How do I get my child to open up to me?
Raising resilient children who can tackle their own challenges is something we all strive for as parents. But how do we also ensure they seek our advice if they encounter a difficult problem or they feel anxious about something? Or, in their …
How to stop bickering with your partner
Bickering, niggling ongoing arguments between a couple can really drag a relationship down and lead to general unhappiness for everyone concerned – the couple and any children who are often witness to it. Bickering can also impact extended family and friends if …
I’m not attracted to my partner any more. My partner doesn’t seem to be attracted to me. What can we do?
If you are reading this blog you may be in a relationship which has gone a bit stale. You love your partner and perhaps enjoy the family you have created with them. But the sex is non-existent and worse still you are …
Should Step-Parents Discipline?
One of the hardest parenting gigs is being a step-parent. They often find themselves expected to do parenting chores such as running kids to soccer or enduring kid-friendly dinners. They may be expected to put up with attitude from teenagers and share the …
Relationship Communication Skills – The effects of responding to your partner
The most effective way to reduce the frequency of conflict in your relationship is to build goodwill and positive sentiment; put simply, by having a good friendship. It’s very likely you have had a good friendship somewhere in the course of …
My partner had a miscarriage. What do I do?
While miscarriages are common, the first thing to realise is that your partner’s connection to her baby is unique. So irrespective of how far along the pregnancy was, and how many pregnancies (successful or not) have preceded this one, her experience of …
When is controlling behaviour from a partner toxic or abusive?
Many people can appear controlling in a relationship and I certainly see many examples of it in couples counselling. Often controlling behaviours show up because the person is feeling insecure or highly anxious. Anxiety fuels controlling behaviours in relationships. But there …
How do you know if alcohol is ruining your relationship? And what can you do if it is?
Couples counselling brings in a lot of successful people – many of them high achievers, big money earners, or simply people are who are highly-regarded and high-functioning at work. But that success often comes with big jobs, long hours, huge mortgages, frequent …
What help is there for couples where there is a significant mental health diagnosis?
Some of you may remember a blog that Alex Ryder wrote back in May about the impact of mental health of a relationship – you can read his blog here. In couple and family counselling I frequently talk to people who …
My relationship is boring – here are some antidotes.
For some people, the worst thing they can think of is being in a boring relationship. Boredom is associated with feelings of weariness, tediousness or impatience. It usually involves an absence of interest, desire or passion, and can be quite disheartening. …
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