Jenny Hodsdon
at
Meadows Counselling
Couples Counselling
"There is no greater source of joy and meaning in our lives than our relationships with others"
Esther Perel
At their best, our relationships with others are very rewarding and enrich our lives; however, if they aren't working, they can make us feel utterly miserable, affect our self-esteem and even affect our health.
We need other people in our lives, although the amount and strength of the relationships we have can vary hugely. If your intimate relationship has become strained for whatever reason, I can help you and your partner to take a closer look at your relationship in a calm setting.
Whether you are in a gay or straight relationship, whether you have been together years or have just got together, I have a wealth of knowledge to help you resolve your difficulties.
Perhaps you are both struggling to communicate? Arguing a lot or maybe giving your partner the silent treatment? This is where counselling and especially the support of a third party (ie me) can help you to communicate better and see the patterns you may have fallen in to without realising.
Perhaps you feel you aren't very connected anymore or you have noticed you are spending a lot of time apart and the relationship has lost a feeling of closeness? Let's face it, life gets busy with work, children, family obligations so we can be pulled on from many different areas of our lives. Some of lifes' busyness can't be avoided but relationships benefit from spending some time and effort on them.
With help, we can learn to communicate better with our partner, especially about the difficult topics we try to avoid.
If you are constantly in conflict then this can be a sign that communication has broken down. It can be difficult to communicate if one partner is being constantly critical or always on the defensive. Resentments can build up and it gets difficult to bring up the things we really need to have conversations about!
If there has been an affair, then the foundation of the relationship can feel as if it has crumbled. An affair may not mean the end of the relationship if you are willing to take a very close look at it.
Are you arguing more? Unable to have a calm discussion without one of you walking away?
Counselling can help you to learn to communicate clearly and calmly.