A LOVE AFFAIR?
What comes to mind when you hear that phrase? Passion? Impulsiveness? Sadness? Loss? Man - Woman? Man-Man? Woman-Woman? Trans? Which word has the emphasis? A? Love? or Affair? In the world of Couples or Relationship Counselling all those words have significant and powerful meanings to clients depending on their moral outlook, beliefs and values. In […]
THE COUPLES COUNSELLING PROCESS
Therapists often tell clients to trust the therapeutic process. However, the process of couple's counselling can be confusing. Sometimes couples say they feel lost in the process, that they're going round in circles. They can project their disappointment, anger and frustration onto each other and the therapist. Sometimes a couple decides to quit the process […]
ATTACHMENT THEORY SYNOPSIS
Attachment Theory was developed by John Bowlby, a British psychiatrist and psychoanalyst (1907-1990) in his pioneering work on attachment and loss. It was later expanded by Mary Ainsworth (1913-1999), an American- Canadian development psychologist who designed the ‘Strange Situation,’ a series of observations on the interactions between mothers and babies. Their work explored the bonds […]
MANAGING CONFLICT IN A RELATIONSHIP
Many couples come to me saying that they’re not getting on with their partner. They’re arguing over the silliest, smallest thing. A difference of opinion suddenly escalates into a shower of offensive remarks, blaming and swearing. One partner becomes upset. The other storms off. Sound familiar? In other couples one partner may have an overriding […]