Over the past few years, I have been expanding my holistic counselling and psychotherapy work to encompass couple counselling and relationship therapy. I sometimes use these terms interchangeably although the latter term, “relationship therapy”, carries the more profound meaning of also healing the relationship with self to heal the relationship with the other. Relationship therapy can further include relationships with other people, not just our intimate partners or spouses.

In my work on relationship therapy or couple counselling, I help clients learn how to relate to their partner in a healthy way as well as to better relate with themselves, giving healing to their own issues whenever possible.

In relationship therapy, I work with the couple as well as the individual, especially when his/her unresolved issues come in the way of healthy couple relations. While the focus is on the couple (how they can better communicate, feel safe, be heard, be comfortable to speak and articulate their feelings and needs in a safe and unjudgmental space) I also track the individual problems as these can sometimes be an obstacle to the relationship.

Healthy relationship is about relating in healthy, respectful, caring and considered ways. Learning to do so in therapy is a first step. The skills we learn and develop in couple sessions include learning to listen, learning to communicate with each other clearly, learning how to identify what’s working and what’s not in the relationship, prioritising issues to work on, acknowledging each other, and finding courage and confidence to speak truthfully as well as bringing up challenging/sensitive issues so that these can be aired, discussed and negotiated respectfully. While there can be differences in the way men and women approach problems and communication, once there is understanding and clarity about our partner’s communication style and sensitivities, most times these differences can be bridged.

Relationship work is an art and needs to flow between one and the other, giving space, voice, breath, witnessing and pause to each person.

A couple dynamic is the relating of two individuals – so the work actually has at least three parts, the couple, individual A and individual B. If there are

children involved, then there is also a fourth part, which is the couple (as well as each parent) relating to the child or children. Each of these is a relationship in itself in a complex whole, often needing unfolding as well for better perspective, understanding and attention.

The key to much of relationship therapy is whether the two individuals want to make it work. I have seen even the most difficult relationships surviving because there is an underlying wish to want to heal the marriage or partnership and restore the union. Often, I bring a deep rememberance of the spirit or soul-essence that brought the couple together and help them feel this bond again. While it is true that couples can grow apart and may no longer share a soul-essence for togetherness (thus deciding to go separate ways), most times, if the relationship issues are addressed early enough there is hope for healing, renurturing and regrowing the relationship.

Relationship work can be tedious, but it is also very rewarding. Most times the love is covered up by the daily stresses and the long term fights/arguments that tire both individuals. Many couples thus loose patience, hope and the ability to enjoy what used to be deep pleasures in togetherness and shared values, goals and activities. Mundane home responsibilities, such as childcare, work, elderly care, etc., can also overtake what is special in the bond and deplete the spirit of the union.

Rebuilding the loving connection is at the heart of relationship therapeutic healing!

Couple Counseling or Relationship Therapy can teach us to rebuild the bond to see what is going on with more clarity and compassion and to do the needful healing work. Therapy can help us forgive ourselves and each other. Relationship therapy can give us the framework to work more responsibly and effectively to heal the disjoint, the hurt, the rift as well as give us tools to work on ourselves and our relationship with each other with more love and compassion.

For myself, relationship work is very satisfying. When I see two souls often quite hurt, even broken and desperate and wanting help, I feel honoured to be able to offer some hope. I am committed to help couples from any walk of life to work on their personal and relationship healing and reconnection as long as they are willing to sincerely work on themselves and with each other. For details on session timing and fees refer to Heart Space services

Testimonies

Here are a few testimonies from several couples to give you some idea of how they have benefitted from Relationship Therapy at Heart Space:

1. O & J

My husband and I came to Sarah at a time when we were feeling disconnected and overwhelmed. We had gone through a very rough few years of our marriage and had considered a divorce quite a few times. We decided on counselling as a way to find out if divorce was really the path we needed to take.

We’d tried talking through our issues on our own, but somehow always ended up in the same place—frustrated, misunderstood, and exhausted from all the fighting and arguing. It was clear we needed intervention.

From the very first session, it was clear that Sarah is not just a counsellor, but a deeply intuitive and empathetic guide.

Sarah has a wonderfully holistic approach to counselling. She doesn’t simply focus on the arguments or surface-level problems—instead, she gently leads you toward the deeper issues beneath, often things you may not have realized were affecting your relationship. Her ability to pick up on the smallest cues—an offhand comment, a change in tone, or a look between us—was remarkable. She would pause the conversation and ask just the right questions to help us explore those subtle undercurrents. It’s this attention to detail that sets her apart.

One of Sarah’s greatest strengths is her ability to create a safe, non-judgmental space. From the moment we stepped into her consultation room, we felt at ease.

The room itself feels peaceful, softly colours, nice lighting, and calming. It’s the kind of place where you feel like you can breathe more deeply, and that atmosphere made it easier to open up and be honest, even about the hard stuff.

She is an incredible listener. Not the passive kind, but the kind who really hears you—who reflects things back in a way that shows she understands not just what you’re saying, but what you’re feeling. Sarah’s empathy is genuine and palpable. There were times when one of us would struggle to express something, and she’d quietly help us find the words, never rushing, always holding space for us to process in our own time.

Sarah doesn’t “take sides.” She helps both people feel seen and validated, and she’s skilled at helping each partner understand the other’s perspective without defensiveness. Under her guidance, we learned to communicate in healthier ways, to express our needs more clearly, and to listen to each other with more compassion. She also gave us tools and small exercises that we could practice at home, which really helped strengthen the progress we made during our sessions.

We left each session feeling lighter and more hopeful. The transformation in our relationship has been gradual, but profound—and we truly credit Sarah’s unique blend of insight, warmth, and empathy for that.

If you’re looking for a marriage counsellor who truly sees the whole picture, who listens with her heart and guides with wisdom, I can’t recommend Sarah highly enough. She helped us find our way back to each other, and for that, we are deeply grateful.

2. F & C

We are so grateful to have found Sarah as our couples therapist. I’ve known her from other healing practices like breathwork, so I already trusted her approach but experiencing her guidance in couples therapy was truly powerful.

My husband was initially hesitant to attend, especially since English isn’t his native language, but Sarah’s calm presence and patience helped him feel at ease. She created a safe, comfortable space where we could have deep, honest conversations and something that felt especially important after 20 years together and big changes in our relationship following the birth of our son two years ago.

We left each session with meaningful actions to take, and we saw real improvements almost immediately. We’ve completed our second session and are already planning to return for refreshers in the future.

Sarah is a gifted therapist who truly understands how to hold space for healing and reconnection. We can’t recommend her enough.

3. M & S

Sarah has been an absolutely amazing therapist who worked with me and my husband separately on issues we had personally and in our marriage. She brought together our differences and highlighted them during our joint marriage counselling. She managed to pin down the issue within 1-2 sessions and gave us very good strategies to work with.

What I like most about Sarah is that she often obliges to tailor sessions to suit our personal needs. I requested for her to introduce a spiritual dimension with healing and meditation in our sessions which definitely helped my husband and I see things a lot differently with a long term goal in mind. We absolutely loved her couple healing session which enabled my husband and I to have a deeper connection with each other.”

Launching my new offerings: ROSE HEART HEALING sessions at the Heart Space

On 10-10-22, a full moon day, I launched my Rose Heart Healing sessions, Petal Healing and Rose Bloom, to heal and expand our emotional and spiritual Heart. While, I’ve been practising Intuitive Chakra and Multidimensional Chakra energy healing since 2015 with good results for clients, I’ve nevertheless been called to offer something specifically for healing our emotional and spiritual Heart. Spending some reflective time over the past months, and recently a couple of weeks in nature with plants and flowers, has awakened the subtle yet powerful energy of the ROSE – the flower and rose quartz crystals, within my healing work.

For ages, the Rose has been a symbol of Beauty and LOVE, both romantic as well as sacred as seen in various spiritual traditions (mystic Christian, Islam, Egyptian, and others). I’ve long been drawn to the rose for its scent, its beauty, its colour, especially the deep pink, and to its sacred symbolism as the flower of divine-heart or soul-heart. My counselling room set up in 2020 at the Heart Space is known as the Gold Rose room and carries a large image of the Rose because it is connected to the Heart Chakra, particularly the Higher Heart vortex vibrating the frequency of Unconditional Love. I wanted to create a space of unconditional loving acceptance for clients walking in to support them in their healing journey.

As a counsellor and energy healer, I’ve seen many clients with energies tight, or blocked at the chest and Heart chakra area, more than in any other place of the physical and emotional/energetic body. This is also the area where we generally experience our soul consciousness and where soul is restricted or repressed, if not healed and free.

It is therefore not surprising that my higher calling is unfolding more clearly to bring in a new healing modality specially for the emotional, energetic and spiritual heart. The Petal Healing and Rose Bloom sessions (see details of each in the following link under my offerings) commence on 11-11-22. I’m open to bookings now. Both sessions draw on the healing energies of the rose quartz (a crystal that emits beautiful loving frequencies) as well as the divine Goddesses of Love and Compassion. You will be served Rose tea or water to open your senses. A Rose Oracle reading complements the Rose Bloom session, while a one card reading is offered for the Petal Healing session.

For those starting their heart healing journey, I recommend taking the Petal Healing session prior to embarking on the Rose Bloom session so as to focus on healing the emotional heart first. The latter session then seeks to connect you with your soul by expanding and blooming your energetic heart. Next year, I wish to create an extended session for Rose Heart Activation (the Sacred Rose Bloom) channeling more sacred Feminine energies and Higher Heart Light activations for clients to have a deeper sense of their sacred self and experience heart-felt divine connection.

The ROSE HEALING PATH aims to lead us from the sufferings of the human heart, to a more open and connected heart space where the soul can feel more free, joyous, expanded and divinely connected to the sacred feminine.

A. Petal Healing – 60 mins (RM198 energy healing with rose quartz crystals)

Petal Healing works on healing wounded hearts to ease emotional hurt and heavy or blocked heart energies. The session will comfort and relax your heart bringing in forgiveness, more self-love and compassion. You will receive a 30 min energy healing session to help heal and nurture your heart slowly back to ease and grace. During the session, you will be held lovingly while receiving the beautiful healing energies of rose quartz crystals. A one card Rose oracle reading will also be offered together with Rose tea.

It may take several sessions to gradually return to a freer and more open heart-felt state. So it is recommended doing more than one session, or combine it with the Rose Bloom or on-going counselling for deeper healing and heart expansion. Learn to say YES to Love and to regaining a Peaceful and Loving state.

B. Rose Bloom – 90 mins (RM288 energy healing with rose quartz & rose oracle card reading)

The Rose Bloom session will both heal and support your heart expansion. Be the holder of your Heart-Light and let your heart and soul bloom. Meet Angels of Heart-Light and receive new love-light codes to increase your heart/soul connection and expression. You will receive 50-60 minutes of energy healing with the guidance of one or more Goddesses of Love and Compassion (Kuan Yin, Aphrodite, Mother Isis, Lady Nada, Mother Mary and Mary Magdalene of the Rose Mystery school). Be guided by channeled messages from these goddesses to bloom your soul-heart.

Enjoy Rose tea/rose water as you receive a Rose card reading that complements the healing session. First timers will receive a rose quartz crystal to work with their on-going heart blooming practice. This session is recommended as a sequel to the Petal Healing (above), or as part of Sarah-Joy’s other counselling and healing sessions.