Couples and relationship therapy
Much of my work is with partners in relationships. Often called couples therapy or couples counselling, my relationship therapy is open to relationships of every structure, including monogamous, open, polyamorous and other non-traditional relationships, and to partners of any gender or sexuality. You may be two people or more.
People often come when communication has broken down, the same arguments keep recurring, trust has been damaged, intimacy has changed, or the relationship is going through a transition. Some come at a crossroads, unsure what they want next.
Being in a relationship can be tough
Whatever shape your relationship takes, and whatever has brought you here, it can be one of the hardest things we do, and one of the most important.
My approach to relationship work is the same as my approach with individuals: authenticity and kindness. My training with the Contemporary Institute of Clinical Sexology (CICS), whose relationship and psychosexual work underpins how I practise, welcomes every kind of relationship, whether married, long-term, new, open or in another structure.
In sessions, I’ll gently name what I notice. Together we’ll look at how you communicate and at the patterns underneath, the workings of your relationship. So much can be understood when we slow things down and approach each other with kindness rather than fear.
I’m interested in intention. Underneath the arguments, the silences and the old hurts, there is usually something each of you is trying to say or protect. My role is to help clear away the noise so you can hear each other again.
I also draw on ideas from the Gottman Method, Imago and Relational Life Therapy, and the work of Esther Perel, using whatever is most helpful for you both.
What to expect
We’ll begin with a free 15-minute conversation to see whether working together feels right for you both. Before we start, I check with each partner that they are willing and ready to take part.
Relationship therapy sessions are 50 minutes and cost £130. They take place in person in Haywards Heath, in London (Wimbledon and Stratford) with limited availability, or online via Zoom. Partners can join from different locations if needed.