It’s important to check that each member of the couple wants to come to counselling and is open to growing the relationship.

 

At the beginning of couples therapy, there will be an assessment to map out the present struggles and issues. And to get information about the relationship history and any previous relationship information, look at role modelling influences from parents’ relationships, and to gain an overview of childhood patterning and attachment.

 

Couples counselling offers an opportunity to explore the conflicts or difficulties in your relationship and to build on its strengths. It can help you understand what has led to the present struggles and confusions, and it offers a means to explore with me how to move forwards towards positive change.

 

The work can include:

 

• Exploration of how you interact and relate to each other

• Gaining clarity about the issues that are behind your conflicts

• Making sense of your relationship history

• Identifying past influences that affect your present situation

• Practical support in planning and negotiating ways forward in areas such as re-establishing trust and intimacy, managing work/relationship balance, family needs, and ways to have personal and relationship space

 

It can lead to:

 

• A greater mutual understanding

• More openness and honesty within the relationship

• Clarity about why things have changed and become difficult

• Clarity about the stress factors that influence the relationship and how to work with them

• Renewed or deeper intimacy in the relationship

• Improved communication and trust     

 

What can Couples Counselling help with?

 

• Separation and divorce

• Commitment issues

• Jealousy and anger

• Lack of communication

• Power imbalances

• Sexuality problems

• Affairs and betrayals

• Arguments and conflicts

• Co-dependency

• Family needs