Why therapy?
What is couples therapy about?
Some of the issues that are faced in therapy include lack of communication, depression, bereavement, sexual or intimacy problems, internet addiction, divorce and separation, parenting or other family conflicts, infidelity, trauma, addictions, work stress, retirement/ageing, and difficulties with trust and/or anger.
How does it help couples?
Couple counselling aims to identify the problems within a relationship and guide you towards solutions that work for both parties. A sympathetic, non-judgmental couple therapist can help you air your true feelings in a safe, comfortable and confidential environment.
Why should you consider therapy?
There are many factors in any relationship that impact our ability to be happy, from mundane domestic challenges to sudden financial stress or gradual loss of desire. Some problems sound trivial but may be more serious than we think; others sound serious but might easily be resolved. The purpose of therapy is to identify the particular issues that matter to YOU, and explore ways of reviving your relationship, or, if necessary, of moving on. It is not always quick or easy to find the underlying causes of friction; but therapy offers the prospect of understanding what has gone wrong, as a first step to putting things right.
How will we proceed?
During an initial consultation, we will discuss your most pressing issues and what you may be looking for or hoping to achieve in therapy. It is also a chance for me to explain how therapy works and for you to decide whether I might be able to help you. If you conclude that working with me would be worthwhile, we can then arrange weekly or fortnightly meetings at a time convenient for you.
It is not uncommon for partners to disagree about the need for or value of therapy. As a couples specialist, I believe the process can be more helpful if both partners are involved. But I know from experience that is not always possible, and I often see individuals who feel they benefit by being able to talk freely about their relationships to an independent listener.
Individual
Alongside my work with couples, I also offer individual therapy to adults experiencing relationship and/or sexual difficulties.
Individuals may seek therapy to better understand their emotional world or to explore their feelings in relation to a current partner. Others come to reflect on setbacks in past relationships, including why relationships may have become painful, conflictual, or ended in distress.
Individual therapy can provide space to think about patterns of relating, intimacy, attachment, desire, and the ways earlier relational experiences may shape present difficulties. The work is reflective and exploratory, offering a confidential setting in which to make sense of emotional and sexual concerns at your own pace.
Sessions are offered online.
Psychosexual
Experiencing challenges in your sexual life is common, whether as an individual or within a relationship. Psychosexual therapy provides a safe, confidential space to explore these difficulties and their emotional, psychological, or relational impact. It helps you better understand the factors contributing to sexual concerns and equips you with strategies and insights to address them.
Therapy can be undertaken individually or with a partner, depending on your needs. Sessions focus on both understanding the underlying causes of difficulties and developing practical approaches to improve sexual wellbeing, intimacy, and communication.
Common issues that psychosexual therapy can address include:
Painful intercourse, vaginismus, or dyspareunia
Loss of sexual desire
Anorgasmia or difficulties achieving orgasm
Compulsive use of pornography & compulsive sexual behaviours
Rapid ejaculation
Erectile dysfunction
Delayed ejaculation
Sexual difficulties related to medical conditions, including cancer
The long-term impact of sexual trauma
Psychosexual therapy considers the physical, psychological, and social dimensions of sexuality, following a biopsychosocial approach. This model recognises that every sexual expression arises from the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. Therapy guided by this framework aims to provide comprehensive support, helping clients improve sexual wellbeing, personal satisfaction, and overall quality of life (QoL; Jannini et al., 2010).