How can Counselling Help a Relationship ?
Many relationships can reach a stage where one or both partners are finding it difficult to see a way forward. The relationship may no longer seem to be providing what the person is looking for and they may now be wondering if it is possible to bring in changes that can help improve the situation or whether the couple can remain together.
The additional help and support of an experienced counsellor can be very beneficial in facilitating the couple to clarify the issues of difficulty and see if these may be improved together. Counselling can help to give a good understanding of each other’s family background and personal history. This can be a very important part of this process in order to help understand the dynamic and problematic issues and behaviours that may now exist in the relationship.
How Does Couple Counselling Work ?
Generally I work with the couple together but may also do some separate individual sessions with one or both partners, if this is identified and agreed as an important part of the process.
In circumstances where one of the partners does not wish to enter into couple counselling I can work with one individual with the focus of the therapy on the relationship issues.
What Happens When A Relationship is in Difficulty ?
Sometimes the communication within the relationship has become difficult or negative or the behaviour of one or both parties seems unreasonable to the other, such as putting very little time into a relationship, excessive working or socialising, drinking, gambling or affairs.
The parties may be experiencing a lot of rows, conflict, resentment, boredom,or feeling misunderstood and may feel like they are living quite separate lives. Sexual difficulties may have arisen in the relationship and the couple may have infrequent or no sex.
Many relationships can reach a stage where one or both partners find it difficult to maintain communication and difficulties arise such as arguments or ignoring each other. The relationship may no longer be providing what they are looking for and one or both partners may now wonder what can help improve the situation.
What Types of Couples Attend
Relationship Counselling ?
I have experience of working with many different issues which present for couples and their relationship. Couples in therapy are not necessarily married, and in many cases they are not.
I also work with couples who are in the process of separating or have separated. The couple may have some other form of status or be in another form of partnership or civil union.
I have experience of working with different types of relationships including gay and lesbian couples, couples with and without children, couples of other nationalities, inter-racial couples, and couples in either long-term or newly-formed relationships.
The additional help and support of an experienced counsellor can be very beneficial in facilitating the couple to clarify the issues of difficulty and see if these may be improved together.