Counselling can support you and your partner to work through your relationship challenges, whilst also providing you with practical tools you can start to implement today.

Some people believe that fighting in a relationship is “normal”, well it doesn’t have to be. Most relationship issues stem from an inability to communicate effectively, which generally leads to one or both partners feeling unheard, misunderstood, or alone in the relationship.

Whilst some relationship issues may appear to “blow over” with enough time, the reality is they almost never truly do. That’s why most couples report arguing about the same things or raising the same concerns over and over again. The truth is, if we don’t learn how to effectively raise and resolve issues in our relationship, then these issues will likely lead to recurring conflict, the erosion of intimacy and emotional connection, and eventually to one or both partners considering separation or divorce.

 The good news is, the skills required to facilitate meaningful and long-lasting change in your relationship, can be learned through counselling. Relationship counselling provides couples with the opportunity to work through their relationship challenges, whilst providing them with practical communication tools they can start to implement straight away.

There are many reasons why couples may choose to seek out counselling, here are some of the more common issues and how counselling can help.

Infidelity

Often people identify feeling like their whole world has collapsed when they discover their partner has been unfaithful. Where? When? Why? Are just some of the many questions a person may want to ask. Similarly, the person who has been unfaithful may experience extreme emotional distress and / or deep feelings of regret.

Relationship counselling can help couples to work through their feelings associated with the infidelity, whilst supporting them to determine if and how they can move forward together.

Trust issues can develop in many ways, perhaps there was a past infidelity either in the current relationship or a previous relationship, perhaps one partner has been dishonest or is behaving in a secretive way. No matter where the trust issues started, they must be addressed in order for the relationship to survive and thrive. Unresolved trust issues often result in an ongoing power struggle that undermines the couple’s connection, and is likely to render the relationship untenable long term.

Relationship counselling can support couples to explore their trust issues in a safe environment. Whilst rebuilding the trust is a process that requires time and patience, with the right support, it is possible for couples to successfully recover from a breach of trust.

Unmet needs

We all have needs! Some basic needs within a relationship may include feeling loved and supported, feeling heard and understood, feeling valued and accepted, and / or feeling secure. Often our relationship needs are unconscious, meaning we don't necessarily know what they are, instead we may just notice feeling angry or hurt when our partner's choices conflict with one of our underlying relationship needs. Obviously if we ourselves are unclear about what we are needing from our partner, then it is almost impossible for them to be able to meet these needs, thus creating tension and conflict within the relationship.

Relationship counselling can help by supporting couples to identify their individual needs and to effectively communicate them to each other, facilitating a deeper and more mutually satisfying relationship.

Is it possible to fall back in love? This is a question a number of couples will be faced with at some stage in their relationship.

Whilst there’s ‘no going back’ relationship counselling can support couples to identify where their connection was broken, whilst supporting them to explore the possibility of creating a new and more meaningful partnership. 

Developmental issues

Relationships naturally go through a number of developmental stages. Developmental stages can include the honeymoon period coming to an end, moving in together, or becoming parents, to name a few. Whilst these changes are normal, they can create feelings of stress and anxiety, which can lead to one or both partners concluding that there is something deeply wrong with the relationship. The good news is that issues arising from a developmental crisis don’t necessarily mean that there is something fundamentally wrong with the relationship.

Relationship counselling can support couples to identify developmental issues, whilst also teaching them new and more satisfying ways to manage the challenges that arise during these phases.