Being in a romantic relationship is hard. Gone are the days when we would have prescribed gender roles, prescribed sexual orientations and limited life spans, meaning that we would likely only survive until we had raised our brood.
Of course it is great that all of the above have (largely) been consigned to the past in our affluent Western societies, however, the pace of change has been so fast that with our newfound freedoms, our lengthy life spans, our increasing social isolation, relationships can feel under a lot of pressure.
The key to any healthy relationship is communication. This may sound simple and yet it is surprising how few couples communicate effectively and in a safe and contained fashion. Shouting, yelling and fighting is all communication, however, it tends to be very ineffective at getting us what we want and if it does, it is always at the expense of our partner.
Types of Relationship Issues We Can Help With
In psychotherapy, relationship issues generally refer to problems, challenges, or issues that are arising in your main romantic relationship or adult attachment relationship.
At Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy, we are experienced in helping with a wide range of relationship issues including communication issues, trust issues, infidelity, emotional distance, frequent conflict, and navigating major life transitions.
Whether you’re in a long-term partnership, dating, or co-parenting, our therapists are here to support you in building stronger and healthier relationships.
Causes of Relationship Issues
Relationship struggles can have a number of causes including unresolved past trauma, unmet emotional needs, differences in values or communication styles, or external stressors like work, finances, or parenting.
When you attend therapy with us, our priority is to work closely with you to identify and understanding the root cause of your relationship issues in order to address these issues at their core and promote lasting change in your relationship.
The Importance of Communication
The key to any healthy relationship is communication. This may sound simple, yet it is surprising how few couples communicate effectively and in a safe and contained fashion. Shouting, yelling, and fighting are all forms of communication, but this is largely ineffective at getting us what we want and, if it does, it is always at the expense of our partner.
Effective communication requires active listening, empathy, and a willingness to understand the other person’s perspective. It’s about expressing ourselves clearly without blame or criticism and being open to hearing feedback without becoming defensive. When we feel heard and respected, our trust deepens, meaning conflicts can be resolved in a more constructive way.
Therapy can help to create a safe space and to guide your relationship towards deeper understanding and connection. Reach out today to schedule your first session.
How Relationship Therapy Works
It is not our job to judge the choices you jointly make in your relationship. However, the key word here is jointly. Unfortunately, people tend to get together by learning about being in relationship from our parents, seeking out a partner who somehow complements our wounds, and then recreating the problems that arose in our families of origin.
Whether you are seeking couples therapy or you wish to work through your relationship issues as an individual, our psychotherapists can support you in evaluating what choices are an expression of you as an individual and how you can safely, but effectively, start to create a relationship based on communication, understanding, and passion.
We are experienced in working with same sex and heterosexual couples and working with every relationship type from polyamory to monogamy.
Our Relationship Therapists
Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy is home to a talented team of counsellors and psychotherapists with decades of experience. Take a look at Our Practitioners to learn more and find a practitioner who is right for you.
Areas We Cover
At Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy, we have two physical practices, one in Hove and one in Lewes, where we offer a full range of psychological therapies.
Alternatively, if you are considering online therapy, we also offer online therapy services.
Why Choose Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy?
Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy provides high quality psychotherapy and consultancy services in Brighton and Hove, Lewes, and online. With over a decade of experience and a talented team of skilled associates, we have built a solid reputation for excellence.
Unlike so many directory sites that purport to be clinics, or large operations comprising of a high number of clinicians, we have purposefully kept our team small enough to ensure we can all work together on a personal basis, whilst being large enough to cater to the diverse needs of our client base.
To find out more about how Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy can help you through relationship therapy, get in touch with us today and arrange your initial consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are relationship issues?
In psychotherapy, where we use the term relationship issues we are generally referring to problems, challenges or issues that are arising in your main romantic relationship, or adult attachment relationship. Relationship issues are best worked with in the context of couples therapy with a skilled psychologist or psychotherapist.
How do I know if we are having relationship problems?
Every relationship has conflict. Conflict can be healthy and certainly the frequency of conflict is no measure of the health of a relationship – some people simply have more ‘fiery’ relationships than others. However, if your relationship is either too turbulent, or conversely ‘dead’ calm and you feel anxious or depressed in your relationship, then it may be that it is time to work with a skilled couples therapist.
How can relationship therapy help a relationship?
There are many different formats of relationship – some even comprising more than two people as in the case of polyamory. So, whilst it is impossible to identify externally what a healthy relationship looks like, healthy relationships have two fundamentals in common: Healthy relationships are comprised of two (or more) adults who are both able to remain separate to each other, rather than operating as ‘one’ mind. This requires them both to see each others perspective. Secondly, healthy couples will quickly repair following a conflict or argument rather than letting it fester.
What is a healthy relationship?
Why are modern relationships so difficult?
There is a lot of pressure on modern relationships for many reasons. Some of these include longevity – we live longer an so spend longer with the same partner; many couples live far from family and so rely on each other a great deal; the roles of men and women have shifted dramatically in recent years. There are many more but the reality is that most of the changes are external and they are putting pressure on relationships more than ever before.
What happens in a first session?
The first session with one of our practitioners is an opportunity for you both to work out whether you feel able to work together. Your psychotherapist or psychologist will likely ask you various questions relating to what has brought you, and explain the process of therapy to you. The first session is a two-way process where you have the opportunity to ask questions and to decide whether you feel ‘safe enough’ working with your therapist.
How do I find a psychotherapist or psychologist I want to work with?
At Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy, we have two physical practices, one in Hove and one in Lewes, where we offer a full range of psychological therapies. On our website you can view each profile of our associates and contact them directly using the form on their profile page. You can also use our handy search function to find the right practitioner for your needs.
How long will it take for me to see a psychologist or psychotherapist?
We aim to respond to all enquiries within twenty-four hours. You may either contact one of our practitioners directly via their profile page, or you can contact us directly and we will assist you in finding the right person to see as soon as possible. If the practitioner you wish to see has space then an appointment can usually be arranged within a week and sometimes much sooner.
Do you offer couples or group sessions?
We offer counselling and psychotherapy for individuals, couples, families and groups. To find out about the types of session we can offer, get in touch with us today. We will find a date and time that works best for everyone involved and we will make sure everyone feels as comfortable as possible.
How can I get in touch with you?
You can contact our practitioners directly via the contact forms on their profile pages. They will then reply to you directly.
What age groups of clients do you work with?
We have psychotherapists and psychologists trained to work with most age groups from children through to adults.
Do you offer evening and/or weekend sessions?
We offer sessions every day of the week including on Saturdays and sessions are available into the evening.
What are your fees?
Our fees are set by each practitioner depending on the type of therapy. For individual psychotherapy or clinical psychology our fees range from £75 – £100 per session. For couple therapy our fees range from £85 – £100 per session.
All the content on this page has been reviewed and vetted by Mark Vahrmeyer UKCP Registered Psychotherapist, Supervisor and Co-Founder of Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy. For any questions or more information about the subjects discussed on this page please contact us.