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Relationship and couples therapy
Written by Luisa Kos
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Relationship and couples therapy: Rebuilding connections and strengthening bonds
Relationships can be one of the most rewarding aspects of life, but they can also bring challenges. Whether you’re navigating conflict, dealing with trust issues, or simply feeling disconnected from your partner, relationship and couples therapy can provide the tools and support you need to heal and grow together.
What Is relationship and couples therapy?
Relationship and couples therapy is a specialised form of counselling that focuses on improving communication, resolving conflict, and strengthening emotional connections. It’s designed for partners at any stage of their relationship—whether you’re dating, married, cohabiting, or even separated but seeking closure.
A trained therapist provides a safe, neutral space where both partners can express their feelings and work towards shared understanding and solutions.
When is couples therapy beneficial?
Couples therapy isn’t just for relationships in crisis. It can be beneficial for a variety of situations, including:
- Communication breakdown: Struggling to express yourself or feeling unheard.
- Conflict resolution: Recurring arguments that don’t seem to have a solution.
- Infidelity and trust issues: Rebuilding trust after betrayal.
- Intimacy problems: Addressing emotional or physical disconnection.
- Life transitions: Navigating challenges like parenthood, relocation, or retirement.
- Pre-marital counselling: Strengthening your foundation before making a long-term commitment.
What happens in couples therapy?
Couples therapy sessions typically involve both partners attending together, though individual sessions may also be included. During therapy, you can expect to:
- Explore the root causes of your challenges.
- Learn healthier ways to communicate and listen.
- Develop problem-solving strategies.
- Rebuild trust and intimacy.
- Set shared goals for your relationship.
Therapy isn’t just about talking; it’s about developing real-life tools and insights to help you feel better, think more clearly, and make meaningful changes in your life.
The benefits of couples therapy
Relationship therapy helps partners move past unhelpful patterns and create a stronger, healthier connection. Some of the key benefits include:
- Improved communication: Learn how to express your needs and listen with empathy.
- Stronger bond: Rebuild emotional and physical intimacy.
- Conflict management: Handle disagreements constructively without causing harm.
- Deeper understanding: Gain insight into your partner’s thoughts and feelings.
- Renewed hope: Rediscover what brought you together and build a more fulfilling future.
Finding the right couples therapist
Choosing the right therapist is essential for a successful experience. Look for someone who specialises in relationship counselling, has experience with your specific concerns, and makes both partners feel comfortable and understood.
Take the first step towards a stronger relationship
Take the first step today and connect with a therapist who specialises in helping couples thrive.
PTSD can develop immediately after someone experiences a disturbing event, or it can occur weeks, months or even years later.
Find a specialist
Therapists who can help with relationship and couples therapy
Beatrice Norville
You might be feeling overwhelmed in your relationships, stuck in the same patterns, or unsure how to move forward. Perhaps communication has broken down, family dynamics feel heavy, or life transitions have left you feeling disconnected — from others or even from yourself. You don’t have to navigate this alone. I offer a warm, reflective space where you can slow things down and make sense of what’s happening for you. My approach is collaborative and compassionate, helping you explore your thoughts, feelings, and relational patterns with curiosity rather than judgement. I work with adults, couples, and families, including those adjusting to major life changes such as parenthood, relationship challenges, or shifts in family roles. Together, we can look at how these experiences are impacting you and begin to find new ways of understanding and relating. I also have a particular passion for supporting women of colour. I recognise that your experiences may be shaped by culture, identity, and expectations that aren’t always acknowledged or understood elsewhere. In our work, all parts of your experience are welcome. Whether you’re coming on your own or as part of a couple or family, therapy can be a space to feel heard, gain clarity, and begin creating the kind of relationships — with yourself and others — that feel more balanced and fulfilling.
Elanor Travers
Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck in patterns you can’t shift? You might struggle to connect with your emotions or body, or find yourself overthinking and shutting down under stress. In relationships, communication may feel hard, especially during conflict or when expressing needs. A contribution to this can be the experience of sexual difficulties both individually or in a relationship. This can impact both our confidence and create distance around engaging with intimacy. Making sense of your behaviour patterns and why they repeat, could enable you feel calmer, clearer, and more connected to yourself and others. I help clients build body awareness through CBT practical exercises that show how anxiety and tension appear physically. This supports clearer emotional recognition and response. I also explore past experiences and relationship patterns through a psychodynamic lens. This can help us understand how they shape intimacy, desire, and sexual connection. I work with both individuals and relationships, offering time-limited or open-ended therapy depending on what you need. If you’re feeling unsure or have questions about whether therapy with me might be the right fit, you’re welcome to get in touch. I’m happy to arrange a brief call so we can explore what support could look like for you.
Mike Green
I’ve been counselling individuals and couples, from 18 to 88, with a diverse range of backgrounds, challenges and needs. I served my initial client hours working for Mind UK whilst training to become a qualified counsellor, and on completion of training I set up my own private practice, which I have been running now for over 8 years. I like to work with a range of issues from Anxiety, Depression, Bereavement, Stress, Self-Esteem, Trauma, this keeps the work interesting, challenging and keeps me on my toes. I continue to enjoy learning about human psychology, behaviour and mental health, which I find both intriguing and helpful in my work.
Tatjana Strbac
15+ experience supporting individuals and couples gain deeper understanding of their life stories and relationships. My approach is integrative and tailored to individual needs. I have a particular interest in relationships, as building blocks of our lives. I offer a safe and collaborative space to explore your challenges, dilemmas, past and present sufferings, and move towards realising your desires, dreams and goals.
Denis Grace
It is often a daunting prospect having to contact a therapist. Please feel free without obligation to get in touch for a chat with me. This will give you a chance to ask questions, get a feel of therapy and decide if we are the right match. My focus will be on helping you understand what is happening with you, not what is wrong with you, how to bring about change. You may feel you have anxiety, depression or finding your relationships are failing, and following similar patterns. It maybe trauma or attachment. I work as an individual and couples therapist. Trauma creates anxiety, self harm, dissociation, and addictions of all kinds. I use a range of modalities, including: Compassionate Inquiry, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS) and EMDR. Plus others
Fiona Tóth-Gillies
As a registered Art Psychotherapist (HCPC, BAAT), I have over 17 years experience working with adults and young people in Australia and the United Kingdom. I have delivered Art Psychotherapy for groups and individuals seeking greater insight into the psychological and emotional issues that stand in the way of a meaningful and engaging experience of life. I have a long history working in Adult Community Mental Health and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) programs in schools. My therapeutic approach is informed by both psychodynamic and person centred theories; an approach which is tailored to the specific needs and goals of the individual.
Howie Martinez
Whatever has brought you here, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Whether you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply aware that something needs to change, therapy can be a space to slow down, make sense of what’s happening, and start to move forward. I work with individuals and groups, drawing on Transactional Analysis and relational psychotherapy to help you understand the patterns that shape how you think, feel, and relate to others. Together we explore not just what’s happening on the surface, but the deeper dynamics underneath — because lasting change usually starts there. II also offer walking therapy sessions on Hoylake Beach for those who find movement and open space helpful to the therapeutic process. Whether you’re coming to therapy for the first time or returning after a break, I offer a free 15-minute consultation so you can get a feel for how I work before committing to anything.
Rhi Kemp-Davies
I offer in-person sex and relationship therapy in Pontypridd and Cardiff. I cover issues like: Low desire Erectile issues Orgasm issues Vaginal/pelvic/vulval pain Mismatched desire with a partner Compulsive sexual behaviour (otherwise known as ‘porn addiction’ or ‘sex addiction’) Sexual shame Sexual identity As a trans/nonbinary person, I have specialist skills in working with LGBTQIA+ people. See https://sexandrelationshiptherapy.co.uk/ to find out more.
Manuel Navarro
I am a systemic and family psychotherapist with 20 years of experience working in mental health services in the NHS. I have worked with adolescents and adults who suffer from mental health or emotional difficulties such as depression, anxiety and panic, and eating disorders. I also work with couples who are looking to improve their relationship, and I am registered with the Emotionally Focused Therapy Institute (ICEEFT). My approach to therapy recognises that the individual, as well as their family members all have strengths and strategies which can be used to overcome symptoms and difficulties. I am committed to empirical methods of therapy, and I offer systemic therapy including attachment, interpersonal neurobiology, NVR, and communication skills. Within my therapy framework I can meet with you individually, or with your family members, depending on your circumstances. You can contact me for a 30-minute free phone consultation, so that we can discuss whether we could work together towards your goals.
Anders Carvalho
Reaching out for support can feel significant. If you’ve been feeling confused, disconnected, stuck after a breakup, or held down by past experiences that keep you awake at night, we can explore these together and begin to understand what might change.
Professional Summary:
I am a qualified therapist with a BSc (Hons) in Integrative Counselling. I work with individuals and couples, offering sessions in person and online. My practice draws on multiple therapeutic approaches so we can look at your experience from different perspectives rather than through a single lens.
Issues I commonly work with:
• Anxiety | Stress |Depression |Relationship issues
• Self-esteem & confidence | Isolation, shame & Anger issues
• Life transitions | Identity crises and existential concerns
• Sex and sexuality| Loss, bereavement and Mortality
• Masculinity and men’s issues |Absent father and fatherlessness