Relationship Counselling
Engage in Relationship Counselling to Overcome Communication Issues
Nearly every relationship can benefit from an attentive, compassionate relationship counselling. Especially for those who chronically experience communication issues or ongoing fights that leave both partners drained, a qualified relationship therapist can help bridge the gap between the partners. Keep reading below to discover whether couples counselling in Canberra is right for you.
Things You Can Learn from Couples Therapy
Couples therapy is something that helps both partners develop how they approach the relationship.
One of the primary goals that we have in couples counselling is to create the foundation for improved communication between both partners. One of the greatest obstacles to a successful relationship is an inability to communicate, whether that manifests in communication being shut down before it creates a connection between both partners, and results in unnecessary conflict.
Disagreements are natural, and occasionally conflict is unavoidable. After all, each partner comes from a unique perspective and does not always share the same assumptions. We strive to offer helpful tools to those in a relationship so that they can turn to practiced techniques rather than letting conflict spiral out of control. The more calmly you can address conflict, the more likely you are to grow from the experience and strengthen the relationship.
Not everyone has the same degree of intuitive, emotional understanding, as their strengths may lie elsewhere. Another goal of our counselling is to help develop that understanding in those who need assistance with it. If you can understand what emotional state your partner is in, then you can better temper your communication to be as effective as possible.
We favour the Gottman method of counselling, which draws real examples from real experience. Rather than knowing what we’re doing only in theory, we strive to learn how these lessons apply in concrete scenarios. This method focuses on building upon the existing foundation of the relationship and bridges gaps, rather than denying their existence.
Prepare for Your Visit for Relationship Counselling in Deakin ACT
Before you arrive for your first session, there are several things that you can do to prepare yourself:
Envision what you would like to accomplish in the relationship. Are there areas or situations within the relationship that you and your partner agree are ideal? We can build on those as the starting point for a healthier relationship overall. Take stock of common occurrences that you feel create unnecessary distance between the two of you and be prepared to discuss those.
As much as you can, rationally take a look at the relationship as it stands, as well as your own mental wellbeing. If you can leave pride and ego out of your perceptions, we can together help you identify areas that you may be contributing to discord and develop techniques to overcome those challenges.
Be open to the idea of changing if you discover that you’re taking actions that close off the potential of the relationship. Generally, but not always, communication issues and relationship problems are maintained by both parties to lesser or greater degrees. During counselling, we may reveal that some actions you take limit the possibility of communication between you and your partner.
About Deakin psychology
With over a decade of experience as a counsellor and now as a psychologist, Paul has worked with many people to promote positive changes in their lives. His counselling has included working on drug and alcohol addiction, overcoming trauma, working with veterans, developing anger management techniques, and providing couples therapy to bring partners closer together. He holds a Masters in Counselling and a Master of Clinical Psychology. Contact us to schedule an initial visit and discuss how Paul can help your relationship.