Michael | Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor

Relationship Counselling Norwich

I am a trained and qualified couples/relationship counsellor. I am committed to helping couples build stronger, healthier and sustainable relationships. I offer support, compassion, empathy and - importantly - honesty. 

Poor communication lies at the heart of relationship problems. When couples get into conflict, they become defensive and angry and it can become impossible for them to resolve relationship problems.

Suddenly the couple are no longer listening to each other's emotional experience and each partner potentially feels unheard and ignored. I see my role – as the therapist – to improve how clients speak to one another and help them really hear what is being said. We have a tendency after 'the honeymoon period' to switch off to what our partner needs.

I also believe that how we experience relationship as a child influences how we relate to others as an adult. We carry a blueprint from childhood into our intimate relationships and that can encourage us to interact and love in a certain way. Sometimes that can be problematic.

Part of the way I work is to explore those early experiences and develop client’s awareness about how they might be in play in their romantic relationships.

Once a couple learns how to talk about their needs and listen to their partner in an authentic, direct way, and improve their negotation skills, their connection can be strengthened. I will role model clear and positive communication, and use interventions to encourage sharing, understanding and empathy between the couple.

But it is not just about communication. Successful couple’s therapy also rebuilds connection between the partners and reminds them why they fell in love in the first place. 

I work in an integrative manner which means I don’t believe there is any one way to run couples therapy. I believe there are many useful theories and interventions in relationship counselling and I will blend my approach depending on the dynamics and preferences of the couple I am working with.

Michael