Couples therapy is inclusive of both pre-marital and marital counselling. Couples therapy aims to address ineffective patterns of communication that underlie each partner’s concerns. Couples therapy assists couples in improving their communication in order that:
- Each partner is able to express their needs effectively
- The couple is able to effectively work through conflict
- They are able to build sustainable emotional closeness
- Each partner is better able to understand the other
- The couple is able to co-parent effectively
Pre-marital counselling assists couples in creating firm foundations built on effective communication, understanding and mutual benefit. This therapy significantly increases the couple’s chances of a more satisfying long term relationship.
Initially each partner will meet with the therapist individually. This provides them with the opportunity to discuss concerns, needs and frustrations about the relationship. The aim here is that each partner is able to enter joined sessions with a more effective style of communicating thus facilitating more productive, results based sessions.