Couples Therapy
Often, relationship problems occur when the couple's communication has broken down, or an event (such as an affair, the birth of a child, or when children leave home) has occurred which throws the relationship out of balance. This leads to feelings of insecurity in the connection which means partners find themselves concerned by questions such as “Do you really love me?” “Am I important to you?” “Are you committed to our relationship?” “Can I trust you?” and so on.
In a marriage, disagreement is inevitable, but conflict is optional — a choice we make. Learning how to live harmoniously with your partner is a skill, which can be taught.
Common Issues
Long-term commitment is hard work and it’s no surprise that couples often seek professional help when the going gets tough.
Some common reasons include:
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Communication break down
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Money pressures
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Sexual incompatibility
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Lost the 'spark'
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Infidelity
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Imbalance of power
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Lack of trust
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Living separate lives
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Problems with extended family
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Empty nest and adjusting to major change
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Adjusting to parenthood
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Different ideas on child rearing, lifestyle, friends, finances, etc.
How Does It Work?
In couples therapy we will identify and address the negative patterns that has become habitual and led to feelings of unhappiness and insecurity. We will challenge and adjust them back into more helpful ways of thinking, feeling and behaving which enables you to interact with each other in a more loving, responsive, and emotionally connected way.
Making Priorities
Many couples realize that their relationship has somehow become 'last priority' in their lives. Together we will explore ways of behaviour change, which will help you to learn how to put the relationship higher up the priority list, for good.
Taking Responsibility
Couples Therapy is not about blaming one partner for all the problems, or about 'fixing' one partner. In every relationship there are two people who are responsible for how the relationship is or isn't working. Rather than focusing on what your partner can do to change, the focus will be on what YOU can do to change the relationship - and if both of you focus on changing your own patterns, then both partners change, and the relationship is greatly improved.
Finding Your Own Way
It is important to keep in mind that there is no single correct way to be in a marriage, rather there are a nearly infinite variety of paths depending on the two people who are creating the contract. Each couple is unique and has its own journey of love, healing and transformation.
Acceptance
An essential part of change is acceptance of the current situation and commitment to a new behaviour. Together we will explore each person's thinking habits, using mindfulness techniques to help you disengage from problematic thoughts, which interfere with the moment. We will focus on developing compassion for yourself and your partner and identifying values to help the relationship evolve to a different, more satisfying level.
What if we're not sure we still want to be a couple?
If you are feeling ambivalent about whether you want the relationship to continue, or if you are sure that you want the relationship to end, couples counselling can still be of use to you. In this case, Couples Therapy may help you to end the relationship in a respectful and useful manner, avoiding the destructive aggression that many couples go through when a relationship ends. If one or both partners are feeling undecided about whether to keep the relationship going, individual sessions may be recommended with the aim of helping the decision-making process.
Let's get started now if you have any worries, doubts or fears concerning your relationships.
Or you can book a free consultation and we will discuss what the next step could be.
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>> online + in person therapy <<
You can also read one of my articles on relationships here.
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