Samantha Payne

Registered Counselor

Verified

“I support couples who feel disconnected, stuck in repeated conflict, recovering from betrayal or struggling to communicate, helping them understand their patterns, rebuild trust and create a safer, more connected relationship. I also work individually with people navigating relationship difficulties, boundaries, anxiety, grief, separation, life transitions or uncertainty about their future.”

About Me

Couples and relationship counselling is a central specialty of my work. I support couples at different stages of their relationship, including those experiencing communication breakdowns, emotional distance, recurring conflict, affairs, betrayal and loss of trust. I also work with individuals who want to understand their relationship patterns, strengthen their boundaries, process difficult experiences or make clearer decisions about what they need moving forward. My style is warm, calm and compassionate, but also honest and practical. I provide a supportive space where clients can speak openly, feel understood and begin making meaningful changes without shame or blame.

Approach

My approach is warm, person-centred and practical. I draw from the Gottman Method, ACT, CBT, Solution-Focused Therapy and Narrative Therapy to help clients understand their patterns, regulate difficult emotions, communicate more clearly and create meaningful change. In couples counselling, I help both partners slow down recurring conflict, understand what is happening beneath their reactions and take responsibility for building greater honesty, trust, emotional safety and connection.

Contact Samantha

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Basic Information

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Essendon, Australia

In-person

Services

I specialise in couples and relationship counselling, supporting couples experiencing communication breakdowns, repeated conflict, emotional disconnection, affairs, betrayal, loss of trust and uncertainty about their future together. I also provide individual counselling for people navigating relationship difficulties, separation, boundaries, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem and major life transitions. This includes supporting individuals who want to understand their relationship patterns, communicate more confidently or make clearer decisions about what they need moving forward.

Services Offered:

CBT
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, a structured, evidence-based approach that identifies and changes unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours.
Learn more about CBT
Couples Therapy
Therapy for partners working on communication, conflict, intimacy, and trust, with both people seen together rather than individually.
Divorce Counselling
Counselling for individuals or couples going through separation or divorce, addressing the emotional, practical, and relational dimensions.
Individual Therapy
One-on-one therapy sessions between a client and a therapist, focused on that person's specific concerns and goals.
Learn more about Individual Therapy
Online Counselling
Counselling conducted via video, phone, or secure messaging, providing professional support remotely.
Learn more about Online Counselling
Wellness Support
Holistic support focused on overall well-being, including stress management, lifestyle balance, and building sustainable healthy habits.
ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy)
A form of therapy that teaches acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings while guiding action aligned with personal values.
Learn more about ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy)
Counselling
A form of talk therapy providing a safe, confidential space to explore feelings, thoughts, and behaviours with a trained professional.
Learn more about Counselling

Works With:

Adults
Individuals
Couples

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

Anxiety
Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about Anxiety
Cancer Support
The psychological and emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis on the individual and their loved ones, including fear, grief, and adjustment to treatment.
Codependency
A relational pattern in which a person's sense of identity and self-worth becomes excessively tied to caring for or controlling another person, often at their own expense.
Depression
A mood disorder marked by persistent low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, and changes in energy, sleep, or appetite that impair daily functioning.
Learn more about Depression
Divorce Coping
The emotional upheaval of separation or divorce, including grief, anger, identity disruption, and the challenge of restructuring family life.
Grief, Loss & Bereavement
The emotional, physical, and psychological response to the death of a loved one or another significant loss, varying widely in duration and expression.
Learn more about Grief, Loss & Bereavement
Guilt or Forgiveness
Persistent feelings of guilt, shame, or difficulty forgiving oneself or others that weigh on emotional well-being and relationships.
Personal Development
The ongoing process of self-awareness, self-improvement, and reaching one's potential, pursued not because something is wrong but to live more fully.
Relationship Issues
Difficulties in romantic relationships, including communication problems, trust breakdowns, conflict patterns, or uncertainty about the relationship's future.
Learn more about Relationship Issues
Self-Esteem
A person's overall sense of their own worth and value. When chronically low, it can drive self-doubt, avoidance, and difficulty in relationships.
Learn more about Self-Esteem