Relationship Counselling in London and Online

Strong and satisfying relationships can help bring happiness and contentment. Most relationships are not perfect and have their ups and downs. However, some people can experience relationship difficulties where things often seem to get stuck. Relationship counselling can help with difficulties that lead to feelings of loneliness, sadness, stress and anger by providing a safe and supportive space to think about and explore the roots of these issues.

Therapy can be of help whether you are wanting to:

  • Save and strengthen a relationship or couple
  • Decide whether to separate and, if so, to come to an amicable separation
  • Cope with a relationship  or couple breakdown
  • Become stronger and ready for a new relationship

Whatever relationship difficulty you are facing, we have highly qualified Relationship Counselling therapists in London & Online who can help.

Relationship Counselling in London

Discover Relationship Counselling

Relationship Issues that our Relationship Counsellors Can Help with

At Therapy Central we help people with a range of relationship issues including:

  • Infidelity
  • Saving and strengthening relationships
  • Coping with relationship breakdowns
  • Finding the right partner for you and dating
  • Ending a relationship
  • Jealousy/trust issues
  • Abuse
  • Feeling disconnected
  • An imbalance in power
  • Problems with communication
  • Difficulties with sex and intimacy

What does Relationship Counselling Involve?

You may wish to seek help together as a couple, or individually, or you might prefer to receive both couples therapy and individual sessions with us. If you are in a relationship, even if your partner is not willing to attend, it can still be helpful to attend on an individual basis to work through your relationship difficulties. You can also seek relationship therapy whether or not you are in a relationship.

During therapy your therapist will guide discussions for you to gain a deeper understanding of the reasons for your relationship difficulties. In couples therapy it can be helpful to explore the difficult emotions that are experienced for you both, as well as explore patterns in the way you relate to each other. What you each want from the relationship will be ascertained. Underlying issues that may be having an influence can be explored and addressed. Your therapist can facilitate more effective communication and can introduce you to strategies to help you work through your difficulties and enable you to develop a healthier and happier relationship whether you choose to stay together, or part amicably.

Do Relationship Counselling and Couples Therapy Help?

The simple answer is yes. Multiple studies have been published on the effectiveness of couples counselling [1]. However, unlike in individual therapy or counselling, when working with a relationship there are many variables connected with its effectiveness. For example the desire to break vicious cycles in your relationship together with your partner and then to start to take responsibility for your own share of the ‘blame’.

If you are seeking therapy on an individual basis and wish to focus on relationship difficulties, together with your therapist you can embark on an in-depth exploration of your present and past relationships along with potential future relationships. With the support of your therapist, looking back you will be able to identify reoccurring unhelpful patterns not just in romantic relationships but also in your relationships that are not romantic. It can be fruitful to explore the reason(s) for such reoccurring patterns along with the potential benefits and costs to yourself and your relationships. You may decide that it would be beneficial for you to make changes to such patterns which you can navigate with the support of your therapist. You can use the therapeutic space to explore and make sense of the difficult feelings you are experiencing whether you are in a relationship or not in a relationship along with finding ways to manage such feelings while maintaining confidentiality.

What are the Benefits of Relationship Counselling?

Therapy with our London Relationship Counsellors can be beneficial for a range of reasons:

  • Learn strategies to improve relationships
  • Improve ways of relating
  • Gain a greater insight into yourself and the dynamics in your relationship
  • Alleviate difficult emotions such as anxiety, stress, anger, loneliness, rejection
  • Improve communication, gain a better understanding of each other 
  • Can provide clarity over how you feel about the relationship
  • Can deepen intimacy and emotional connectedness
  • Can help to overcome roadblocks 
  • Can develop self-awareness and personal growth
  • Improve self-esteem
  • Potentially, save your relationship or marriage

When Should I get Relationship Counselling?

Usually people make the decision to seek relationship counselling when they are facing significant problems in their relationship where communication issues have caused a breakdown. Perhaps there are been problems simmering for quite some time and by being left unaddressed they have built and culminated in a crisis leading to an impasse. At this stage lots of difficult emotions are experienced, such as anger, sadness and loneliness. People often feel that they cannot resolve the relationship problems on their own and require support from a relationship counsellor to break through this. 

It is not just beneficial to seek help from a relationship therapist when there are severe problems in relationships. Having strong connections with others is paramount to our emotional wellbeing and contentment. Therefore, seeking relationship counselling can be beneficial even if the problems you are facing are milder in nature. 

Signs that it could be Time for Relationship Counselling or Couples Therapy

– Communication is breaking down: if you notice a difficulty in expressing how you feel to your partner, or perhaps when you feel like expressing your thoughts and emotions you think ‘it’s gonna end up badly, we’ll have a fight, this will be useless’, it is a strong sign that you have started to believe that you cannot work together as a team anymore. This is potentially a dangerous territory to enter for a couple, as it promotes further distancing. 

– You don’t do things for each other anymore: A strong sign of distancing is when you notice you have stopped making your partner a nice coffee or tea as you used to do in the past, or don’t ask for what they would like to have for dinner, or didn’t worry about what movie they would like to watch. Suspending ’selfless’ thinking towards your partner – which is often received from the partner as “being taken for granted” – may be a sign that they are no longer being prioritised and their existence in your life is not being cherished as it used to be. Naturally this could go the other way around, and you might feel a sense of being taken for granted. If that’s the case, and communication is not working well, it’s easy to respond to that by stopping to be nice to your partner as a form of overcompensation: unfortunately this is likely to further increases distancing.

– Sex life & Intimacy are greatly reduced: A good sexual routine, is an important sign that your relationship is healthy. Lack of sexual activity with your partner may represent a loss of interest towards each other, especially for young people. Although it is normal, especially after many years together, to feel at times not as excited as one used to be, with regards to sex with your partner, maintaining a healthy intimacy is incredibly important. Often a decrease in this area mirrors a loss of interest in one another, and loss of fluidity in communication.

– You stopped doing things together: Doing things as a unit or a team is vital to maintaining a healthy relationship. The trick is that relationships have their own life and are not simply a fusion of the individual lives of two people. So allowing the relationship to grow through common experiences is vital. These don’t need to be extreme or always new experiences, even maintaining a simple routine like having breakfast together, watching a movie together, having a healthy and stimulating conversation together, or even staying in silence and feeling a sense of security and intimacy in the non doing are important contributors to a healthy relationship.

– You stopped involving your partner in your life: A sign that the relationship may not be working as it used to is when you don’t feel you are being involved anymore in your partner’s life and experiences. If they used to talk to you about what is happening at work or with friends and their family but they no longer do this, or conversely, if you feel you have lost an interest in discussing your own life’s happenings to your partner, this may be an important sign that at some level you are pushing them away (or are being pushed away).

If you feel that any of the above signs apply to you, it’s possible that there is still time to work through your issues with a relationship or couples therapist. Relationship counselling may be the tool you need to bring life and enthusiasm back into your relationship.

How Long Does Relationship Therapy Last (face to face and Online)?

How many sessions of relationship counselling to have in total depends on the severity of the difficulties. Some people can benefit from just a few sessions to guide them onto a good path, whereas other people benefit from more sessions over a period of months.

Our therapists specialised in Relationship Counselling

All of our therapists are qualified psychologists, psychotherapists or counsellors registered with several professional bodies. These include the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the British Psychological Society (BPS), as well as, BACP, UKCP and BABCP.

Our therapists use CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), psychodynamic, humanistic and integrative approaches tailored around your needs to help you deal with your unique challenges and reach your goals.

Dr. Raffaello Antonino

Clinical Director, Counselling Psychologist

Dr. Sheetal Dandgey

Clinical Director, Counselling Psychologist

Dr. Anna Hovris

Counselling Psychologist

Dr. Alana Whitlock

Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Yasmeen Jaina

Counselling Psychologist

Dr Gail Freedman

Counselling Psychologist

Ben Dustin

Psychotherapist

Dr Sidra Chaudhry

Counselling Psychologist

Maryam Keshavarz

Psychotherapist

Dr Joanne Warren

Clinical Psychologist

Dr Nicholas Sarantakis

Counselling Psychologist

Anita Sommers

Psychotherapist

Dr Didem Altay

Counselling Psychologist

Imogen Hg-Johnson

Psychotherapist

Anna Orlowska

Counselling Psychologist

Joanne Videtzky

Clinical Psychologist

Dr Lara Lopes de Jesus

Counselling Psychologist

The british psychological society
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Testimonials

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The Therapist l had was absolutely brilliant with me. He had patience with me and bit by bit l gained a little of confidence to try and get out and go on the buses.

He deserves an award and if l could l would in the beginning l thought how is this person going to get me back on public transport but he did he gave me the confidence l lost and now have back.

I will never forget him and what he has done for me. I wish him nothing but the best in his life.

(Patricia)

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My therapist was excellent. I highly recommend her and I am truly thankful for my sessions, I left feeling confident and positive.

The mental tools, systems and approaches I have been able to develop with her and use in my life have been hugely beneficial.

Thank you to all at Therapy Central.

(John)

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The Therapist really gave me the space to talk and express my feelings and fears in a very comforting environment.

She was there not only to listen, but challenge my thinking, guide me during the uncertainty I was experiencing and give me useful and practical tips to improve my mental health and wellbeing. Highly recommended!

(George)

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Working with the therapist has been a life-changing experience. Each session has been invaluable, helping me gain a good understanding of CBT methodology enabling me to incorporate ways to combat stress and anxiety in my daily life.

The Therapist shows that she really cares and has the ability to make you feel calm whilst discussing any personal issue. 

(Richard)

Fees & Insurances

Therapy, Counselling and CBT sessions are 50 minutes long and are usually held at regular weekly time slots.

Free
15 Minute Initial
Phone Consultation

£80 - £125
Psychological Therapy/
Counselling (Self-funded)

£115 - £150
Couples Therapy/
Family Therapy

Covered by
Your Private Healthcare Insurance Provider

Our therapists are registered with several insurance providers, such as AXAPPP, Simplyhealth, Bupa, Aviva, Cigna (UK/US), and WPA. If you wish to use your personal or employee private healthcare insurance to cover your sessions, please highlight this in your contact form below.

Relationship Counselling in London and Online

If you are looking for relationship counselling in Central London or Online, at Therapy Central we can help you make the crucial changes to bring balance and fulfilment back into your relationships.

It’s not easy to recognise that you might have a relationship issue, but remember that you are not choosing to experience this and realising a problem exists is the first step towards resolving it. You are not alone. 

Get professional Relationship Counselling in London or Online today. Contact us for a free 15 min consultation with an Relationship Counsellor to see if our help would fit your needs. You can also get in touch via email at info@therapy-central.com or call us at (+44) 020 348 82797.

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    FAQ

    What happens after I make an enquiry?

    After receiving your enquiry we’ll contact you to organise a FREE phone consultation. You will be able to tell us more about your specific circumstances and needs and ask any questions you have. Then, if you want to proceed with therapy or counselling, we’ll match you with the therapist(s) with the best expertise to help you with your challenges and send you a list of their available appointment slots. If you’re satisfied with one of these, we can then go ahead and book your first appointment. You can also request to work with a specific practitioner and, depending on availability we’ll try accomodate this.

    What happens at my first appointment with the therapist?

    Your first session will likely be different than future appointments. You and your therapist will get to know each other and will begin to build a working alliance. It will be a chance to have the confidential space to express your circumstances, feelings and thoughts and being listened to with depth, attention, empathy and without judgement . Your therapist will likely ask you more about your reasons for seeking therapy, and any symptoms you’re experiencing. You may also be asked questions about your past and the history of your issues, as well as how they currently impact your life in the present. Finally, your first session may be a powerful place to discuss what you would like to achieve with therapy and agree on the length, methods and approaches of treatment.

    Is online therapy effective?

    If you choose online over in-person therapy rest assured that this has been proven to be just as effective as regular face to face therapy, and in some cases even more effective. In addition, choosing online therapy brings additional benefits, for example avoiding longer waiting times, greater flexibility with appointments and you won’t need to travel to our practice. You can enjoy online therapy from the comfort of your home.

    How long the Therapy/counselling sessions last?

    Therapy/counselling sessions last 50 minutes and are held at regular weekly time slots. On occasions we are able to allow some flexibility. This can be discussed with your therapist.

    Do you offer reduced rates/concessions?

    We offer low-cost rates to people with a low income, unemployed or students. Please let us know in your enquiry if you would like a concession rate and how you qualify for this. Depending on the availability of our therapists, we’ll do our best to accommodate your request.

    Do you have a cancellation policy?

    We have a 48 hours no-fee cancellation policy. However you will be charged for sessions missed without giving the full notice.

    Our Practice in Central London

    Our comfortable and confidential therapy rooms are conveniently located 3 min walk from Oxford Circus station, in Central London (see map below). Change starts with Talking!

    Learn More:

    The Challenges of Moving in Together With Your Partner

    Single and Not able to Mingle – The Experiences of Being Single During a Global Pandemic

    References:

    [1] Schofield, M. J., Mumford, N., Jurkovic, D., Jurkovic, I., & Bickerdike, A. (2012). Short and long-term effectiveness of couple counselling: a study protocol. BMC public health12(1), 735.

     

    Authors:

    Dr Raffaello Antonino, Counselling Psychologist

    Dr Amy Smith, Counselling Psychologist

    Members of:

    We're registered with AXA Health, AXA therapists, AXA counselling, Aviva, Vitality, Cigna, BPS, HCPC, BABCP
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