Deeper connection and renewed intimacy with relationship counselling

I can work with you to resolve issues that are causing you distress or distance between you. Working as a relationship and couples counsellor is a significant focus of my practice and specialism. I have completed several respected specialist clinical training to specifically work with couples and relationships. I continue to expand my clinical knowledge and training in the most effective practices in working with couples and relationships.

I provide in-person couples counselling from my private practice based in Cuckfield, Haywards Heath. I see couples for relationship therapy who live in various locations throughout East Sussex and West Sussex areas.

Relationship counselling

It is normal that you may feel apprehensive talking to a couples counsellor about your relationship. It can be a daunting prospect to open up and have hard conversations that may reveal your true feelings, which you may have struggled with together in private. I hope to ease these worries by providing you with a non-judgemental, safe and relaxed environment so you can begin to address your concerns about your relationship.

Most people agree that their relationships are incredibly meaningful to them. It is where we find support, closeness, friendship and love. When there are issues within our relationship that are difficult to resolve, it can certainly feel stressful and at times lonely.

Deep down most couples are looking for better communication, more connection and understanding from each other. But more than this they want their relationship to change for the better and are unsure how to go about this themselves. As an experienced relationship counsellor I can help you work through these issues.

Additional clinical counselling training to support my work with relationships and couples

Systemic family, couple and individual therapy at Practitioner level with the Tavistock and Portman Trust, NHS – accredited by the University of Essex and Association of Family Therapy (AFT).

A accredited CPCAB Relate post qualifying clinical qualification and a professional certificate of competency in working with couples and relationships.

Level 7 accredited Professional Certificate in Psychosexual Therapy with the Contemporary Institute of Clinical Sexology CICS (COSRT Accredited).

CPD for couples in emotional focused therapy (EFT), The Gottman Institute - The Gottman Method (Level 1) and Relational Life Therapy (RLT) Terry Real. 

Areas of my experience as a couples counsellor

  • Lack of trust

  • Communication difficulties

  • Differences in desire and intimacy

  • Differences that cannot be reconciled easily

  • Infertility and support through fertility treatment

  • Wider family conflict

  • Bereavement and loss

  • Affairs, betrayal and infidelity

  • Life transitions

  • Different parental styles

  • Relationship diversity

  • Consensual non-monogamy relationships

  • Impact of illness, disability or health

  • Psychosexual issues

  • Working with neurodiversity, e.g. autism and adhd

Holding hands in the sunset

How I work with couples

During couples counselling I work with you to increase your understanding and insight. I will help you look at the problem you are bringing from multiple perspectives. With support you will start to uncover the difficulties or patterns that are holding you back. By gaining a better understanding of yourself, each other and your relational patterns you will have more clarity to make better choices.

The therapy is most effective when both partners are willing to apply this new knowledge by breaking the cycle of unhelpful patterns to create a stronger and a more meaningful relationship.

I will be interested in your life experiences, as this helps us to uncover and understand patterns from the past that may be keeping you stuck. However, my main focus is how you relate to each other in the room and I will support you to bring your feelings, thoughts and behaviours more into your awareness. This is so you can develop different perspectives and start to make positive changes in your relationship.

I recognise the diversity of relationships and I also affirm marginalised identities. I work with couples who have disabilities, including neurodiversities, such as autism and adhd.

Please be aware, I do not work with couples where there is any domestic abuse, further advice can be found on the Relate website.