Talking about money with your partner can be really tricky. People often have very different attitudes when it comes to finances. You might be very careful with your cash while your partner may be a bit of a spendthrift. And then there are all the decisions to be made about setting up joint accounts. It’s…
Moving in with your partner can be a great way of expressing your commitment to one another, but it comes with its own set of challenges too. Some people suddenly find themselves feeling a little suffocated by all the time they’re spending with their other half. Some get frustrated about things like finances or…
‘Holding onto resentment is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.’ When you’re feeling disappointed, angry or betrayed, the idea of forgiving someone can feel a little bit like giving in – as if, by letting go of your resentment, you’re allowing them to ‘get away with it’. It can be…
Relationship Difficulties Here is some general advice about what to do if there is conflict in your relationship. These are the sort of steps a relationship therapist might take you through. Take Time Out When a conflict flares up it can be incredibly hard to stop talking and separate off. The temptation is…
Stuck in a rut Changes People don’t stay the same and neither do relationships. One of the things that couples cite over and over again is how their sex life changes. In the early years sex is often urgent and exciting. Many couples will grab every opportunity they can to make love and sex…
Couples Therapy – Why? and How? Couples often come to therapy polarized by reactivity and power struggles that make them feel increasingly disconnected. Trapped in a stalemate that they are unable to change on their own, they invite the therapist into the intimacy of their struggles, hoping for a new direction. It is the work…
One in four of us are dissatisfied by our sex lives. Yet there’s still a big stigma about going to Sex Therapy. Many people find the idea of speaking to a complete stranger about sex to be embarrassing. Some think that they should be able to sort out any problems they’re having by…
One of the most common objectives couples share when they come to me for counseling is to improve their communication. When communication breaks down it can feel frustrating and painful. I have noticed at these times it’s mostly the ‘feeling heard’ part of communication that is going wrong. Over time this can become really destructive to your relationship, so…
Magic five Award winning marital therapist, researcher and author Dr John Gottman made a key observation of couples who stayed together – that they have a 5:1 ratio of positive to negative interactions in their relationships. A positive interaction might be a thoughtful action, asking questions, showing empathy, a kind word, a hug, a gift, a shared…
A post taken from Relate.org.uk blog….. It’s all too easy to pick up negative communication habits when it comes to relationships. Who can say they’ve never raised their voice in an argument? Or unfairly accused their partner of something? Or even refused to engage in a discussion at all? The thing is, if we’re not…
Couple Counseling is open to everyone aged over 16. Whether you are married, living together, in a same-sex relationship, separated, divorced or single, my confidential service can help you to deal with your relationship difficulties. Google+
Recent Comments