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What is Couple Counselling, can it help?
Couple Counselling addresses the problems arising from intimate relationships in which the relationship, rather than the two individuals, is the ‘client’.
A marriage or civil partnership, is based on intimacy and trust, when the relationship stops working we are affected deeply and our health and happiness suffer. Pressures of work, family, money and health all take their toll. A relationship that once recharged us can suddenly leaves us drained and disappointed. Renegotiating, with a skilled counsellor, can help build a more realistic and deeper relationship.
Being able to manage conflict, arguments and rows is the foundation stone to a good relationship. It is unrealistic to hope that arguments can be avoided. Arguments are a healthy and essential part of any relationship and can energise it if carried out skilfully. Indirect anger and domestic violence are destructive. Counselling can help with understanding the messages about conflict that we may have inherited from our family and offer new skills. Two people come with their own values and beliefs and both must feel heard in order to thrive which may mean developing new skills.
Couples counselling can help by:
- Recognising and addressing destructive patterns of relating
- Conflict and communication can be improved
- New ways of being and relating can be learned
- The impact of change and loss can be examined
- Relationships can become more cooperative and satisfying
Counselling can help explore whether trust can be repaired or the relationship will need to be rebuilt. If not, it can allow the couple to end the relationship with more understanding and less hostility.