We are a Melbourne-based counselling practice specialising in couples counselling.
I’m Bree Baxter, counsellor, educator and relationship specialist. I work with couples who want to stop tiptoeing around the idea of getting support and just get some. There’s often a moment of hesitation before someone reaches out for relationship counselling, and part of my job is making that first step feel less difficult.
Over years of sitting with couples in the room, I kept noticing the same thing: relationship struggles rarely come from just one place. So I developed a framework I call Me, We, Us, to make sense of what’s actually going on and where the useful work might be.
Most couples counselling ends up touching all three. This just gives us a clearer map.
Who you are as an individual, and what you’re bringing into the relationship right now (stress, identity shifts, old patterns, current capacity).
How the two of you communicate, repair and stay connected, especially when things are tense or tired.
The shared life you’re building together: roles, values, family culture and how you want to move through the world as a team.
Because the transition to parenthood should not mean losing each other.
Couples counselling helps partners get underneath the surface issue to what’s actually going on, build communication that holds up under pressure, and find their way back to each other. It’s a space to properly hear each other’s perspective, not just take turns talking, which matters most when parenting, work and the pace of life in Melbourne are already stretching a relationship thin.
Individual counselling offers a private, steady space to work through what’s going on for you, whether that’s connected to a relationship or something in your own life. It’s a place to be supported, understand yourself better, and work out what you want to change. People come to individual counselling for stress, anger, low mood, anxiety, grief, or navigating a big life transition. Whatever’s brought you here, the aim is the same: a space to think clearly and start finding your way.
Professional counselling supervision offers a confidential space where clinicians can pause, reflect, and enhance their practices.
Life brings changes, new babies, career shifts, loss, growing older together. Each one asks something different of a couple. My work is about helping you meet those changes with a relationship that can actually hold them, rather than one that’s just quietly absorbing the strain.
I work with affairs and betrayal, communication difficulties, and the everyday relationship struggles that build up quietly over time and wear a couple down all the same.
Bree’s main goal in establishing Cultivation Counselling is to eliminate the stigma and fear associated with relationship counselling, making it a resource that is accessible, enjoyable, and approachable for everyone.
About BreeSarah and John sought couples counselling after feeling increasingly disconnected and caught in a cycle of bickering conflict. During their sessions they realized they often watched TV in separate rooms and had little knowledge of what was happening in each other’s lives outside of their relationship. Their interactions had dwindled to a general feeling of being mere roommates.
Read the full storyDavid and Vanessa sought couples counselling after Vanessa revealed to David that she had kissed another man during a friend’s birthday drinks. David was shocked and couldn’t understand where this situation had arisen from, prompting them to explore relationship counselling options for deeper support.
Read the full storyJane sought individual counselling sessions after the challenging breakdown of her 30-year relationship. As she embarked on a new relationship, Jane found herself experiencing flashbacks, hypervigilance, and anxiety, prompting her to also consider counselling for additional support in navigating these complex emotions.
Read the full storyAvailable both online and in Melbourne.
Me, We, Us is a relationship programme designed to support couples through one of the biggest transitions in life: the journey into parenthood. While much focus is placed on preparing for the baby, very little attention is given to the vital relationship that forms the foundation of family life. This programme was created to change that.
Wellness workshops are designed to enhance personal self-care, self-awareness, emotional processing, and resilience. These workshops feature a variety of holistic therapies, including art therapy and mindfulness techniques, and are available both online and in Melbourne.
Discover what Bree has in store for you.
Download your free set of Cultivation Counselling Connection Cards designed for couples counselling. Use them with your partner to enhance communication, connection, and intimacy. Just print the file, cut up the cards, and place them face down. Take turns picking a card to foster a deeper connection.
Face to face and telehealth appointments available.
