Sex and relationship therapy

Designed to deepen intimacy, explore sensuality

and build healthy relationships.

Dr Ashlea, a woman sitting on a teal leather couch with a black jumpsuit, gold necklace, and a watch, smiling at the camera, with a colourful abstract painting behind her.

Hi, I’m Dr Ash

I’m a Specialist GP with extended skills in Psychological Medicine, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Somatic Experiencing® and evidence based relationship interventions.

I offer holistic and trauma informed sex and relationship therapy designed to deepen intimacy, explore sensuality and build healthier connections.

My approach integrates physiological, medical, emotional and social aspects of intimacy, providing care that is both evidence-informed and responsive to your lived experience.

In our work together, I bring structure, compassion and clinical expertise to support you (and your partner/s) in reconnecting with your internal authority, sexual and relational self.

I value authenticity, integrity and genuine care. I show up with depth and presence, and invite you to do the same.

This is a non-judgemental space for you explore your sexuality, any challenges in your relationships, and move toward greater clarity, connection and wellbeing.

If you’re looking for a therapeutic space that honours the full complexity of your sexual and relational self, and offers practical tools for you to move forward, this may be a good fit.

What is involved in sex and relationship therapy?

Every person and every relationship is different. That’s why our work together is guided by what matters most to you.

Whether you’re facing a decline in desire, navigating sex after birth or medical issues, experiencing functional changes, or simply seeking deeper intimacy or pleasure, these sessions offer a safe, non‑judgemental space to explore the many layers of sex, intimacy and relating.

*In therapy, we explore thoughts, feelings, emotions and behaviours in relation to your experience of sex, love and intimacy – we do not do any sexual acts.

I welcome individuals, couples or other relationship structures to see me for support relating to:

  • Mismatched libido or changing desire

  • Feeling disconnected emotionally or physically

  • Difficulties with communication or conflict

  • Sex and intimacy after birth, fertility issues or medical issues

  • Painful or uncomfortable sex

  • Erectile dysfunction or issues with pleasure/orgasm

  • Functional issues with sex

  • Navigating betrayal or a relationship breakdown

  • Navigating new relationship dynamics

  • Coping with life transitions that impact intimacy (e.g. parenthood, illness, ageing)

  • Understanding sexual identity or preferences

  • Shame, anxiety or past trauma affecting intimacy

  • Wanting to deepen emotional closeness or reawaken passion

  • Difficulty initiating or receiving intimacy

  • Rebuilding trust or safety in the relationship

  • Learning conflict resolution skills and clear communication

  • Regulating your nervous system

  • Understanding boundaries, consent and what is your 'yes' & 'no' when it comes to intimacy and relating (and other areas of life)

  • Accessing and building pleasurable experiences

  • Navigating chronic illness/injury in relationship

How it works

— for individuals

  • In your first appointment, we’ll talk about your story and what the issues are.

    Then we’ll review your history — from medical and psychological to sexual and relationship — and the impact this has had on you.

    From there, we’ll work together to create a clear path forward.

    This session also includes a review of psychometric testing and any letters to your healthcare team.

  • In subsequent sessions, we’ll work on agreed goals.

    Each session we review the tasks I’ve given you and check in on progress since your previous session.

    We’ll then decide what to work on for the current session and come up with new tasks to put into action.

    Therapy is an ‘active’ process where you’re learning and experiencing new things — it works best when you complete tasks between appointments (although you won’t get into trouble if life is busy — we work on making them manageable for your life).

  • Initial appointment (80 minutes):
    $620 (Medicare rebate: $202.65)

    Subsequent appointments (60 minutes):
    $410 (Medicare rebate: $202.65)

    Short-term issues generally require 6 to 10 sessions.
    Long-term issues generally require 10 to 20 sessions

How it works

— for relationships

  • We talk about the relationship — what’s working, not working and where you want to be. 

    This session also a chance for me to observe how you interact together and provide education on key components of longevity in healthy relationships. 

    You will subsequently enrol in the Gottman assessment, which assesses your relationship against their scientific studies of key relational indicators.

    This give us an objective view of the situation and allows for access to an online portal with lessons and tools to support your work together at home. 

    You will be given tasks you can start working on together — a brief intervention, reading material or reflections.

  • Each person in the relationship is seen for 40 minutes.

    We’ll discuss your particular lens on the issues and how you are different as an individual.

    You will then be given a personal assignment to complete between appointments. 

  • This appointment summarises the issues and creates a plan for the sessions moving forward.

    We’ll discuss how often your appointments should be and which targeted interventions we might use. 

    This allows you to know exactly what it is you are working on and working towards.

    This is the pinch point where you decide if you’re willing to move through the difficulties you are having. 

    This session focuses on bringing you together in a shared approach to improving the presenting issues.

  • Initial appointment (80 minutes) – Understanding of the issues in the couple and how that is affecting the dynamic:
    $620 (Medicare rebate: $137.15)

    Second appointment (80 minutes) – 40 minutes per person, seen individually:
    $620 (Medicare rebate: estimated $250.20)

    Subsequent appointments (60 minutes):
    $410 (Medicare rebate: $137.15)

    Short-term issues generally require 6 to 10 sessions.
    Long-term issues generally require 10 to 20 sessions

    Additional:
    One-off fee of $188 for the Gottman relationship check up and online 'builder' program to guide home activities and to inform therapeutic direction of relationship issues.

Dr Ashlea, a woman with long red-blonde hair sitting outdoors on a wooden bench by a body of water, surrounded by greenery.

This approach:

  • Integrates scientific medicine with mind-body awareness and relational insight.

  • Recognises that intimacy and connection are shaped by many things – our health, stress, trauma, life stage and lived experience – not just sex.

  • Provides a structured yet flexible container to explore both the challenges and the possibilities in your sensuality and relationship.

  • Allows time, spaciousness and skilled support to work through sensitive or long-held issues at a pace that suits you.

  • Works towards moving you from feeling stuck or disconnected to creating a more connected, attuned and emotionally safe relationship with each other or your own sensuality.

  • Is grounded in the belief that you already carry wisdom – these sessions simply help you access it.

  • Offers a non-judgemental, inclusive space for all relationship structures, sexualities and identities.

A single, continuous beige line drawn on a black background, forming a freeform, abstract, looping shape.

If you are longing to reconnect through honest conversation, deeper intimacy and clearer insight, this is a space to begin your journey.

You are welcome to reach out and book an initial session. No referral required.

Book an appointment