Counselling for Relationships & Couples in Southampton

ARE RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS NORMAL?

To experience ups and downs in our relationships is completely normal. Whether this is with a partner or with our family and friends; long term relationships require compatibility and effort from all parties.

If we are concerned that there may have been an extended ‘down’ period or complicated issues we’re not sure how to resolve, it can be helpful to talk these through with a counsellor. Counselling can support you to make decisions and explore your true feelings without the fear of upsetting anyone involved in the situation.

INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING FOR RELATIONSHIP ISSUES

For any relationship to be successful we have to accept and be accepted for who we are. It’s important to have a strong sense of self-esteem to be able to confidently handle any disputes making sure the resolution works for both of you If one party is consistently compromising their needs to meet the needs of the other, this can lead to resentment and further issues for the relationship.

Your counsellor can help you assess who you are in relationships, any imbalances in power and any unhelpful thought patterns or behaviours you may have which are detrimental to your relationships. Identifying patterns of behaviour can be really insightful and lead you to repair any damaging habits, dialogue or dysfunctional experiences that may be occurring in your relationships.

If you’ve experienced ending a relationship, counselling can be a really effective way of supporting you through the process of loss, helping you look towards your new life and preparing you emotionally for any new relationships that may form.

HOW DOES COUPLE COUNSELLING WORK

Attending counselling sessions together as a couple can be a really successful way of addressing any relationship issues. You will be in a mediated situation with a professional, who can remove the emotion and help you identify the core issues with the view to move forward. For couples counselling to be effective, both parties must be committed to therapy and open to change.

During the sessions, your counsellor will encourage you to both share equal space, contributing your ideas, confessions and goals in a secure, empathetic environment with no distractions from each other. Each of you will be given the time and space to articulate your needs, wants, hopes and desires; which we rarely discuss due to the rush of everyday life. 

Couples counselling has helped lots of couples move forward to happier and more harmonious relationships. However, you may also decide to end your relationship during the sessions and couples counselling can help this feel less acrimonious because each party feels more in control of their own future away from the relationship.