07733366644 or darrenbottrill@futuredays.org.uk
Relationship counselling and family mediation has been a busy area of my practice for many years. As a result I have gained invaluable experience working in this field. Firstly, my goal is to repair and improve relationships but where this is not possible, to end more amicably and respectfully.
Information about relationship and couples counselling.
Couples counselling is usually fairly short term, therefore the focus is on conflict resolution, communication, individual needs leading to a deeper understanding of self and the other. My first aim is to reconnect to the love they have and then to inject some fun and joy back into their relationship.
When couples wish to end their relationship I mediate between them to help reach an agreeable and constructive way forward. Also, we explore the best interests of the couple and their family will help to achieve this.
I am a qualified Mediator and I have over 20 years experience working therapeutically with families, as well as being a member of the College of Mediators.
See my Mediation page.
Couples counselling is commonly a stand-alone activity but individual therapy can sometimes follow. Consequently, individual therapy can also further develop and improve relationships.
Relationship counselling can help with most relationship including the following. For instance, heterosexual, gay or lesbian, married or co-habiting, pre-living together, family, separating or divorcing.
My Core Principles of Couples Counselling follow, in addition to some information on the link below. See my Testimonials page for stories and feedback from real couples.
Everything you need to know about couples therapy / counselling.
CORE PRINCIPLES FOR RELATIONSHIP AND COUPLE’S COUNSELLING
1 Recognise and modify unhelpful behaviour in relationship.
By becoming aware of behaviour towards one another, we can learn and modify accordingly. Significant improvements within the relationship commonly follow.
A significant benefit of relationship counselling is an improvement to interactions. For example, avoiding engagement in any actions that might cause physical, psychological, or economic harm.
2 Change the perspective and experience of the relationship.
Above all, the couple’s therapist will support and encourage both partners to see the relationship in a more objective manner. Hence, couples learn to stop blaming and take responsibility.
3 Improve relational communication.
No couple has mastered communication and we can all improve this. In couples counselling the therapist will ‘coach’ the couples in techniques that will enhance positive responses and improve intimacy.
4 Improve emotional honesty and expression.
Couples who avoid expressing how they feel risk becoming emotionally distant and growing apart, both in their primary relationships and with friends and family. Identifying, understanding, accepting and expressing emotion is a primary counselling objective.
5 Relational needs.
Commonly people are unaware of their relational needs. That is to say, they embark upon a relationship ‘hoping’ that their partner will know and meet these unrecognised needs. Therefore, couples counselling helps to identify and prioritise relational needs, and negotiating how to meet them.