COUPLES AND RELATIONSHIPS ENHANCEMENT

This includes pre-marital, marital, couples and separation counselling.  The treatment is given to either partner alone or the couple together.  It covers both the somatic presentation (eg. sexual dysfunction or menstrual difficulties) and the psychological conflict underlying this presentation that comes from past and present relating.

Such treatment is chosen either because marital conflict appears to be the cause of emotional disorders in one of the partners, or because the marriage appears likely to break up and both partners wish to save or dissolve the relationship.

The aim is to examine the sharing of values, the personal development and welfare of each partner, the tolerance of differences and the balance of power and decision-making.  Emphasis, therefore, is to help each person understand his/her emotional needs.

Conjoint couple counselling with both male and female therapists present is offered and encouraged.  This is used to minimise the possibility of a triangulated relationship forming, with the inevitable split of a two plus one arrangement, and unwitting favouritism in the therapeutic setting.  Another advantage includes both members of the couple feeling comfortable expressing their own gender issues, perceptions and expectations.  Provision for multiple couples' group therapy is available if appropriate.