- Couples Counselling is a type of counselling in which a clinical psychologist with expertise in working with couples, helps focus on issues confronting relationships between partners. With the aid of the therapist, the partners can gain insight into their relationship, resolve conflict and improve relationship satisfaction.
- Every couple comes with its unique difficulties and challenges, most of which is amicably handled through open conversation and free interaction. However, when communication becomes a problem, the stability of a relationship faces a severe threat. In situations where conversation becomes an issue, couples therapy often comes as a solution to strengthen the bond between the partners, and to renew the love and affection in the relationship.
- Couples counselling has multiple benefits for people, especially those who are willing to put in a little extra effort to make their relationship work. It is short-term and problem oriented; it may include a variety of approaches to provide gentle guidance in difficult areas as shared responsibilities, expectations for the future, and loyalties. Individual sessions may be provided separately to each partner, particularly at the beginning of therapy; most of the course of therapy, however, is provided to both partners together.
Although the practice of couples counselling may vary depending on the therapist’s theoretical orientation, all couples counselling tends to involve the following general elements:
- A focus on a specific problem (i.e. sexual difficulties, Internet addiction, jealousy)
- Active participation on the part of the therapist in treating the relationship itself, rather than each individual separately
- A clear establishment of treatment objectives.
- Solution-focused, change-oriented interventions early on in treatment.
