At Benchmark Psychology we view your relationship as an essential foundation for mental health. Couples therapy is not a luxury, nor is it unimportant or trivial. Research has shown that when relationships are in distress, couples therapy can not only improve your over wellbeing and satisfaction with life, but can also be used to treat conditions such as depression and PTSD. Improving your relationship can also be a powerful step towards being a better parent, allowing you to be kinder, more patient, work better as a team, and importantly, model to your children how to have healthy relationships later in their lives.
We have psychologists who are highly trained in evidence-based couples therapy and can assist with a wide range of relationship concerns, including –
- High conflict relationships
- Loss of connection
- Infidelity
- Sexual concerns
- Amicable separation
Our psychologists have completed postgraduate level training in clinical psychology before continuing on with extensive training and supervision in couples therapy. We can assist couples using evidence-based treatments such as Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) or behavioural couples therapy, as well as using psychological principles and techniques taken from therapies such as CBT and ACT.
What is couples therapy like?
Your first session will typically be the start of an ongoing ‘getting to know you’ process. Your therapist will focus on the concerns that have brought you to therapy right now, but may also ask about the history of your relationship. Your therapist will work hard to get to know each of you as individuals, while also paying attention to how the two of you together create your unique relationship dynamics. When things start to go badly in your relationship, our therapists will see it as being caused by a particular ‘cycle’ or ‘pattern’ that you are caught up in, rather than blaming either or both of you. We see the things you do in this relationship as attempts to protect yourself or your relationship (even though they may be creating distance), rather than being concerned with whether it is ‘wrong or right’. We understand that it takes courage to come to couples therapy and will take the time to ensure that you feel secure and supported throughout the process.
You can make appointments for couples therapy with Dr Jennifer Wilson, Dr Rebecca Frost or Sarah Scupham.
