“Do we need relationship counselling or relationship coaching?”
While this may seem like a difficult question, there is actually not that vast a difference between relationship coaching and marriage/relationship counselling in most cases. And you really don’t need to be able to figure it out before you come to see me either, since I am well qualified for both tasks.
As a rule of thumb, though, you can expect that your session will be a counselling session if you have serious problems in your marriage/relationship that really need to be addressed for the marriage/relationship to be worthwhile continuing.
On the other hand, if your relationship is already quite good, but you recognise that it can still be even better in some respects, then relationship coaching is probably for you. Maybe you have identified niggly little disturbances that you want to address before they grow into problems. Or maybe you simply know from experience that being in a relationship can be quite challenging at times, and you want to make sure that you have all the tools and strategies for dealing with such challenges, should they arise.
To help you get a better idea of which aspects of your relationship may need some attention, I have created a tool called the Relationship Satisfaction Calculator. You can find this tool on my main website, on a page called: Relationship Satisfaction Assessment.
Relationship coaching can provide you with tools and strategies that will help you…
Communicate non-defensively
Resolve conflicts constructively
Avoid co-dependency patterns
Co-operate as equals in a team
Maintain trust and respect
Retain intimacy and affection
Preserve appreciation and love
Keep your relationship truly fulfilling
To arrange your first session of Relationship Coaching contact me today!
Premarital Coaching
One situation when Relationship Coaching is what is typically needed, is when you are about to get married. At that point you, hopefully, don’t have any serious problems in your relationship – otherwise you probably wouldn’t be about to get married. It is nevertheless wise to be well prepared for any future challenges that you may face. This is the purpose of “pre-marriage counselling” or “premarital counselling.” Sometimes premarital counselling is a requirement from the church or wedding celebrant.
Since pre-marriage counselling is less a matter of counselling (i.e. addressing serious problems) and more so a matter of improving on what is already quite good, perhaps a better term for it would be pre-marriage coaching or premarital coaching!
My approach to Relationship Coaching
The exact content of your relationship coaching will be a matter of who you are, as two individuals, and where you are at as a couple. No two couples are the same. Your situation is unique to you; where you are at, what you want to achieve, and how to achieve this. There is no set formula that applies to every couple.
Nevertheless, my approach to relationship coaching rests on a few fundamental cornerstones, five of which are translated into the practical tools and strategies of the Fulfilling Relationship Coaching approach.
There are also other recurring principles that influence my approach to all coaching, with individuals as with couples, such as e.g. Responsibility, Empathy, Authenticity, and Limitlessness. You can read more about those principles on this page: R.E.A.L. Life Coaching.
And, you may find it interesting to browse some of my articles under the category Marriage and Relationship.
If you would like to have a chat about how my approach to relationship coaching would apply to your particular relationship, or if you simply want to book in for an initial session – don’t delay, contact me today!