What is relationship counselling? 

 

It is normal for relationships to suffer as the pressure and strains of everyday life mount. Love may disappear, replaced by resentment and anger.. Being able to manage conflict, arguments and rows is the foundation stone to a good relationship. Two people come with their own values, beliefs and expectations and both must feel heard in order to thrive. This may mean developing new skills.

 

Differences need to be acknowledged; otherwise we merge and one partner may dominate while the other 'disappears'. Arguments are a healthy and essential part of any relationship and can energise it if carried out skillfully. Indirect anger and domestic violence are destructive.

 

Counselling can help with understanding the messages about conflict that we may have inherited from our family and offer new skills.

Self-respect and liking oneself are the important ingredients for a good relationship. If they are in short supply the relationship can suffer. 

Relationship counseling can help you set relationship goals, understand your current partnership or thrive inside your marriage. 

 

It is not necessary to work with both partners in a relationship. Counseling helps clients let go of their own painful thoughts, and create their own relationship vision. This means clients are able to enjoy a satisfying relationship even without their partner's participation in the counseling process.

 

Whether working with one or both partners, I can help you become more aware of your unconscious thought patterns and communication habits and teach you effective communication and conflict resolution skills.

 

Through counseling I can help you quickly uncover the essence of what you want out of a partnership, guide you around painful issues, healing wounds from past relationships and brining closure to unresolved issues.  During counseling sessions I will create a safe cocoon as you face your fears and discover your true desires.

 

I take a holistic approach Why Therapy? to work in partnership with you torwards your desired outcomes.  Drawing on a wide range of modalities including Gestalt, Hypnotherapy, Psychotherapy, NLP, CBT, Satir Family Therapy and Reconstruction. I assist clients to develop strategies and skills to effectively transform their immediate situation as well as responding to the issues for ongoing positive change. 

 

 

How does relationship counseling work? 

 

Relationship counseling sessions can be one-on-one, on the phone or on skype. You contact me at a prearranged time for a free Discovery session lasting 30 minutes. During that time we will discuss your current life situation and work to understand your insights, feelings and goals, and decide whether we are a good “fit” for each other. 

 

I work one on one with clients once a week or more, depending on your need.  The average length of the therapeutic relationship can be anything from 1 to 10 sessions.  The first working session can take up to 3 hours, with each of the following sessions lasting 1 and a half hours.  

 

Sessions are completely customized to meet your current needs and goals. Each session is focused on achieving these goals, and providing you with support and compassion. 

 

I will neither recommend preserving nor dissolving a relationship.  Instead, I will help each partner communicate more clearly their needs, thoughts, and emotions, and listen more carefully to the other partner.  I  will help you as a couple, or as an individual part of a couple, by supporting the goals you set and agree to - either  together or individually - whether the goal is to “stay together forever,” “stop fighting”, “make the transition to being friends”, or just “learn more about each other and ourselves.”

 

Separation and divorce counseling can help explore whether trust can be repaired and whether the relationship can be rebuilt. If not, it can allow the couple to split with more understanding and less hostility.

 

 

STRICT CONFIDENTIALITY