Counselling

Is Counselling for You?

More and more people are now choosing to come for counselling when they face a difficult or painful time in their lives. They have not failed because they need help. On the contrary, they have recognised that some professional help is required when their own resources are not enough. It makes as much sense to get this kind of help as it does to call in a plumber if the pipes have sprung a leak.

Talking in confidence to someone who is specially trained to listen and respond, and who is not a friend or a family member, can provide space for reflection, an opportunity to learn about old patterns of thinking which may may be unhelpful, and a new perspective to help you find hidden resources within yourself.

Couple Counselling

Our society paints a very romantic picture of being a couple, but the cosy adverts don't tell us what to do when things get difficult and we start to wonder if we have made the wrong choice of partner. Problems in a relationship may arise suddenly as the result of an affair or a family crisis, or they may build up slowly over a period of time. These difficulties can be a sign, not of failure, but of an opportunity to take the next step together into intimacy and commitment. As one relationship expert says,“When we think it's all over, it may just have begun.”

In our one-hour sessions, you will learn specific communication skills, and how to express your differences and your angry feelings without blaming each other. You will understand how old behaviour patterns with your parents are affecting your couple relationship, and you will have the opportunity to talk about difficulties in your sexual relationship and possible solutions. By learning about the cycles of closeness and distance in every relationship you can start to develop a new vision of your life together as a couple.

Sadly, some relationships have to come to an end. If, after a period of counselling, you and your partner decide to separate, counselling can help you both to begin the healing process and start to move on.

Each couple session lasts one hour, and sessions can be weekly or fortnightly. I see couples who are married or in civil partnerships, or who are living together or separately. I also work with adult pair relationships such as mother-and-daughter, neighbours, friends, work colleagues or business partners.