Relationships are never static. Our partners can bring out both the best and the worst in us, and there is always the potential to learn and grow together.
Perhaps you find yourselves arguing more often, disagreeing about parenting issues, or having arguments that keep going round in circles.
Maybe you are struggling to agree on some big life decisions, such as marriage, starting a family, moving house… or would just like to feel closer and understand each other better.
Talking to an impartial third person can help to resolve your differences, and open channels to better communication.
Concerns that People Bring to Couples Counselling
- Constant fighting or bickering
- Burying your feelings
- Strengthening your relationship
- Feeling ignored or misunderstood
- Becoming distant, moving apart
- Difficulties in communication
- Conflict over children and parenting styles
- Power struggles
- Trust and commitment
- Financial disagreements
- Circling around the same issues
- Repeating the same arguments
- Feeling left out, partner prioritises the children.
How Relationship and Couples Counselling Can Help
Change may happen gradually, often as a result of life changes, such as becoming parents, moving house, children leaving home, starting school…suddenly you find you are out of touch with each other.
There’s no need to wait until things are really falling apart. Addressing your concerns before they reach this point mean they can be resolved much more easily.
Two things that are guaranteed to bring up our early attachment wounding are parenting and adult relationships. We bring our unresolved past with us into our relationships.
A certain level of conflict in a relationship is quite normal. The trick is learning how to deal with it safely and without hurt. Supportive intimate relationships can be a place of healing and personal growth for you both.
We all have a choice. We can choose to learn and grow within our relationships, or stay stuck in a loop, continually repeating the problems from the past.
Counselling is not about being right or wrong, but learning how to see things from another person’s perspective. The aim is closer relationships based on understanding and connection.
Benefits of Couples Counselling
- Improved communication
- Deeper friendship and intimacy
- Learning new skills to deal with conflict and improve communication
- Releasing past hurts
- Feeling safe to voice your feelings
- Learning how to express your own needs and listen to your partner’s needs
- Growing through resolving areas of conflict
- Greater awareness, creating a more fulfilling and supportive relationship
- Removing blockages to a closer emotional connection,
Your counsellor is not here to “fix” you, you’re not broken. Rather, their role is. more of a coach or guide, helping you learn how to work things out for yourselves.
It’s never too early or too late to work on your relationship.
Your First Session
Counselling usually starts with you and your therapist getting to know each other. You’ll be asked questions about your relationship, like how you met, how long you’ve been together and any particular areas of conflict. You can discuss your goals for therapy, and any specific areas that you would like to work on.
Subsequent Sessions
Subsequent sessions provide an opportunity to gradually work through your current concerns, and any long-standing issues. You will be learning new skills of communication, developing a secure attachment based on understanding and connection.
Download our FREE e-book Tips for Raising Happy, Healthy Children
Related Articles
About Rosalind
Since 2005 I have been helping children with learning and behavioural challenges such as autism, dyslexia, ADHD and other sensory processing difficulties. I use an holistic, or whole child approach combining counselling with a development movement program, known as The Extra Lesson. This program addresses underlying immaturities in early development that are contributing to their learning and behavioural challenges. Sessions are available at Moruya South Head.
