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Session P6 I Day 3 Closing Plenary I Keynote Presentation 6

Tracks
Stream A
Stream B
Stream C
Stream D
Stream E
Stream F
Stream G
Sunday, May 18, 2025
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Overview

Keynote Presenter | Trish Purnell-Webb


Details

Clinical Psychologist, Senior Partner; Relationship Institute Australasia


Presenter

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Patricia Purnell-Webb
Snr Partner
Relationship Institute Australasia

Healing Together: Why Every Therapist Should Master the Art and Science of Relationship Therapy

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Abstract

The effectiveness of evidence-based couple therapy in producing significant statistical and clinical improvement in reducing overall relationship distress has been well-established in the literature. More recently, these findings have been extended to indicate the effectiveness of couple-based interventions for a broad range of coexisting emotional, psychological, behavioural or physical health problems in one or both partners.
In this Keynote address, Trish will explore the evolution of evidence-based relationship therapy as a cornerstone of modern-day mental health treatment and discuss the current status of contemporary couple therapy. This will include the shifting focus from only improving couple satisfaction to a broader, more holistic focus on well-being and what this means for relationship education and the training of relationship therapists.

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Trish Purnell-Webb is a Clinical Psychologist, Certified Gottman Therapist, Advanced Clinical trainer and Consultant for the Gottman Institute. She has also undertaken training in emotion-focused therapy for couples, schema therapy for couples, and a range of other couple therapy approaches. Trish has been in private practice on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, since 1997 and is a founding partner of Relationship Institute Australasia. She provides various clinical psychological services to adults and couples, including individual therapy, couples therapy, intensive marathon couples therapy, online couples therapy, and couple workshops. Because of Trish’s expertise in couples therapy and clinical mental health disorders, especially Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Mood Disorders and complex personality presentations, Trish has been involved in the development and delivery of several couples’ programs for Military Veterans, First Responders and their families. She is an active educator, board-approved supervisor (AHPRA), and Supervision Masterclass Facilitator. Trish regularly provides professional development workshops for many community and professional organisations throughout Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the USA. She has co-authored 365 Simple Ideas to Improve your Relationship (2020), a self-help book for couples, and a chapter Relationship Difficulties (2023). In Beel, N. et al. (Eds.) Common Client Issues in Counselling: An Australian Perspective. University of Southern Queensland. She regularly teaches into Clinical Masters programs for Bond University in Clinical Couple Therapy and has previously tutored and lectured at Griffith University. Her first novel exploring the experience and devastating impact of domestic violence in a small community is due to be published in 2025.

Session chair

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Anthony Cichello
Senior Lecturer RMIT University and CAPSA

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