Counselling International

Couple therapy

counselling international, counselling, psychotherapy, couples, individuals, Barkema, Els Barkema, Barkema-Sala, psychotherapy in english, english therapy, english counselling, professional help, relationship difficulties, family problems, personal problems, anxiety, isolation, bereavement, grief, person-centred therapy, humanistic therapy, experiential therapy introduction

-Nederlands-

counselling international, counselling, psychotherapy, couples, individuals, Barkema, Els Barkema, Barkema-Sala, psychotherapy in english, english therapy, english counselling, professional help, relationship difficulties, family problems, personal problems, anxiety, isolation, bereavement, grief, person-centred therapy, humanistic therapy, experiential therapy counselling

counselling international, counselling, psychotherapy, couples, individuals, Barkema, Els Barkema, Barkema-Sala, psychotherapy in english, english therapy, english counselling, professional help, relationship difficulties, family problems, personal problems, anxiety, isolation, bereavement, grief, person-centred therapy, humanistic therapy, experiential therapy couple therapy

counselling international, counselling, psychotherapy, couples, individuals, Barkema, Els Barkema, Barkema-Sala, psychotherapy in english, english therapy, english counselling, professional help, relationship difficulties, family problems, personal problems, anxiety, isolation, bereavement, grief, person-centred therapy, humanistic therapy, experiential therapy mediation

counselling international, counselling, psychotherapy, couples, individuals, Barkema, Els Barkema, Barkema-Sala, psychotherapy in english, english therapy, english counselling, professional help, relationship difficulties, family problems, personal problems, anxiety, isolation, bereavement, grief, person-centred therapy, humanistic therapy, experiential therapy the professional

counselling international, counselling, psychotherapy, couples, individuals, Barkema, Els Barkema, Barkema-Sala, psychotherapy in english, english therapy, english counselling, professional help, relationship difficulties, family problems, personal problems, anxiety, isolation, bereavement, grief, person-centred therapy, humanistic therapy, experiential therapy activities/press

counselling international, counselling, psychotherapy, couples, individuals, Barkema, Els Barkema, Barkema-Sala, psychotherapy in english, english therapy, english counselling, professional help, relationship difficulties, family problems, personal problems, anxiety, isolation, bereavement, grief, person-centred therapy, humanistic therapy, experiential therapy contact

counselling international, counselling, psychotherapy, couples, individuals, Barkema, Els Barkema, Barkema-Sala, psychotherapy in english, english therapy, english counselling, professional help, relationship difficulties, family problems, personal problems, anxiety, isolation, bereavement, grief, person-centred therapy, humanistic therapy, experiential therapy presentations, consultation, publications

counselling international, counselling, psychotherapy, couples, individuals, Barkema, Els Barkema, Barkema-Sala, psychotherapy in english, english therapy, english counselling, professional help, relationship difficulties, family problems, personal problems, anxiety, isolation, bereavement, grief, person-centred therapy, humanistic therapy, experiential therapy location

counselling international, counselling, psychotherapy, couples, individuals, Barkema, Els Barkema, Barkema-Sala, psychotherapy in english, english therapy, english counselling, professional help, relationship difficulties, family problems, personal problems, anxiety, isolation, bereavement, grief, person-centred therapy, humanistic therapy, experiential therapy Gcoach

At some point all couples or intimate partners face the problem of balancing uniquely individual needs/wishes with equally valid needs for belonging and wanting to be liked, appreciated and needed – in other words, the struggle between autonomy (freedom) and interdependency (belonging).  Couple therapy can be a useful tool in exploring this area to clarify interaction patterns and to improve communication.

Cultural/ political/ religious/societal influences all play a role in intimate relationships, as do common patterns of interaction and strongly held beliefs or values in the respective families of origin.  In couple therapy, attention can be directed towards communication patterns and contextual family life: ways conflicts are dealt with or pushed aside, attachments formed and emotions expressed.

In the first stage either partner can freely express views on the relationship: what is/is not working, what is appreciated, what needs to change and why - allowing for full exploration of thoughts and feelings.  In the second stage these combined views can be considered, so partners can get to know each other and themselves better than ever before: finding commonality as well as areas of friction, often achieving unthought-of changes of perception.  In the closing stage, couple and counsellor can work together to explore options, modify roles, changes in the direction of more effective interaction - leading to better ways of meeting each other’s and own needs and hence to increased mutual satisfaction and happiness.

Goals of couple therapy can be:

  • more mutually satisfying intimacy (emotional and sexual)
  • more comfortable level of trust/ reduction of tension
  • better balance between individual freedom and sharing
  • more positive self-views and mutual regard combined with improved interaction with children/ family/ in-laws
  • better coping mechanisms for dealing with ongoing parenting demands or inevitable hardships
  • how to regain trust and intimacy after upsetting incidents of indiscretion, disloyalty or infidelity

Exploring relationship difficulties together can lead to a valuable increase in personal/mutual understanding and to increased empathy towards one’s partner and oneself, which in turn can enrich the relationship immensely.

Couple therapy tends to be conducted along a mutually agreed-to series of 5 weekly sessions, that can be repeated as long as it seems necessary/useful (rarely exceeding15 sessions). 

© infofilm