We can help you whether you’re in a new relationship, in a long-term relationship, or not currently in a relationship at all. We help with large relationship threatening problems to issues that just make things a little less than perfect. Even if things are going perfectly for you, we can help keep things that way.

Counselling can help you talk things through and move forward. It doesn’t matter if you’re married, living together, single, gay or straight – we’re here to help you.

Our counsellors provide a caring and supportive environment to help you find a way through any difficulties you may be facing in your relationship.

What can I expect in Relationship Counselling?

Your first appointment is an assessment and you will be seen by a trained counsellor who will ask some questions about you and your relationship and what you hope to get out of counselling. If you come for this appointment alone but you intend to come for ongoing counselling with a partner they will also need an assessment appointment before you can be seen together.

If at this stage relationship counselling is considered appropriate you will be given a form to complete that gives your available days and times for ongoing appointments. You will then go on to our waiting list and once we have an ongoing appointment that meets your availability you will start to see your counsellor on a weekly basis.

How can Relationship Counselling help me?

It really depends what you want to get out of it, but it’s rare that you will leave Relate without feeling a positive change.

For some people, we transform their relationships and their lives; for others we help them solve a specific problem and move forward with more confidence and less anxiety.

Each session lasts 50 minutes, and your counsellor will ask you questions so that you can talk about what’s going on and how you feel. They may offer you advice or ideas to try at home.

If you don’t like to talk a lot then they might try different things like drawing or mapping out your thoughts. It all depends on what’s right for you.

Even if things don’t change, counselling may help you to see things in a different way or make the decision that’s right for you to move forward. Just talking to someone who isn’t involved in the relationship can help you.

“People are genuinely surprised when we start working together – they think that I’m going to tell them what to do, but it’s not like that. They also come in feeling nervous and apprehensive but once we have met a few times, they start to enjoy it. It’s a brave move to come to counselling, but for almost everyone, it’s one of the best moves they’ve made” – Relate Counsellor

To find out more, or to book an appointment:

Contact us: Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm (3.00pm Friday)

  • Phone: 01908 310010, 07484096166 or 07484096479 (this number is only available at limited times)
  • Email: appointment@relatemk.org