About Couples Counselling
Couples come for counselling for many different reasons. Perhaps you are arguing a lot, finding it hard to communicate with each other, or you're feeling that you are growing apart. Relationship issues can develop for many reasons including infidelity, parenting, issues with your wider family network, and sexual problems.
Couples counselling provides a non-judgemental, non-blaming space in which you can explore these issues and begin to understand each other better so that you can work together to make changes.
Couples counselling can also be very helpful for couples thinking of separating as we can work together to reduce conflict so that separating is more amicable.
What Couples Counselling Isn't...
Couples counselling is not about identifying who is in the wrong or blaming anyone. Instead we'll look at what happens in your relationship that contributes to your issues, and explore ways to make changes.
What happens in the initial consultation sessions?
The initial session is a chance to talk about the issues that have brought you to couples counselling. I will ask you some questions to help me assess how I might be able to help you. I'll also explain a bit more about how I work, and you can ask any questions you might have about the couples counselling process.
Following this, I will arrange to see each of you individually, and then we'll then meet again together to agree on the focus of the work.
Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA)
I am not trained to work with domestic violence and abuse (DVA). Where DVA is disclosed, I always signpost the couple on for more specialist support.
If I believe the couple or individuals are at risk of DVA, I will inform appropriate authorities, including their medical practitioner and the police.
Where children or vulnerable adults are affected, I will also contact social services and / or child services so that the couple may receive the necessary support.
You can find helpful information and support here.
