Meet Dr Katie Stirling



I'm a Clinical Psychologist, Certified Gottman Couples Therapist and, like you, a perfectly imperfect human doing my best to navigate life and relationships in a way that aligns with my values.

I believe we all have the capacity to change. To learn and grow, understand ourselves and each other better, and build meaningful, fulfilling relationships and lives.

But at times we all need a little help, a roadmap for change. I'm passionate about connecting people with the tools, knowledge and support they need to build the life and relationships they want.

And the thing that's become increasingly clear to me is just how much context matters. Creating the time, space and environment for connection, learning and growth can be just as important as the work itself. That's why I've chosen to work with couples in a more immersive way.

Relationships deserve our attention too.

Our relationships are such an important part of our happiness and wellbeing, but they're also incredibly easy to take for granted.

We invest in our careers. We look after our health. We learn, develop and work towards the things that matter to us. Yet somehow we expect ourselves to simply know how to have a great relationship.

And life gets busy.

Many of the couples I work with have incredibly full lives. They're people in leadership and public-facing roles, elite athletes, business owners, parents, and people balancing significant demands and responsibilities.

Sometimes they come to me because their relationship is struggling. They feel disconnected, they're caught in the same conflicts or something has happened that they don't know how to move through.

Others have a strong relationship and want to keep it that way. They want to stay connected, keep learning about each other and continue building the kind of relationship they truly want.

I believe there should be space for both.

You don't need to wait until something is wrong to give your relationship the attention it deserves.

Experience you can trust

I've worked across psychology, relationships, mental health, family services, research and leadership for more than twenty years and have undertaken extensive postgraduate training in evidence-based approaches to couples and relationship therapy, including training with Drs John and Julie Gottman in Seattle.

I bring that experience together with a practical, warm and highly personalised approach to working with couples.

Hey there!

I'm Dr Katie Stirling.

I will help you create a life and relationship you LOVE.  

Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) 

Registered Clinical Psychologist and Board Approved Supervisor. My research has explored attachment, perinatal mental health, and mental health prevention.

Certified Gottman Couples Therapist

Advanced training in evidence-based couples and relationship therapies, including Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy and Schema Therapy for Couples.

Masters of Sexology

Advanced study in intimacy and sexual wellbeing, with a deeper understanding of the important role they play in connection, relationships and individual wellbeing.

Creating the Context for Change.

It was about 20 years ago, at a camp in Canada, that I first began to understand the power of context and just how much our environment can influence our ability to show up as our best selves, how we connect, and our capacity to learn and grow.

Many of the people who worked there had been coming to camp since they were kids. It wasn't just about the joy, fun and laughter it brought. It was their safe place. Somewhere they could be their authentic selves.

People connected differently. They stepped outside their comfort zones and tried new things. Confidence grew. Relationships deepened. I saw firsthand what can happen when people feel safe, connected and supported by the environment around them.

Looking back, I can see how much that experience shaped my approach. It's something I've returned to throughout my career and that continues to influence the experiences I create for couples today.

My work beyond couples

Connection is at the heart of how we live, love and lead.

Alongside my work with couples, I've spent much of my career working with organisations, leaders and communities. While the context may be different, the principles are often the same: relationships matter, environment matters, and creating the right conditions allows people to do their best work.

This website is intentionally focused on my work with couples. If you're an organisation interested in my leadership, advisory or organisational work, you can find more about that side of my career on LinkedIn.
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I'm passionate about helping people remove roadblocks to authenticity and connection.

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