Couples Therapy
Relationships, Couples Counselling, Marriage Therapy, Does it really work?
Relationships, Couples Counselling, Marriage Therapy, Does it really work?
People far too often expect things to just work or will work themselves out. According to research, couples have been enduring conflict and difficulty for on average 6 years before they seek help. I encourage couples to invest in their relationship sooner and often. Relationships are complex, needing energy and nurturing.. We have found the Gottman approach offers a strong framework, a clear process, and interventions that clients learn to incorporate into their relationships. It is also backed by some impressive scientific research.
Infidelity is one of the common causes for couples seeking therapy. You will be provided with a pathway forward.
As always there are no guarantees in life, and yes there are couples who wont make it. However, there is definitely hope. We would rather grab that hope with a skilled therapist backed by indisputable research.
Sex and Intimacy in s​survivorship
Sex and Intimacy in s​survivorship
For couples who have experienced Cancer in their lives, this easy to ready e-pub can be downloaded as a PDF as well and well worth a read. It is a practical guide to helping people with cancer and their partners to better understand what effects cancer and its treatments have on an individual as well as what you can do to maintain and nurture your relationship.
Sexual Desire
Sexual Desire
Sexual Desire /Libido
The difference between desire and arousal is often confused and is an important starting point for people to understand where their issues lie.
Sexual Desire Disorder: A distinct presence of negative sexual thoughts and no sexual thoughts or fantasies.
Sexual arousal Disorder: Female or male inability to attain or maintain arousal until completion of sexual activity. Seen as an adequate lubrication-swelling response of sexual excitement.
There are misconceptions surrounding desire for men and woman. It is assumed by society that in partnerships it is always the woman who pretend to have headaches, or avoid intimacy. On the flip side it seems to be a societal fact that men are always "up for it". This is indeed a myth.
An aspect that couples don't foresee during their honeymoon phase is the possibility that one day they may have a mismatched libido issue. Libido or sexual desire is influenced by possible organic (physical), Individual (life situation) and cultural factors.
Organic factors:
Medications such as antideprssants
Low testosterone in men and woman
Individual factors:
Relationship issues
Past trauma
Life changes
Stress
Cultural factors:
Family history of attitudes to sex
Religious factors
These are very basic examples to an issue which is quite complex, but also workable and has had much success through therapy.
Desire disorders include sexual aversion disorder: Extreme and irrational fear of sexual activity. This is often but not always related to a history of sexual trauma.