Relationships, Attachment & Bonding
The relationships in your life play a key role in your happiness, emotional wellbeing and mental health. The term relationship counselling doesn't refer solely to romantic interests; it also encompasses relationships with parents and mentors, friends and co-workers.
Relationships that you and your loved ones experienced during childhood shape the patterns you experience in your adult communication, attachment and bonding habits. Very often, you won’t appreciate just how deep these roots might go. Psychotherapy plumbs those depths, finds the root cause and works to improve your foundational relationship patterns for both now and into the future.
Counselling for Couples: Why and How?
A brief online search reveals many therapy possibilities for couples: couples group therapy, relationship assistance and even sexual guidance. Do you need such assistance? The answer depends on the relationship challenges you’re facing and your goals.
Psychological therapy for people with concerns about their relationships can accomplish the following:
- Improved communication
- Productive conflict resolution
- Healthier relationships with romantic partners, siblings, friends and other people of importance in your life
- Awareness of behaviour patterns that cause relationship problems
- Revived interpersonal emotional connections
- Heal current or past relational wounds
- Strengthened relationship commitment
The Principles of Couples Counselling
Psychotherapy techniques can identify the root of relationship problems and offer short and long-term solutions to strengthen couples bonds. The Counselling Clinic specialises in relationship assistance and bases its approach on the principles of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) is based on theories of adult attachment and emotional bonding. It aims to increase security, closeness and connection in intimate relationships. An EFT therapist observes the dynamics between clients in the therapy setting and helps direct new conversations and interactions based on more honest feelings. EFT holds that conflict in intimate relationships is caused by an individual’s personal history, emotional pain and/or misunderstandings, leading to feelings of insecurity and mistrust in their relationship. These underlying feelings of mistrust or dissatisfaction tend to lead to negative behaviours and responses towards one’s partner, triggering a cycle of negative patterns of interaction and misunderstanding. The process will encourage you to look at your current emotional issues and you may discover deeper past feelings and vulnerabilities that are blocked by the more immediate emotions you display in your current relationship. You will learn to express these emotions in a way that will help you connect, rather than disconnect with your partner or family member. You will learn new ways to listen and stay attuned to another’s emotions and discover more productive ways to respond to emotional situations. You may find this method a beneficial approach, as it can help people better understand both their own emotional responses and those of significant people in their lives.
Several features may distinguish our approach from other therapies. These include an exploration and discussion of the full range of a client’s emotions; ways that we seek to avoid upsetting thoughts and feelings; recurring themes and patterns in our lives; past experiences, particularly as they affected psychological development; interpersonal relationships; fantasies, wishes or dreams.
The goals of therapy include:
- Healing relational wounds
- Change dysfunctional behaviours
- Improve communication between partners
- Decrease emotional avoidance
- Enhance emotional bonding
- Emphasise relationship strengths
Throughout the process, you will learn about yourself, your past and your partner. This knowledge can open your eyes to what you’ve managed to build together and what can be improved in the future.
The experts at the Counselling Clinic are here to help you make your relationships stronger and happier. Start becoming a closer couple today. Give us a call today at 02 6294 8013 to schedule your first appointment.
Welcome to
The Counselling Clinic
If you are wondering if this is the right place take some time to consider the following questions:
- Do you feel stuck in your current life circumstances?
- Do you experience intense feelings of sadness, hopelessness or helplessness?
- Do you experience unwanted thoughts or feelings of worry or fear?
Simply complete the form or call us on 02 6294 8013 and we can begin the journey together.