When we meet someone and fall in love it’s one of the closest relationships we’ll ever have. Of course we hope that we’ll always feel as happy as we did when we first fell in love and stay together no matter what life throws at us, but it’s rarely that simple.
Lots of things can affect a relationship, getting married, starting a family, changing jobs, moving home, bereavement, health problems and financial worries can be just a few of the things that can cause stress or strain in a relationship.
Do We Need Relationship Counselling?
Relationship counselling which can also be referred to as couples counselling or marriage guidance, is an effective form of therapy, designed to help people who are finding their relationship challenging and are struggling to resolve issues on their own.
Whilst we can often resolve arguments and disagreements which are normal in any relationship, sometimes no matter how hard we try to resolve certain problems, they can remain problematic and cause the relationship to deteriorate or break down. If you feel that things are putting your relationship at risk then you should consider if counselling might be beneficial.
What Kind Of Problems Can it Help Resolve?
There are a variety of problems that can occur within a relationship the most common tend to be:
· Lack of communication
· Conflicting values and goals
· Financial worries
· Jealousy
· Lack of trust
· Infidelity
· Conflicting parenting styles
· Work related stress
· Conflicts with family members
· Sudden life changes
· Sexual issues
How Does It Work?
It’s easy when you’ve been together for a long time, to stop listening to your partner or struggle to communicate with them and see things from their perspective. With couples counselling you’re able to speak to someone who is neutral and has no pre conceived idea of you or your relationship, so they can see your problems objectively. The aim of therapy is to help you:
· Communicate more effectively and listen to the other persons perspective
· Learn why your conversations escalate into arguments
· Look at the past and see how it affects the present
· Help you to resolve conflict better
· How to reconnect on an emotional or physical level
· How influences like family and lifestyle can impact your relationship
It can also uncover any underlying mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, stress or past trauma that may be negatively affecting your relationship and need to be resolved. You will have sessions together but may also benefit from single sessions within your couples counselling. You may also be given CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) work to do at home. Your counsellor is not there to judge you or give you answers, but to help you work through your issues and resolve them.
How Do I Find A Good Counsellor?
You should always check that your therapist is qualified to at least diploma level, as there are currently no legal regulations as to what level of training a couples therapist should have. Preferably choose someone who is experienced in couples or family therapy. If they have a website check what qualifications they hold and any verified feedback former clients have left. Couples counselling can include counselling, psychotherapy, CBT and even clinical hypnotherapy. Written by Jan, Jeana and Wendy at Barnsley Hypnosis and Counselling (UK). For more free Information click above link.
