Relationship (couples) counselling can help people to improve their relationships. Some people may come to relationship counselling because of a specific difficulty or rupture. Others may want to better understand themselves and their partner so the relationship can thrive. Finally, there are some people who access relationship counselling to work towards safe separation, which is especially important when children are involved. Whatever your reason, I provide a neutral space so both people feel their experiences and needs are acknowledged to work towards a shared agenda.
Couples often have the same fight multiple times. An unresolved issue may be keeping people stuck in a pattern of relating. I help people to understand what is driving the difficulties in their relationship. Part of this understanding is to look at each person’s history of relationships (family, friends, romantic) because these experiences influence how we relate to our partner (with or without awareness). Identifying unresolved issues and having compassion for our own and partner’s contexts allows both people to make changes to benefit the relationship. Relationship counselling is not an opportunity to assign blame but to understand how both people can relate more successfully for a happier, more fulfilling relationship.
Issues I support people with in relationship counselling:
- Communication
- Conflict
- Family difficulties
- Differences between partners
- Future plans (e.g. marriage, children)
- Infidelity
- Rebuilding trust
- Intimacy (sexual and emotional)
- Bereavement
- Separation