Throughout life we have many different and unique relationships - family, friends, partners, colleagues, acquaintances. Some of our relationships are complex, with past history and other relationships having an impact on how we feel and interact with each other. Relationships can be hard work, and many things can lead to us finding it difficult to get along or understand each other’s needs.
Relationship Counselling isn’t just for couples, it can be for family members for example mother and daughter, or someone you care about and want to have a meaningful relationship with.
Couples Counselling
Couples Counselling is for any intimate relationship, married or not, any sexual orientation. It is important that you both want to come for counselling, that you both feel you want to invest in your relationship. You don’t have to want the same outcome, or agree on what the issues are, we can work through that together.
Other Relationships
Any kind of friendship, work relationship or family relationship, including mother / daughter, siblings, and relationships within blended families. As with couples counselling it’s important that you both want to commit to making your relationship work, whatever that may look like.
What kind of thing can Relationship Counselling help with?
Many things can impact our relationships, sometimes it can be our behaviours and actions as individuals. Our past experiences can lead us to behave in certain ways within relationships, for example the way we deal with conflict or how we express our own needs. Relationship counselling can support you in becoming aware of these behaviours and work towards understanding how this affects the other person. It may be something within the relationship that is difficult, for example infidelity, trust, feeling dismissed or unimportant, feeling that you want different things in life, or a life experience such as bereavement or financial changes. If one or both of you are neurodivergent this can also have a huge impact on how the interactions between you are perceived.
Communication is a key cornerstone of healthy relationships and this can break down if we don’t feel our needs are being considered. Without honest, open communication and trust relationships can deteriorate and it can be difficult to understand why, or how to move forwards.
How does Relationship Counselling Work?
In therapy you come as two individuals with an equal share in your relationship. You both need to be committed to investing your time and effort into the relationship, though you don’t necessarily have to want the same outcome when you start, or even agree on what the issues are. Listening to each others needs respectfully will aid deeper understanding, and foster trust. The relationship we build in the therapy room can act as a reference, nurturing openness, respect, good communication and empathy. With shared understanding of needs and aspirations we can work together to find a way forwards that accommodates both of you as individuals whilst also nurturing the relationship.
What to expect when you come to Relationship Counselling
You can choose to meet me in person at my base in Mansfield Woodhouse or online using Google Meet for our sessions, or a mix of these.
Whichever option you choose, we will arrange a convenient time for everyone to meet. At our first session I will guide you both through a counselling agreement and we will discuss confidentiality. I will ask you a few questions about yourselves and you can ask me any questions you have. We can then look at how to work towards your aims together, or talk about what these might be if you’re not sure.
A session for couples lasts for an hour, you can choose weekly sessions or we can talk about meeting less frequently. I will try and work with your needs and preferences, offering the same time slot for you each week or working more flexibly around your commitments. If you come for relationship counselling I will always see both of you together.
Take a look at the ‘About Me’ page to read more about my experience and qualifications or ‘Contact Me’ to arrange a free fifteen minute telephone consultation to find out more. Information about where I work, fees and more can be found on ‘Good to Know’.