Episode 5: What issues aren't suitable for couples counselling?

Today I want to discuss a very important topic - the kinds of issues that are not suitable for couples counselling.. The reason I want to cover this is because I feel like there is a bit of misunderstanding around what couples counselling can do versus what it can't do.

Unfortunately there are situations and issues that are present in some relationships that make it very difficult to work with in an effective and ethical way in the counselling room. I have referred to couples counselling with several of my clients as being the “cross fit of counselling” because it can be really confronting and difficult, especially when there is a lot of deep pain for one or both partners that has never been addressed or dealt with.

Couples counselling does tend to “rock the boat” and the counsellor does intentionally look for and bring up all those areas of relationship that are problematic and are creating distress for the couple. If there are certain painful experiences from your past which you are trying to push down and not think about, couples counselling will definitely highlight them..

Listen to the end of the episode to find out more!

For further resources on abusive relationships and how to identify abuse, I highly recommend the following resources:

See What You Made Me Do - Jess Hill

What Gaslighting Means and How To Recognise It