Encouraging discussion and supporting change
RSB offers Relationship Counselling for couples as well as Individual Counselling, including Separation Counselling.
Relationship (Couple) Counselling
What is Relationship Counselling?
Relationship counselling is a confidential process in which individuals or couples are helped to explore their intimate relationships, with the view to understanding themselves and each other better and providing them with insight and coping strategies for the future.
It can help people identify the nature of their difficulties, understand them better and explore ways in which they might make changes. It can help couples understand the impact of their relationship difficulties on themselves and their children. It is also a safe place to begin to look at any sexual problems that may exist.
Relationship counsellors do not give advice, as such, but will support the individual or couple by listening carefully while helping them to explore their options, be their choice either to stay together or to find the courage to part.
Who is it for?
Relationship counselling is for individuals as well as couples - married, living together or apart, in opposite or same sex relationships. All that is required is a readiness to explore the difficulties they are experiencing in their adult couple relationships.
When is it helpful?
Relationship counselling can be helpful at any time if communication becomes difficult or breaks down. This may be:
• because of an affair
• as a result of families re-forming, such as stepfamilies
• after a bereavement or major life change
• because of a sexual problem
• as a result of repeated rows or misunderstandings
Relationship counselling can also help parents cope better with difficulties which are impacting on their children.
What about children?
Relationship counselling does not normally involve children. It can, however, have a big impact on any children in the family and often sought out for that reason. We offer support services for children and young people who are affected by separation, divorce or relationship breakdown.
Individual counselling
Our counselling team can help you cope with many of the difficulties life can throw at us. Relationships with family, friends, work colleagues and others all impact upon us and, in turn, difficulties and challenges we face impact upon all our relationships, whether personal or professional.
If you are feeling unhappy, worried, afraid, angry or overwhelmed then maybe we can help. We can support you to work through many issues including:
• anger
• anxiety
• bereavement
• depression
• eating disorders
• family problems
• illness
• relationships
• stress
• trauma
• work issues
Separation counselling
The end of a marriage or relationship can be a particularly difficult and traumatic time for all concerned. We offer several services to help you through this including Family Mediation, Contact Services and other types of Family Support and work with children. We also provide individual counselling to help you to come to terms with the end of your relationship, manage the impact of family breakup and move on with life.
Our counsellors
Our counsellors are trained to diploma level over a three year period and have to achieve 200 hours of supervised practice before they are eligible for accreditation with Relationships Scotland. Couple counsellors are all specifically trained in couple work. All our Practitioners work to professional standards and have to go through an annual renewal process to demonstrate that they have met the required standards of supervision and Continuing Professional Development. You may be seen by Counsellors who are in training for couple work; you will be given the choice to opt out of this if you wish.
Our service is an organisational member of COSCA and information on them is found on their website.
Confidentiality
Our counsellors are bound by a duty of confidentiality, unless circumstances suggest that the issues being discussed may pose a risk to clients or the wider community. Such issues include domestic abuse, child protection, money laundering and terrorism. In all circumstances, care is taken to protect confidentiality and no disclosure will be made without discussing the issues first, unless there is an urgent risk of harm. All our counsellors and therapists work to the ethical standards of the national professional bodies.
Costs
There is a fee for these services – please see our Fees and Contributions page.