What is couples counselling?
Couples counselling is a type of therapy for two intimate partners where both partners would attend sessions together. If you are thinking of attending alone, then please indicate this on the contact form.
People often seek couples therapy when an unexpected crisis happens such as infidelity, financial issues, a family trauma, a major life change or a desire to relate better to one another or work out the future. Often there’s a wish where at least one person wants to be understood better, wants to understand the other person better, feels dissatisfied with what’s happening in the relationship or what they are not getting in the relationship (needs not being met) or they want to resolve an issue that has been causing arguements and work on strengthening the relationship. It can also help at crisis point to resolve whether to stay together or separate. The key is the motivation and willingness of both people to work on the relationship together and say “I’m in” for the period both parties are in therapy.
How long does couples counselling take to work?
Some couples only need a few sessions, 4 are recommended as a minimum as the first session is a split session, where the therapist speaks to each of you individually to understand each person’s perspective of the issues, understand your individual goals, and to check whether there are any issues we cannot work with safely in couples therapy. Other may require 6 or more sessions. We will monitor progress session by session and together we will decide how many sessions you might need. The aim is to make me redundant as soon as possible, by giving you the tools to communicate and understand each person in the relationship independently.
What happens in a couples counselling session?
There will be the people in the relationship and the therapist attending (either in person or online via video call). The therapists role is to help you explore the concerns each of you individually are having in the relationship and help you both identify what each of you wants and needs individually and mutually from the relationship, and want the outcome to be. Together we might explore:
- what works in your relationship
- what you appreciate about each other, and the relationship or what you previously appreciated about each other at the start
- having equal space to express your thoughts and feelings
- how your individual pasts and past together might be impacting the relationship currently
- identifying problems and behaviours that are impacting the relationship
- contextual factors (family, faith, lifestyle, culture, etc.)
- your individual needs and wants for yourselves and for the relationship
- what you’d like to commit to, to meet each others needs, not how you want your partner to change
- learning new effective ways of communicating and navigating conflict
- caring for yourself and each other
What can couples counselling help with?
- Affairs and betrayal
- Poor communication
- Lack of trust
- Jealousy
- Differing values and goals
- Differing parenting styles
- Gender role conflict
- Wider family conflicts
- Life changes such as empty nest, bereavement, illness
- Sexual issues
- Emotional intimacy issues
- Financial issues
- Work-related difficulties
- Religion or politics
How much does couples counselling cost?
For individual relationship counselling and couples counselling see Fees & Payment structure
Book a 15-Minute Complimentary Meet & Greet
This informal video chat lets us see whether we’d be a good fit to work together.
To arrange yours, text 07526 185959 or complete the contact form below.