Couples counselling or couples therapy is a form of relationship counselling. It is aimed at improving communication and dealing with issues within an intimate relationship. This type of talking therapy involves a couples counsellor and both individuals in the relationship working together.
Here you can find out more information about couples counselling with The Spark, including:
- Why couples try counselling
- How couples counselling can help
- What to expect from couples counselling
- Couples counselling for all
- Professional and clinical excellence
Alternatively, find out how to book a couples counselling appointment.
Why couples try counselling
The motivations to seek support through counselling are unique to each relationship. However, several issues are common including:
- Major life events like starting a family, bereavement or changing careers
- Communication issues and conflicts
- Emotional and mental health issues
- Financial issues and disagreements
- Parenting challenges such as differing parenting styles and approaches to discipline
- Family conflict between parents and kids or within an extended family
- Trust or jealousy issues when an affair or breach of trust has been discovered
- Falling out of love or losing connection as a couple
Couples counselling is not purely for relationships in crisis, it can help deal with potential issues before they become significant problems. In seeking therapy when the relationship is relatively stable couples can identify and work through underlying concerns or patterns that may lead to future conflicts or dissatisfaction.
How couples therapy can help
Couples therapy with The Spark gives couples the opportunity to understand and explore the relationship issues they are facing.
Working with an impartial, supportive and skilled counsellor, couples can deal with communication problems, major life events and other issues causing unhappiness.
Similar to marriage counselling, couples therapy focuses on creating a safe, non-judgemental space where each of you can freely express your own unique feelings and emotions.
Counselling was invaluable and helped us through a very difficult time in our relationship. We’re a much happier couple now.
Find out how to book a couples counselling appointment.
What to expect from couples counselling
Like any form of relationship counselling, couples therapy is not about being told what to do. Your counsellor will take an impartial and balanced perspective.
They will encourage and facilitate a process where the couple is able to decide upon the right course of action to take. A couples counsellor will never judge or take sides regarding your relationship.
By supporting positive communication, counselling can help you and your partner come to your own decisions about how to progress.
This might involve changing how you interact with each other; the ways you spend time together or how you deal with specific issues as a couple.
In some cases, this process might require ‘homework’ to be completed outside your counselling sessions. This will be unique to each couple but can take the form of topics to discuss, alternative ways of dealing with certain situations or completing a specific task together.
How to book a couples counselling appointment
Counselling sessions can be booked via our appointments team.
To get started complete the counselling enquiry form below and a member of our appointments team will follow up with you to confirm your availability.
Alternatively, you can call us for free on 0808 802 2088 during our opening hours.
Counselling for all
The Spark offers online and face-to-face and online counselling to couples living in Scotland and online counselling for couples in the rest of the UK.
No matter your gender, stage of relationship, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religion our counsellors are available to help. We believe passionately in the importance of early intervention and encourage couples to consider therapy before relationship issues escalate.
Professional and clinical excellence assured
All of our counsellors are trained to diploma level and many have advanced qualifications in specific modalities of counselling. Each counsellor is a registered member of one or more professional bodies including BACP, COSCA and OTI.
The Spark is proud to be a recipient of the COSCA Recognition Scheme Award for organisations undertaking Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland. This award reflects our commitment to professional and clinical excellence in our counselling services.
The Spark is also an organisational member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
The Spark will be closed from 9pm 19 December until 6 January 2025. We will respond to your enquiry on our return.
Enquire about counselling today
The Spark first started offering counselling to couples 58 years ago in 1965. We’ve grown since then and now support individuals, families, children, and young people too, but couples counselling remains at the heart of what we do.
Whether you’re ready to book an appointment or you just want some more information about counselling use the form below to get in touch.