Relationship Counselling

How counselling can help

Counselling provides time away from home and work to explore difficulties in a safe and friendly environment in which to clarify how you think, feel and react.

Counselling helps to:

• Understand how family values, religion, country of origin and philosophy of life affect the relationship.
• Reflect on how the past operates in the present.
• Explore how arguments and rows seem to escalate in the same way each time.

Couples learn how to:

• Listen to and understand more about each other.
• Communicate in an easier and more constructive way.
• Resolve conflicts without hurting each other.
• Negotiate difficult decisions.
• Recover the love, respect and fun that has previously been enjoyed.

If two people decide to separate or divorce, then emotional support can be given through what is inevitably a painful process.

Common issues

• I have trouble with close relationships
• We can't live together
• Can't live apart
• I want children but my partner doesn't
• We are not communicating
• We love each other but can't stop rowing
• We have different sexual needs
• I can't cope with the jealousy
• We have real money problems
• The violence is frightening
• My partner is driving me crazy
• My partner wants a divorce but I don't, I just need to talk

Relationship counselling is aimed at helping you:

• balance in your relationship
• improve communication and reduce conflict
• work together instead of pulling apart
• rediscover your couple relationship when it is under pressure
• deal with life change issues
• come to terms with the aftermath of an affair
• work through grief or loss
• discover the best way forward for you and those close to you

Sexual problems

An active sex life is an important and enjoyable part of a healthy relationship. However, most people experience difficulties in their sexual relationship at some time in their life. This could be for a variety of physical and emotional reasons including: tiredness, stress, a new baby, illness, or pressures at home.

For more information please call the Practice and ask to speak to Lesley.

Practitioners: Lesley Coles