Couples Counselling
It is typical for people to think of relationship counselling as the ‘last chance saloon’ for troubled relationships. While this can often be the case, couples can benefit from counselling at all stages of their relationship and things need not be at crisis point for a couple to decide they need a little outside help.
Even in the early stages of a relationship, it can be really beneficial to address each person’s core needs and identify any areas of difference.
In this way, the couple is making sure that both parties are entering the relationship openly, aware of areas of potential difficulties.
As the relationship progresses, counselling can help you find ways to identify and constructively work on conflicts.
Kevin offers counselling to all couples, irrespective of age, sexual orientation and marital status.
Issues that commonly bring people to counselling include:
Sexual differences and challenges
Preparation for marriage
Infidelity
Family expectations
Challenges of being new parents
Feeling disconnected/isolated
Frequent arguments
Children leaving home
Differing needs
Use of pornography
Significant life events
This is not an exhaustive list.
My Approach
My approach is based on helping both partners to enhance their relational skills. Often, the difficulty between couples is about how they negotiate differences, not what their differences are.
In order for a relationship to thrive, both partners in the relationship need the space to be individuals, while also being a part of a couple.
My approach encourages each person in the relationship to take responsibility for their part in it and to look at differences and struggles as belonging to both parties, not as one party being to blame.
The aim of couples counselling is to develop awareness of how difficulties are arising and how they are impacting the relationship.
Awareness of the core of the issues allows exploration of alternative, more effective approaches.
Couples therapy aims to increase your clarity about:
The kind of life you want to build together
The kind of partner you aspire to be in order to build the kind of life and relationship you want to create
Your individual blocks to becoming the kind of partner you aspire to be
The skills and knowledge necessary to do the above tasks