COUPLES
Insightful and Compassionate Couples Counselling in Fremantle
Couple counselling is counselling where partners in the relationship meet with the therapist. This counselling can assist you in a range of ways and help to get your relationship back on track. If you’re feeling the strain in your relationship, Fremantle Counselling Service can help. Couples counselling is complex and requires specialised skills. Fergus has completed training in relationship counselling and is an expert in his field.
How We Can Help
Counsellors don't make judgements on who is right or wrong; they don't tell clients what to do; and they don't try to persuade people to stay together or to separate. They are there to help. Couple counselling can help your relationship in a range of ways. These include:
- Understanding the relationship you currently share
- Rediscovering why you were attracted in the first place
- Finding out what you now want from their relationship and from each other
- Understanding how you contributed to whatever your relationship has become
- Discussing what you feel about each other now
- Discussing what you are prepared to do to make your relationship work.
Relationship Warning Signs
When a couple or individual presents for relationship counselling there has often been a ‘precipitating’ event. One partner leaves or threatens to leave; an affair is discovered; there is an increase in intensity or frequency of arguing. The role of therapist is to assist the parties to understand the issues and concerns for each partner in the relationship; and to work towards greater resolution and understanding. Fergus's style aims to make the counselling process educative as well as revealing, aiming to improve the couple’s negotiation and conflict resolution skills. When there is a high degree of conflict or mistrust in the relationship, or each partner has very different objectives or goals, it is sometimes beneficial for each party to attend counselling separately at first.
Some of the warning signs that couples often experience include:
- Constant high level of conflict - with arguments that recur without any resolution or movement
- High level of disconnection, contempt, or lack of care or concern
- Feeling constantly resentful or angry towards your partner - and being unable to do anything about it
- Not being able to argue or discuss things at all - especially at times of high stress or change
- Discussing or arguing in your head rather than with your partner
- Colluding with others against your partner (e.g. with in-laws or siblings)
- Fearing your partner - or their response to issues you might raise and the feelings and needs associated with them
- Planning or thinking about a future without your partner
- Developing intimate relationships with other people that are more intimate than that with your partner
- A lack of physical contact
- Choosing to be away rather than with your partner (e.g. by working very long hours)
- Unable to work together - for example on household or family chores - because working together leads to too much bickering or arguing