How do I talk to my teen about self-harm and why it is important to get the right help.
Parents are rightly shocked when they discover their child is self-harming. A common response is to avoid the topic because they don’t know what to say, or to take drastic action to try to stop the behaviour immediately. Sometimes self-harm is dismissed …
“My Husband or Wife is always angry” – How to Deal with an Angry Partner
In this article I discuss anger that shows up in a relationship. Typically, there is a complaint by one partner that the other partner is angry all of the time. The ‘anger’ we are talking about here is not violence or abuse …
Why did my partner cheat on me?
At the Sydney Couple and Family Specialists we see many couples for marriage and relationship counselling – and probably one of the most common (and painful) presentations is when one person has betrayed the other. There are lots of different ways to …
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 …
Worried about Christmas and holiday conflict?
Whilst Sydney (and Australia for that matter) is a beautiful place to be during Summer, Christmas and the holiday season can be a challenging time for couples. The feeling of needing to conform to your family’s expectations during the Christmas break can …
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 …
Are extended family or in-laws causing problems within your relationship?
As a Family Counsellor I see this a lot in my couples work as well as in family counselling. Here are a few of the most common complaints I hear: My partner doesn’t like my family or parents and doesn’t …
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 …
Help to manage family stress when a child has ADHD
By the time a Family Counsellor like me sees parents of a child with ADHD, they are urgently in need of a safe space to work through the experience of parenting a child who has extra challenges. Some of you may know …
The Damaging Effects of Stress on Your Relationship – 11 Antidotes
Stress is one of the most common ingredients in a relationship when couples come to see me for couples counselling. If you missed the article I wrote on recognising stress in your relationship and the damage it can do, you can …
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