Relationship coaching
Relationships are an important part of life for all of us. Human connections are life-affirming and vital for our mental and physical wellbeing. From when we were very young and establishing relationships with our parents and family, through to adulthood and handling romantic partnerships, friendships and connections with colleagues, this part of life can be challenging to get right all of the time.
Yet the value of establishing and maintaining strong, positive relationships mustn’t be underestimated. Meaningful human connections enable us to access love and acceptance, conversation and stimuli. Our relationships should comfort us when we are sad and affirm us when we are happy and want to celebrate. So, when a relationship breaks down or causes us distress, this can seriously affect our self-esteem, confidence, wellbeing and mood.
Signs that a relationship might be heading for trouble include commitment or trust issues, arguments and conflict that cannot be resolved on their own, communication difficulties, a lack of intimacy and increased feelings of being criticised, disregarded or controlled. If any of these symptoms sound familiar, relationship coaching could help you gain valuable perspective and give you the space you need to work out what you truly want. It allows you to ‘step outside’ of your daily routines and explore how you are feeling about, and reacting to, issues within your relationships.
Relationship coaching can help you think about strategies to help get things back on track. It can stop you feeling helpless or trapped and give you the emotional strength you need to make meaningful changes for the better. Importantly, the process can also help you learn how to deal with conflict, maintain healthy boundaries and develop empathy and understanding for the benefit of everyone involved. It gives you space to evaluate your emotional connections and decide whether your expectations are veering too far away from your reality.
Relationship coaching works particularly well for marriages and partnerships experiencing conflicts and miscommunications. However, it can also benefit those who have concerns around dating scenarios, romantic unions and even friendships and family conflicts. Techniques include in-depth questioning and exploration of issues raised, facilitated dialogues and targeted tasks and sharing useful resources.