Relationships and Couples Counselling

What is Couples Counselling?

Relationship counselling, also known as ‘couples counselling’ or ‘marriage counselling’, is an effective form of talking therapy designed to resolve issues within an intimate relationship. Very few relationships exist conflict-free – whether it’s the odd disagreement, repeatedly arguing, or losing the fun element in your relationship – it’s natural to start to question its longevity. When this begins to falter, our health and happiness can also suffer.

How Does It Work?

People may need support at any time in their relationships. You may find it difficult to talk to one another, or you may feel the increasing distance between you. Perhaps something has happened to change how you feel about one another. Many couples come to therapy because there has been a crisis in the relationship, shared life goals have changed or because there are communication difficulties.

In couples therapy, we meet together to talk about what is happening for you and explore ways forward. We focus on how you communicate with each other, in this way building a foundation on which you can resolve any difficulties in the future.

What Problems Can Relationship Therapy Treat?

Communication problems: Stuck in dysfunctional patterns; communication breakdown; arguments; conflict; violence; abuse; loss of shared experiences; living separate lives

Intimacy / sexual issues: Emotional intimacy has gone; desire has gone; sex is no longer fun; managing different expectations

Life-changing experiences: Loss; life changes or traumatic events that have changed the way you relate to each other; the birth of a child; children management; health issues; children leaving home; external pressures eg. family, work, friends

Broken trust: Trust has been broken or eroded via a physical or emotional affair, secrets, addiction or other issues

Blended families: Second marriage; dealing with previous relationships or marriages

Does Relationship Counselling Work?

Whether you are facing a crisis or trying to face long-term problems between you, we aim to support both of you as you work through your difficulties. We provide a supportive and non-judgmental environment to help you identify issues or problems in a relationship and find a way through those difficulties.

Counselling is not a magic solution, and it isn’t easy. It will require commitment, engagement and hard work from everyone involved. In return, you gain new perspectives about each other and the way you relate, and you also learn new ways of being together.

We work with couples whatever your sexual orientation or how you identify.