Relationship Counselling
Many of us wish to be in a loving, committed and fulfilling relationship.
When a relationship develops problems and becomes unhealthy it can cause feelings of sadness, grief, loneliness, frustration, hurt and anger.
Do We Need Couples Counselling?
Here are some signs that you have hit a rocky patch in your relationship and it’s time to consider seeing a relationship counsellor:
- You are easily annoyed at your partner
- You don’t want them to touch you
- You start to dislike their habits
- Arguments escalate quickly and can blow out of proportion
- You are not on the same page
- You feel like you’ve grown apart
- You’re experiencing problems with sex and intimacy
- It feels like you’re more housemates than lovers
- You don’t trust your partner
Relationship problems can affect your self-worth and self-esteem.
Experiencing a relationship breakdown may put you at risk of experiencing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
It can also affect your physical health, unhealthy sleeping patterns or eating patterns, isolation, and concentration levels.
How a relationship counsellor can help
A Vision relationship counsellor can provide insight and strategies to help you work through your relationship problems.
- Diffuse those repetitive arguments that don’t seem to resolve
- Provide a neutral perspective to help you work through your issues
- Identify and resolve unhealthy patterns in your relationship
- Build trust
- Improve your communication
- Resolve any anger or resentment that has built up over time
- Rekindle your intimacy and feel close again
All of our relationship counsellors are members of the ACA or PACFA and relationship psychologists are members of the APS.
A number of our relationship therapists are also trained in the Gottman Method Couples Therapy.
Couples counselling near me
With seven locations across Perth metro area and WA, you will be able to find couples counselling close by. Our Perth City, Scarborough, Midland, Belmont, Byford, Baldivis, Mandurah and Dunsborough counselling practices all have experienced couples counsellors available.
Phone us or book online below to arrange your relationship counselling appointment.
Book Your Relationship Counselling Appointment
How effective is couples therapy?
Couples therapy can be very effective when all parties are committed to the therapy process, have a positive attitude towards couples therapy and are working towards the same end goal.
Studies on the effectiveness of couples therapy have shown mixed results and there are more studies that are needed. Lebow (Lebow et al., 2012) and colleagues reported on a range of studies that supported the efficacy of relationship counselling, concluding that “studies continue to show that most couple therapy has an impact, with about 70% of cases showing positive change. These build on the already two decades of existent findings suggesting couple therapy is an effective mode of treatment.”
Two studies found that the effectiveness of couples therapy may be linked to the couple’s attitude towards couples therapy and having a positive attitude towards therapy from the outset could have a positive impact on the results. ‘Couples’ beliefs that the counselling is credible and likely to help them as well as having hope of a positive outcome are linked to more positive outcomes in therapy (Bambling, 2007; Davis et al., 2012). The therapist’s ability to present treatment that is consistent with clients’ expectations has also been linked to favourable outcomes in relationship counselling (Bambling, 2007).’
What not to say in couples counselling
It is important to be respectful to your partner always, including in couples therapy. A good way to gauge what to say or not to say, could be to ask yourself; is what I need to say –
- helpful to you, your partner, your relationship, the therapy?
- is it respectful?
- is the purpose to drive the counselling towards the goals that you agreed for couples therapy?
If there are things that you need to say and you are unsure how to express it, speak to your couples counsellor, as they may be able to assist you with ideas on how to communicate your message effectively and productively, so that it helps everyone.
Why does marriage counselling fail?
Marriage counselling can fail for a number of reasons. Some examples may be;
- both partners are not wanting the same end goal for the relationship – e.g. someone wants to stay in the relationship and someone wants to leave
- communication is ineffective
- the agreed plan or strategies to improve the communication or relationship are not followed
- one or both parties are not committed to or believe in marriage counselling
- there is abuse in the relationship that does not resolve
- you do not have the right counsellor for your relationship (remember never be afraid to change counsellors if you need to)
Counselling is a tool that can be used to assist relationships, however not every relationship will be helped through therapy.
How to find the best relationship counselling Perth
A great way to find the best relationship counselling in Perth is by asking the people that you know. They may know of an excellent counsellor who they have had a great experience with and can recommend to you.
If you would prefer to keep it private, you can ask your GP, check the counselling association websites or start searching online for the best relationship counselling. If you are able to find some online reviews, you will be able to read about other people’s experience with the counsellor. It may also be worth checking how long the practice has been around for and their experience with couples.
What is the cost of marriage counselling in Perth?
The price of marriage counselling will vary from practice to practice. Contact your preferred practice and ask for a schedule of fees. You can also ask the counsellor how often they usually see couples or an average of how many sessions people attend marriage counselling. Even though your situation is unique and will be different, it may help give you an indication of how much marriage counselling will cost.
Find Out More About Relationship Counselling …
Couples counselling is not uncommon in today’s world.
Every couple faces issues in their relationship.
According to relationship and marriage expert Dr. John Gottman, couples wait an average of six years of being unhappy before getting help.
The Gottman Institute
Even though some couples may not seek help for the issues they are facing, we know that dealing with problems is sometimes easier with the help of a professional.
People seek out relationship advice and counselling for a wide range of reasons, even before marriage.
You may need a mediator between yourself and your spouse or you might just need a little more guidance on how to stop fighting and learn how to talk to each other calmly and compassionately.
Whatever your reason for feeling that you may benefit from counselling, we offer local relationship counselling in Perth that can help you move past your issues together.
Counselling may not signify the end of a relationship.
In fact, couples counselling in Perth could be the thing that turns your relationship around completely.
Relationship counselling can help you to improve communication, gain insight and direction for your relationship.
Many of our couples express that through counselling with Vision they have been able to have conversations with each other that they would not have been able to have alone.
Each session provides you both with a safe and judgement-free space where you can express yourself, talk about the difficult things and reopen the lines of communication.
Bit by bit, relationship counselling helps you to look at what has come between you, your role in the relationship and how you can move past these issues together to form a stronger relationship.
Though counselling does not provide any guarantees that you will stay together, couples counselling provides both participants with a safe space where they can resolve their conflicts, set new goals, and try to move beyond the issues they have been experiencing.
Vision offers relationship support services for individuals and couples.
Our frequently asked questions page may help you to alleviate any concerns prior to making your first counselling session appointment.
We welcome you to contact us if you have any further questions prior to engaging in relationship counselling or if you are seeking couples counselling in Perth.
Find Out More About Marriage Counselling …
Marriage counselling can help couples to
- stop feeling ‘stuck’, set new goals and move forward
- resolve conflict, stop fighting and find peace
- no longer feel at loggerheads and find agreement and resolution
- stop feeling sad and unhappy and find fulfilment and happiness again
Why marriage counselling?
You have committed to your partner for life. There was something in your relationship that let you feel a lifelong connection was possible and you had imagined growing old together. Something in your relationship just let you know that, “Yes, this is the right one for me!” and you dove into it and embraced it whole heartedly.
Now however you may feel that things have changed.
You might find it difficult to connect to that picture of you and your partner happily growing old together.
Resentment might creep into your relationship and maybe there have been some hurtful things that have happened.
It can be hard to work your way through all those conflicting feelings and things might feel too hard to fix. But what about the idea: “Till death do us part”?
You may ask yourself: “Is this just a rough patch, a hiccup that will pass and I will just have to stick it out or is this much more than that and does it point to the end of our journey as a married couple?”
If you find yourself in a dilemma like this you might find it helpful to consider marriage counselling for your relationship.
How marriage counselling can help couples
Often, when couples are feeling really unhappy it can be difficult to judge whether to stay in the marriage or leave.
Thoughts and feelings are clouded and it is hard to gain some perspective before making such a big decision.
Marriage counselling can help you to gain perspective.
It can help you assess your relationship and look at your strengths as well as weaknesses. It can give you insight and strategies that can help you work on your marriage to see whether your sense of commitment increases.
The intent of marriage counselling is to get you to a point where you feel you can decide on your future from a less clouded and cluttered perspective.
What to expect from your marriage counselling appointment
We understand that coming for your first appointment can be nerve racking. Our counsellors and psychologists will do their very best to make it as comfortable as possible for you.
You may also like to consider how you can make the most out of couples counselling before you attend.
The marriage counselling appointment will last 60 minutes which will give each of you enough time to be heard and warm up to the process.
Our family counsellors are here to support you. We will guide not lead. We are looking forward to meeting you both and starting the journey together.
Vision Counselling and Psychology offers –
- Multiple Perth and WA locations – Perth City, Scarborough, Midland, Belmont, Byford, Rockingham, Mandurah, Dunsborough
- No waiting lists
- After hours and weekend counselling appointments
Contact us today to book your marriage counselling appointment.
Find Out More About FIFO Couples Counselling …
FIFO Couples Counselling
We are well-versed in issues that couples face in fly in, fly out relationships.
No matter what your relationship status is, FIFO relationships are likely to encounter more issues than a normal relationship.
You will need to be stronger than most to survive and our couples counselling services can help you to achieve that.
Due to our location, our Perth relationship and marriage counsellors are familiar with the issues that couples in a FIFO relationship are faced with.
Our counsellors understand the difficulty that this relationship lifestyle can bring to a couple and are confident in helping you to work through the unique issues that couples who work in the mining industry have to deal with.
Relationship counselling can help improve the way you relate to those around you and allow you to break free from old patterns of behaviour.
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Relationship and marriage counselling is a tool to help you strengthen your bond.
Whether it is restoring trust after a negative experience, saying sorry or learning how to communicate more effectively or support each other during the FIFO phase of your relationship.
We even provide telehealth counselling so that your therapy will never miss a beat, no matter where you are.
One of the first comments couples usually make when embarking on relationship counselling is along the lines of: “We could have never had a conversation at home like that.”
So what relationship counselling tries to provide first and foremost is a safe environment for you and your partner to talk and in particular talk about the hard stuff.
With the counsellor’s assistance you will both get the opportunity to express yourselves and be heard. Bit by bit you might be able to look at what has gotten between you through a different lens, find other perspectives and gain an understanding of how you work as a couple.
When both partners are able to identify shared goals and commit to therapy in both attendance and working towards these goals, counselling can be very good for a relationship.
Counselling can assist with constructive and effective communication around difficult personal and relationship issues.
Emotional and physical intimacy are important elements of your relationship. By addressing problems in a safe counselling environment, it can help to bring you closer together or moving in the same direction.
Relationship counselling can be attended together or separately depending on you, your preferences, your relationship status and your therapist.
Some couples may attend all appointments together. Other people may start with individual counselling appointments and find that they would like to include their partner at a later date.
The counsellor may continue with you as an individual and as a couple or they may refer you to another therapist if they feel that this is in the best interests of you as their client.
Different counsellors deliver couples therapy in different ways, so it is worth having an idea on how you would like it to work and see if your counsellor can offer that to you.
Some couples may say that counselling has saved their relationship, however it is really the couple themselves that have saved their relationship.
Relationship counselling is a vehicle to assist the couples to save their relationship, if both partners want the relationship to be saved.
Counselling can be a tool to help encourage healthy relationships. Elements of relationship counselling that may help to save a relationship are allowing or teaching healthy communication skills, exploring boundaries, identifying goals, learning new techniques to support each other, providing a safe space to discuss or resolve difficult issues.
