Relationship issues
After depression and anxiety, relationship issues are the most common problem that people bring to therapy/counselling. There ar many dimensions to relationships and what makes them go wrong. Some of these are listed below;
- I have trouble with close intimate relationships
- We find it impossible to live together
- We can't live apart from each other
- I want to have children but my partner doesn't
- We are not communicating
- We love each other but we can't stop arguing
- We have different sexual needs
- I can't cope with the jealousy
- We have real money problems
- My partner is violent
- My partner wants a divorce but I don't.
Counselling offers the opportunity to review how a relationship is working or not working, who is doing what in relationship to make it better or worse, how past relationships influence new relationships. Counselling can help you look at how you think, feel and react and explore how arguments and rows seem to escalate in the same way each time. It can also help you understand how family values, religion, country of origin and philosophy of life affect the relationship. In the first session I will explore with you how your past relationships affect your current relationship. I will also help you to listen to and understand more about each other and communicate with each other in a more constructive manner. This includes resolve conflicts and issues without hurting each other and how to recover the love, respect and fun that has previously been enjoyed.
Of course If you have decided to separate or divorce, then emotional support can be given through what is inevitably a painful process of grieving and loss.