22.Nov.2011 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 people is: ”Does counselling really work?” You may be considering getting some help with a relationship, with an anxiety problem or stress, or maybe low mood or depression. Whatever the cause of your concern, the good news is that clinical counselling is proven to help people with common mental health complaints like anxiety and depression. Moreover, relationship counselling for marriage or couple issues is also a helpful treatment for helping couples improve the quality of their relationship.

How does counselling work?
There are several different modalities that counsellors are able to employ to help you. The chosen mode will depend on a counsellors training and their judgement of your problems. Treatment for anxiety and depression can include cognitive behavioural therapy. This therapy 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 or habitual response. For example, people who suffer anxiety could be telling themselves things such as: ‘I can’t make it’, or ‘I’ll be terribly embarrassed if people see how nervous I am’. Such beliefs are recognised together with your therapist, and altered, positive self-representations are then used to challenge these beliefs. With continued practice and perhaps some skills training like relaxation, great results are experienced by most people.

Can relationship counselling help my marriage?
Relationships go through phases, from the initial honeymoon stage to the many stages of maturing of the relationships. For most couples, as a relationship matures, so do personal demands and responsibility, be it in the form of increased work pressure or children coming along, etc. As these pressures increase, the partners in the relationship may no longer be able to accommodate the other’s emotional needs, and conflict can develop – usually into frequent and recurring arguments. Relationship counselling enables each partner to learn to soothe their own distress, and at the same time learn to identify and bring out into the open any unspoken needs that are not being met. 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 identified.

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

How can I choose a counsellor or psychologist?
Contact a registered counsellor or psychologist for a start to a better life. Licenced mental health professionals are able to help you to overcome your emotional challenges. Depending on the country you are in you can find assistance from the professional body that registers psychologists or counsellors 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 relationship counselling Sydney. Call (02)8205 0566 or visit 418/185 Elizabeth Street, Sydney 2000.