About Marriage Works – Imago Psychology

Last updated on February 9th, 2026 at 02:27 pm

Experience, Care, and Thoughtful Relationship Psychology

Marriage Works exists for people who want depth, steadiness, and real change in their relationships – not quick fixes or generic advice.

The work here is shaped by decades of clinical experience, evidence-based psychology, and an understanding of how real relationships are tested over time.

Aside from your decision to go to Couples Counselling, choosing the right Relationship Therapist is crucial to saving your relationship.

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Philipa Thornton

Philipa Thornton is a psychologist with a long-standing focus on relationships, attachment, and trauma-informed care. Her work is grounded in helping people understand what happens beneath the surface of conflict, disconnection, and emotional shutdown.

Philipa has trained extensively in relationship and trauma therapies, including:

• Imago Relationship Therapy
• attachment-aware and trauma-informed psychology
• nervous-system based approaches
• Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) – where she is a Level 3 trained practitioner

Her clinical style is calm, precise, and deeply respectful of the nervous system. She is particularly skilled at working with:

• emotional overwhelm and shutdown
• attachment injury and betrayal
• long-term relational patterns that repeat despite insight
• couples and individuals who feel stuck but still care deeply

Philipa is also the President of Resource Therapy International, the peak international body for Resource Therapy, and has trained therapists globally in advanced parts-based and trauma-informed approaches.

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Chris Paulin

Chris Paulin holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and brings decades of experience working with individuals, couples, and families.

Chris is known for his grounded presence, thoughtful questioning, and ability to help people slow things down when emotions are running high. His work supports:

• clearer communication
• emotional regulation under stress
• practical insight into relational dynamics
• restoring steadiness during periods of change or uncertainty

Clients often describe Chris as calm, deeply attentive, and able to create a sense of safety even in difficult conversations.

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Working Together

Philipa and Chris work collaboratively at Marriage Works, bringing both professional expertise and lived understanding of long-term partnership.

As a married couple themselves, they are familiar with the pressures that relationships face across different life stages –including parenting, stress, change, loss, and growth. This perspective informs their work without ever becoming prescriptive or personal.

Their shared approach values:

• emotional safety over urgency
• understanding over blame
• structure without rigidity
• depth without overwhelm

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How They Work

Rather than relying on one method or formula, Philipa and Chris draw on a range of well-established psychological approaches, including:

• Imago Relationship Therapy
• attachment-aware and trauma-informed psychology
• nervous-system based trauma work
• evidence-based relationship research, including the work of John Gottman

This allows the work to be tailored carefully to each couple or individual, respecting pace, readiness, and complexity.

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A Thoughtful Place to Begin

Marriage Works is intentionally private, structured, and relational.

Clients are not rushed, judged, or pushed toward outcomes they are not ready for.

Instead, our focus is on helping people:

• feel steadier
• understand what is happening in their relationship
• reduce reactivity and overwhelm
• make clearer, more grounded choices

This applies whether you are beginning together, starting alone, or navigating a moment of crisis.

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Working With Marriage Works

Marriage Works offers:

• Private Reconnection Work for couples who still choose each other
• Individual Relationship Support when one partner is ready to begin
• Affair & Betrayal Recovery
• Last Resort Relationship Support during separation or withdrawal

Sessions are available in Sydney and online.

📞 Book a free 15-minute consultation
or call 0434 559 011

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Credentials and Relevant Experience:

• Benefit from working with a Certified Imago Relationship Psychologists with many years of experience, a proven track record, and is accredited as a mental health professionals of Sydney Australia.
• A Specialised fully qualified Couple Therapist who completed her Graduate Diploma in Systemic Couple Therapy at Relationships Australia.
• All private health insurance rebates are claimable with the correct coverage, as Philipa, Chris and are Sydney Medicare registered psychologists ( individual sessions only).

What are the Tried and True Methods to Get You Back on Track?

• Reviving the passion from your early relationship and get the love (and sex life) you desire.
• Beat the blues, ban anxiety, and be at peace with yourself.
• Helping your marriage helps your children and their future relationships. You owe it to your kids to give them your best.
• Bored in bed? Spice up your life with true intimacy now.
• Second marriage? Don’t make the same mistakes, relationship patterns tend to repeat. Do it differently this time around.
• True healing for past relationship wounds, like infidelity, breaches of trust, and safety.

Here’s What Philipa Has to Say About Relationship Counselling:

• You and your relationship deserve the best chance you can give it! You have a relationship expert and marriage friendly health professional here, who has the training and commitment to help you through your marital concerns.
• There is no shame in relationship counselling – All the best teams do it. Just look at the Wallabies,  a super rugby team – they have Ewen McKenzie and All Blacks, they have Steve Hansen. Shouldn’t you get the benefit of a qualified expert in the field to improve your game?
• Divorce is a costly and usually unhappy remedy to relationship problems. Don’t become another statistic, let me help your marriage become the best it can be!
• Hurts don’t go away. They keep being replayed over and over until they are dealt with. No one wants an elephant in the room or old skeletons in the closet. Air it out now and move forward freely.
• Call me the relationship mechanic and think of Relationship Counselling as coming in for a tune up. All good cars need a service regularly. You don’t want to wait for the day you go out to your car put your key in the ignition only to find your engine won’t start!

Our location is convenient, yet discreet, and is easy to find, with bonus FREE parking for added convenience to you. Call us today at 0434 559 011  or 0411 144 646 for a free 15-minute consultation. You may also email Philipa Thornton at philipathornton@gmail.com to set an appointment.

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