling space.”
You might be here because
- You are not sure whether to keep trying or to let the relationship go.
- The decision has been made and you are bracing for what comes next.
- You were blindsided, and you are reeling from a choice you did not make.
- You are trying to separate without destroying each other, especially for the kids.
- The divorce is done, but the grief and the questions are not.
- You are exhausted, foggy, and struggling to function through it all.
How I work through separation
Whatever you decide, you will not be pushed. My job is to support you, not to steer the outcome.
No agenda either way
I will not tell you to leave or to stay. I help you get clear on what you actually want, so the decision is yours and you can stand behind it.
Steady through the storm
Separation scrambles sleep, focus and emotion. A calm, regular space to think clearly and feel supported while everything else is in motion.
Alone or together
Come on your own to find your footing, or as a couple to separate with less damage. Both are valid, and we can shift as your situation changes.
What this support can help with
There is no right way to do this, only the way that does the least harm to everyone, including you.
Deciding whether to separate
A clear, unpressured space to work out whether to repair or to part, without anyone pushing the outcome.
Separating well
Reducing the conflict and damage when you do part, so it is as respectful and clean as it can be.
Co-parenting after
Finding a workable way to keep parenting together when the relationship is over, with the children at the centre.
The grief of divorce
Divorce is a loss, even when it is the right call. Space to grieve the marriage, the future you pictured, and the life you knew.
Being left
Support when the decision was not yours, and you are carrying shock, anger and a self-worth that has taken a hit.
Rebuilding afterwards
Finding yourself again on the other side, and slowly building a life that feels like yours.
If you are not ready to give up on the relationship, you may want couples and marriage counselling instead, where the focus is giving the relationship a real chance.
I am not here to push you towards leaving or staying. Plenty of people arrive unsure, and the work is helping you find your own clear answer rather than handing you mine. Sometimes that clarity is a renewed decision to repair. Sometimes it is the steady realisation that it is time to part. Both are honourable, and both deserve support.
Where there are children, doing this with less conflict is one of the most protective things you can give them. That, more than any particular outcome, is what good separation support is really for.
Counselling, mediation or a lawyer?
Separating usually involves more than one kind of help, and it is easy to mix them up. Here is what each one is for.
Counselling
For you: the decision, the grief and anger, the conversations with your ex and your children, and rebuilding afterwards. This is the part I help with.
Mediation
For agreements about children or property, with an accredited family dispute resolution practitioner. Most parents must try it before going to court about parenting, unless there is family violence or urgency.
Legal advice
For your rights and obligations around divorce, property and parenting arrangements, from a family lawyer or a community legal centre.
Many people use all three at different points. Counselling often makes the other two calmer, because you walk in clearer and less reactive.
What the first sessions look like
No forms to fill in before you are ready, and no pressure to tell the whole story at once.
A free 15-minute assessment
You tell me briefly what is happening, ask anything you like, and we see whether I am the right fit. If I am not, I will say so.
Your first session
We map where you are: still deciding, in the middle of separating, or on the other side. We look at what feels most urgent, the support around you, and whether you and your children are safe.
The work from there
Sessions run 60 to 90 minutes, longer than the 45 to 50 minutes many counsellors offer, so there is room to get past the logistics to what sits underneath. Some people come through the hardest stretch; others return at different stages.
When there are children. Children usually cope best when they are kept out of adult conflict, told about the separation calmly and in words that suit their age (together, where that is safe), and given as much routine as possible. I can help you plan those conversations and keep your own reactions steady enough to have them.
I also work with teenagers aged 12 or 13 and over, so a teenager who is finding the separation hard can have a space of their own to talk, in person by appointment or online.
In clients’ words
“Christina’s ability to help me look at this from different angles is really helping me to find a way to reconnect with my true self and live a very positive new life.”George
“When I started working with Christina I was a total mess, 18 months of tears and genuine care and concern I’ve found myself again all thanks to the help of Christina.”Marnie
Across the Gold Coast, in person or from home
You can choose to meet in person on the Gold Coast or to keep sessions online or by phone, and that choice matters when your life and your living situation may be in flux.
“…I was able to see core issues that I wasn’t able to recognise before.”Ellie
If you choose online or phone, you can join from wherever you are now, from Southport to Robina to a friend’s spare room, with no waiting room to sit in and no need to explain yourself to anyone. If a neutral room away from the home you once shared would help, sessions can also be arranged in person by appointment, anywhere from the coast up to Tamborine Mountain depending on venue and availability, for you alone or for both of you together. For people in the middle of a separation, that privacy and flexibility often makes the difference. It also means support does not stop just because your address or your week has changed.
“…for the first time in a LONG time im finally thriving again.”Shannon
Go deeper
Read a little before you decide
If you would rather read first, these articles go further into the questions that come up when a relationship is ending, or might be.
About Christina
The counsellor behind Soul Counselling.
I founded Soul Counselling in 2012. I am a counsellor with a Bachelor in Psychology and Social Work, with further training in trauma, family and domestic violence, CBT and ACT.
Alongside the counselling I have a strong intuitive sense, which helps me understand what sits underneath what people bring, not just the surface of it. Sessions run 60 to 90 minutes, so there is time to get there.
Start here
Start with a free 15-minute assessment.
The honest first step costs nothing. A no-pressure conversation so you can get a feel for how I work and decide whether it is right for you. Nothing to lose, and if I am not the right fit, I will say so and point you towards who is.
Book the free 15-minute assessmentA few questions people ask
Can I come on my own, or do we both have to attend?
Either works. Many people come alone to get clear on what they want and to find their footing. Others come as a couple to separate with less conflict. You can start on your own and bring your partner in later, or not, whatever fits your situation.
Will you tell me whether to leave or stay?
No. That decision is yours, and I will not steer it. My role is to help you get clear on what you actually want and need, so that whatever you decide, you can stand behind it. Sometimes the work renews a marriage; sometimes it helps someone part well. Both are valid.
How do you help with the kids?
By supporting you to separate with less conflict and to keep co-parenting workable, with the children’s wellbeing at the centre. Reducing the conflict your children are exposed to is one of the most protective things you can do for them.
Are you a psychologist?
No. I am a counsellor with a background in psychology, social work and human services, and I do not diagnose or prescribe. For the emotional side of separation, counselling is the natural fit. If you need a diagnosis or a Medicare rebate, a registered psychologist is the right path.
Do I have to be separated for 12 months before I can divorce?
To apply for a divorce in Australia you need to have been separated for at least 12 months, and you can be separated while still living under the same roof. Australia has no-fault divorce, so the reasons the marriage ended are not considered. I am a counsellor, not a lawyer, so for the legal steps please speak with a family lawyer or the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Is counselling the same as mediation?
No. Mediation, or family dispute resolution, is a structured process with an accredited practitioner to reach agreements about children or property. Counselling is support for you: making the decision, coping with the loss, and communicating with less conflict. Many people find counselling helps them go into mediation calmer and clearer.
What if my ex will not come to counselling?
You can still come on your own. Much of what eases a separation is how you respond rather than how the other person behaves, and that part is yours to work on whatever they choose.
Can my teenager see you as well?
Yes. I work with teenagers aged 12 or 13 and over within my individual counselling, in person by appointment from the Gold Coast to Tamborine Mountain, or online and by phone, so they can have their own space to talk about what is happening at home. Parents are welcome to join sessions too.
What does it cost to find out if it is right for me?
Nothing. The first step is a free 15-minute assessment, with no card and no obligation. It is a genuine conversation, not a sales call, so you can decide in your own time. There is honestly nothing to lose by having it.
What if there is abuse or fear involved?
If there is abuse or fear, your safety comes first. Please do not wait for a booked session. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000. Once you are safe, counselling can be part of the support that follows.
Gold Coast
You do not have to work it out alone.
A free, no-pressure conversation is the simplest place to begin.
Book a free 15-minute assessment