Counselling a couple is different to counselling an individual. It is the job of the counsellor to ensure that an atmosphere where both clients learn that they can speak and be heard is created.
Participants learn to trust, and gradually give up, layers of superficial positioning, positive and negative, to get to their most important truths.
Counselling can help the clients to get a sense of perspective. Counselling, concentrated on the quality of a relationship, can bring up very strong and personal emotions about what is missing and wanted from one's whole life, not just from the relationship.
Charles O’Leary, in 1999, suggested that the counsellor can point out the incongruence between people in the relationship, and their intention to resolve their differences and restore intimacy:
"The counsellor is not in charge of training in etiquette, and is certainly not the judge of a couple’s way of being. She can however, raise questions about the incongruence between what a couple intend, to resolve their differences and restore intimacy."
O’Leary also said:
"Hopefulness is at the heart of counselling. It is the unexpressed other side of the bad news our clients initially share in our offices."
Telephone:
01539 740778 or e-mail for further information & advice.
Please contact Dacrelands Clinic (01524 69864) during working hours.