COUPLES AND MEDIATION

As well as working with individuals, I offer counselling and mediation services to couples. These services may be sought by couples wanting to develop their relationship with each other at a particular stage in their lives, for instance, at a time when their children have reached adulthood and leaving home.

Couples may also look for independent support at a time of perceived crisis in their lives - when there has been a breakdown in the relationship and they want to find a way forward - either together or separately.  Couples with children may value support in seeking to minimise the emotional effects the ending of a relationship may have for their children.

Whatever the circumstances, there will be a shared recognition that change is needed. It is not unusual for one member of the relationship to see a possible way forward through counselling and/or mediation while the other may be less certain. Moreover, a couple seeking my service, bring the sum of their life experience as individuals, not only that part of their lives they have shared. An individual may - separately - seek to do some personal work with me.

In these circumstances, great care is taken to ensure that an individual's work with me is kept separate from  matters which a couple may jointly address. A plan will be agreed with a couple at the initial session and modified as necessary.

Increasingly, I am asked to mediate with couples whose relationship is ending and where they want to achieve an amicable separation. While this is most definitely not a substitute for individuals who should secure appropriate legal guidance, mediation can be a helpful aid prior to matters being formalised - possibly saving both time and expenditure.

If you would like to find out more about my work with couples, please contact me.