Couples Therapy
Pre-marital counselling
Engaged couples spend a significant amount of time, effort and money into organizing the ‘big day’. As important as that might be, a crucial part to include in the planning is the dynamics of the marriage itself.
In my practice the focus of pre-marital counselling sessions is mostly pro-active as I focus on a variety of different issues which might cause disillusion after the honeymoon phase such as:
- Decision making
- Role allocation
- Managing the different relationships with each other’s family
- Maintaining a balance between your identity as an individual and as a couple
- Financial orientation
- Working through unresolved emotional business
- Effective communication
- Conflict resolution
- Creating psychological healthy habits as a couple
Couples therapy
Couples therapy focuses on enhancing the quality of the relationship between two people who are in an established relationship. In couples therapy the focus is firstly on identifying and addressing ineffective patterns of behavior in the relationship to ensure optimal functioning of both individuals and overall satisfaction.
Depending on the presenting problem, dynamics and needs of you as a couple, we might also look at the following:
- Negotiating needs
- Negotiating power/control
- Communication training and conflict resolution
- Working through infidelity or any unfinished emotional business
- Adjusting to a new phase of life
- Role allocation
- Resolving trauma/bereavement
When working with couples I first see partners individually before having a conjoint session. In this way each partner have the opportunity to give an unfiltered account of the problem and get individual feedback which might assist before coming together as a couple. Therefore, couples therapy consists of 2 hours in which you are first seen individually and then together.
Sex Therapy
Read more about sex therapy for couples here
Therapy is available in English and Afrikaans.