Rita Harvey Counselling​ & Super​vision
Minerva Talking Therapies Ltd
Couple Counselling
Many people experience relationship problems, whether they are due to changes in the couple or individual needs, life changes or different outlooks in life. These problems can cause a lot of distress and insecurity that may affect the partners' whole lives.
Relationship counselling is useful for all types of relationships: marriages, partnerships, friendships, family members, etherosexual and same-sex couples. Any couple or 2 people in a relationship could benefit from finding a safe environment where with professional facilitation they can approach difficult subjects and make changes.
The way I work with couples is interactive and focussed on finding ways to improve communication, solve problems and face difficulties, in a respectful and engaging way and with the full collaboration of both partners.
Typical couples issues that can be discussed in therapy are: distancing, low empathy, intimacy, conflict, sexual problems, parenting, separation or divorce.
Relationship issues that can be addressed especially in non-sexual couples (eg friends, siblings, parent and child) are usually around communication, conflict and boundaries.
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Couple counselling requires an introductory assessment session where both attend, one individual assessment session for each partner and thereafter all sessions are attended by both people together.
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I use concepts from Transactional Analysis, CBT and Psychodynamic psychologies to help couple clients and have specialist supervision for these cases.
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COUPLE COUNSELLING FOR SPECIFIC ISSUES
RELATIONSHIP CLARITY COUNSELLING
For those couple where one partner is unsure whether they want to continue staying together, I offer short term "Relationship Clarity Counselling" to help them both understand this situation and move forward. This type of counselling typically takes up to 5 weekly sessions.
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COUPLE COUNSELLING AFTER AN AFFAIR OR CRISIS
Affairs can cause a lot of pain and conflict and people may need help navigate these situations safely and compassionately. In these cases the therapy is first geared to manage the immediate intense emotional impact on the partners, helping them to regulate their emotions and take necessary actions to protect their relationship. Only when some emotional safety has been established we can look at the context and deeper reasons for the affair or crisis that has come about, This understanding is crucial for the latter phase of this counselling, where the partners will move forward with healing, developing healthier relationship patterns and goals, if desired.
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PLEASE NOTE - I do not work with couples where there is active and intense drug use, domestic violence or safeguarding issues, as these require specialist support. Should these arise I would refer to appropriate services.
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Contact me for more information on this service and to book an introductory appointment.