Couples Therapy and Coaching

Personal relationships are full of ups and downs. It takes so many skills to resolve tensions and conflict and maintain a happy and healthy relationship. These are skills that most of us don’t learn growing up. Little niggles can get bigger and bigger over time, eroding trust and closeness. It is very common for couples not to be able to resolve their issues themselves. They keep trying the same way to change and keep getting the same results. Even the strongest relationships need help at difficult times. That is where couples therapy comes in. Couples therapy can help you resolve issues, learn new communication skills, and tackle difficult issues in a safe, impartial way with a third person who is not invested in either partner and has qualifications and experience in couples therapy.

Couple’s therapy is a form of psychotherapy that helps two people who are involved in a romantic relationship strengthen and mend their relationship. A psychotherapist assists the couple to gain an insight into their relationship, resolve conflict and improve relationship satisfaction. Couples therapy gives couples the tools to communicate better, negotiate differences, problem solve and even argue in a healthier way. Couple’s therapy is beneficial for any kind of relationship, as it has the ability to resolve a current problem, prevent an exacerbation of problems or simply provide a “check-up” for a happy couple that is experiencing a period of transition or increased stress. Couples therapy is a specialised form of counselling. It is generally provided by registered (licensed) Psychologists and Social Workers who have undertaken a course in couples therapy in addition to their general qualifications.

There are two main reasons people come to couples therapy – 1. to improve their relationship, and 2. to end as well as possible. Many couples need therapy when considering separation, one of the biggest and most difficult decisions of your life. During therapy we may explore a variety of issues together, including improving communication skills, conflict resolution, improving self and other awareness,  closeness and intimacy issues, and examining compatibility issues such as different goals, parenting styles, different ways of managing money. We may explore issues that affect the relationship, such as business problems, affairs, loss of loved ones, financial issues, addictions, illness, family disputes, and so on. If both people are open to therapy, significant improvement can happen within a short period of time.

As your therapist, I act partly as an umpire, part coach, part guide. Sessions are typically once a week or fortnight to start, then gradually become less frequent as the couple relies less on the therapist to improve. My sessions have some structure and some flexibility. There are no set topics or set homework tasks, rather I vary my approach according to every circumstance.