Couples & Relationship Therapy
Every relationship goes through difficult patches. When communication breaks down, trust is damaged, or you feel more like housemates than partners, therapy can help you reconnect — or make thoughtful decisions about what comes next.
When your relationship needs support
You might be arguing constantly, or you might have stopped talking altogether. There might be a specific issue — an affair, a bereavement, a parenting disagreement, a financial crisis — or a slow erosion of connection that you can't quite name.
Systemic couples therapy looks at the patterns between you. Not who's right and who's wrong, but how you've organised yourselves around the problem — the pursue-withdraw cycle, the unspoken assumptions, the things you stopped saying years ago.
What we might work on
- Communication patterns — saying what you mean and hearing what your partner means
- Conflict and escalation — understanding your triggers and breaking the cycle
- Trust and repair after infidelity or betrayal
- Emotional distance — reconnecting when you've drifted apart
- Life transitions — new parenthood, illness, job loss, retirement
- Parenting disagreements and co-parenting tensions
- Deciding whether to stay or separate — without pressure either way
- Impact of addiction on the relationship (cross-referencing my specialism)
How sessions work
Couples sessions are typically 60-90 minutes. I work with both partners together, creating a space where each person feels heard without the other feeling attacked. Occasionally I'll suggest individual sessions alongside couples work if that would be helpful.
I don't take sides. I'm interested in the relationship — the space between you — and in helping you both understand what's happening at a deeper level than the surface arguments.
Common questions
Is couples therapy the same as marriage counselling?
The terms are often used interchangeably. I work with married couples, unmarried partners, and couples at any stage — including those considering separation. The focus is on the relationship, not the legal status.
My partner doesn't want to come. Can I come alone?
Yes. Working with one partner can still create meaningful change in the relationship dynamic. Sometimes the other partner joins later when they see the benefits.
We argue about everything. Is that normal?
Conflict itself isn't the problem — it's how you manage it. Couples therapy helps you understand the patterns underneath your arguments, communicate your needs more effectively, and break cycles of escalation or withdrawal.
Can couples therapy help after an affair?
Yes. Rebuilding trust after infidelity is one of the most common reasons couples seek therapy. It's a painful process, but many couples emerge with a stronger, more honest relationship than they had before.
Your relationship is worth working on
A free consultation is a chance to talk, without commitment, about where things are.
Book a Free Consultation