Couples counselling

Couples counselling offers an opportunity to help you and your partner understand and resolve your conflicts, and to improve or rebuild your relationship. It can give you tools to communicate better, to negotiate differences, to learn to problem solve together and to understand each other better.
It can give you an opportunity to discuss issues or problems in a safe, neutral environment, with the support of a non-judgemental and unbiased therapist.
Sessions are usually held weekly (but other arrangements are also possible) and last for sixty minutes. Total number will depend on your individual needs.
Couples counselling could help if you or your partner are dealing with any of these issues or situations that can cause stress in a relationship:

  • Communication problems
  • Trust
  • Unmet needs
  • Infidelity
  • Divorce
  • Substance abuse
  • Physical or mental conditions
  • Same-sex relationship issues
  • Cultural clashes
  • Finances
  • Sexual difficulties
  • Unemployment
  • Conflicts about child rearing
  • Anger
  • Changing roles, such as retirement

For Couples there are some additional boundaries that are important to ensuring the safety of all parties concerned and of the work in progress.
Firstly, we need to recognise the right of both parties to speak as openly as they feel able to at that time without fear of interruption, insult or reprisal. While I may suggest some individual sessions where each party can have space to explore what is happening for them as an individual, no secrets can be shared by one that cannot be open to the other.
These boundaries are important in ensuring that an open and honest working relationship is maintained with myself regardless of any situation or circumstance outside the room.