When something doesn’t feel right between you, it makes sense to pause and understand what’s happening beneath the surface.
Practical, attachment-based support to help you communicate more clearly, reduce conflict and strengthen your relationship.
Most people want their relationships to last. They are worth the investment of time, care and attention.
With the right support, couples can begin to understand the patterns that have developed between them, communicate more clearly, express needs more openly and handle conflict with less escalation.
If your relationship has been struggling for some time, change may also take time. Years of miscommunication, unresolved conflict, hurt or disconnection are unlikely to shift in one or two conversations. There are often very real ways forward, yet working through longstanding patterns takes effort, patience and a willingness to engage with the process.
At times, this work can feel uncomfortable. Conversations that have been avoided may need to be had. You may begin to see familiar patterns differently, hear things that are difficult to hear, or recognise your own part in what happens between you. This can be particularly challenging when you have already reached breaking point and are hoping for immediate relief.
Sometimes what feels like a relationship problem also has very practical roots. Work demands, parenting, exhaustion, financial pressure, FIFO or time apart, unequal responsibilities, major life changes or simply having too little time and capacity for each other can place considerable pressure on a relationship. Part of counselling can be understanding what is happening between you and what is happening around you, and working out what can realistically change.
If your relationship has been struggling for a long time, try not to use the first one or two sessions as a test of whether counselling “works”. The early sessions are often about understanding what has been happening, identifying the patterns you have become caught in, and creating enough safety to begin doing something different together.
Over time couples often notice more ease, more friendship and more confidence – both in themselves and in the relationship.
Some employers provide relationship counselling through their EAP program. Please ask if cost is a concern – we can also assist you to explore this confidentially.
To read more about the fee structure, please click here.
