How does Relationship Therapy Work?

Does relationship counselling work? How about individual therapy for anxiety and depression. Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney, a leading service provider, answers your questions about counselling therapy.

A common question asked by clients is: ’Does counselling really work?’ Like our clients, you may be looking for help with a relationship, with an anxiety problem or stress, or maybe low mood or depression. Whatever the reasons causing your concern, the good news is that clinical counselling has proven to clearly help those with complaints such as anxiety and depression. And importantly also, counselling for marriage or couple issues is a helpful therapy for assisting couples to improve their relationship.

Counselling: How does it work?
There are numerous types of modalities which counsellors are able to employ to help you. The chosen mode will depend on a counsellors training and their judgement of your issue. Treatment for anxiety and depression can include cognitive behavioural therapy. This treatment works by thinking in depth about behaviours and thoughts that generally increase your level of anxiety or depression, and help you to overcome this patterned reaction. For example, those who suffer anxiety could be telling themselves things like: ”I will never make it”, or ”I will be terribly embarrassed if people see how nervous I am”. Such beliefs are recognised together with your therapist, and altered, more accurate self-representations are now employed to challenge these beliefs. With ongoing practice and some skills training like relaxation, positive results are experienced by most people.

Can relationship counselling really help my partnership?
It’s important to realise that relationships go through phases, from the initial honeymoon stage to the many stages of maturing of the relationships. For nearly everyone, as the relationship matures, so do personal demands and responsibility, be it in the form of increased work pressure or children coming along, etc. As these common pressures increase, the partners in the relationship may no longer be able to accommodate the other’s emotional needs, and conflict may develop - usually into frequent and recurring arguments. Relationship counselling helps each partner to learn to soothe their own distress, and at the same time learn to identify and bring out into the open the underlying needs that are not being satisfied. Partners can learn to begin to negotiate what they can do for each other and which demands may need to go unmet. A new, more realistic life plan is recognised and can be worked with.

What issues can our psychologists help with?
Therapists and psychologists are familiar with helping over a broad range of issues including anxiety or stress, depression or sadness, marriage and couple issues, grief and bereavement, addictions, anger management, eating disorders and many other complaints of modern living.

How should I choose a counsellor or psychologist?
Get in touch with a registered counsellor or psychologist for a start to a better life. These licenced mental health professionals are able to help you to overcome your emotional challenges. Whatever country you are in you can get assistance from the professional body that registers counsellors or psychologists in your state. In Australia, Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney can connect you with a registered therapist near you.

Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney - psychologist services including, cognitive therapy, general counselling, psychology and marriage counselling Sydney. Call (02)8205 0566 or visit 418/185 Elizabeth Street, Sydney 2000.