Couples Therapy Oxford Circus

Couples sessions last an hour. I see many couples struggling to make sense of their relationship and their sex life. This generally a relationship issue. Sometimes the sex life is being impacted by a specific sexual concern such as low libido, vaginismus or erectile problems; these are just a few of the most common concerns but there are many more. I help couples gain knowledge of the problem and most importantly get them to start talking about it for usually by the time the couple has decided to enter therapy, tensions are high and they are on the brink of thinking about giving up.

I hold initial consultations where, if you feel comfortable with me and what I have to offer including how I may be able to help you, we would agree to work together for a series of session, usually six to begin with. We would then review the work so far and, as often is the case, clients feel sufficiently supported enough to engage in further sessions. I always review with you to be sure that you are getting what you need and we end by mutual agreement or continue, its your choice. Therapy can be short and focused or long term, depending on the concerns. Psychosexual therapy is usually addressing an immediate problem that has recently occurred or began a long time previously. The initial focus is on the manifestation on the problem itself and with time, usually by helping you to look at your life history, connections can be made which are very useful in seeing perhaps how the concern began to take hold and cause the distress that it is causing today. 

Couples counselling (which can also be referred to as marriage guidance) is a form of therapy that looks to improve communication and resolve issues within an intimate relationship. In contrast to counselling for relationship issues, which can be undertaken solely through individual sessions, couples counselling is a term applied to talk therapy for two people within a relationship. With this in mind, counsellors who offer this form of therapy should have the relevant training to help them work with the dynamics of a couple. While couples counselling is ideally suited to couples attending the sessions together, if your partner is reluctant you can look to speak to a couples counsellor on your own to begin with. You may find your partner wants to join you after you have had some initial sessions alone - or you may find it helpful to intersperse couple sessions with individual sessions. In regards to the techniques used, some of the work you do will take place within your counselling sessions themselves - however many couples counsellors will also ask you to carry out 'homework'. Typically your counsellor will ask you either to do a task or discuss something specific when you get home. During your next session you will get the chance to talk about your homework, discuss any challenges you came up against and how the experience made you both feel.