Relationships

As we know, relationships come in many shapes and sizes. Intimate relationships, those that allow others to see us as we really are, are usually more meaningful and important to us. We have an intimate relationship with our life-partners,  children, parents, and other family members including step-family relationships, close friends if we feel that they care about us and our well-being. More general, but still meaningful, relationships come from people at school, with our friends, acquaintances, work colleagues and the community we live in. 

It is widely accepted that relationships can be complex, and conflict can occur in the best of them. This is okay and some level of conflict is quite normal in most relationships. It is through arguments and disagreements that we are able to voice how we feel and air grievances. However, chronic and highly emotive conflict, or malicious conflict that personally attacks/abuses another individual is unhealthy/stressful and can lead to poor mental and physical health for all involved.

Our counsellors at TasLife Counselling can help couples, individuals and family members find more effective ways to communicate with each other. We can help to identify the various roles in a relationship and help you determine if your relationship dynamics are working for you. We can also help you to identify strategies for improving the connection you have with your partner, friend, family member or work colleague. If you are in an unhealthy relationship we can also help you to find strategies to better manage this.

Being in a healthy relationship takes effort, commitment, dedication, compromise and forgiveness. Most of all it takes two to make it work, but often one person needs to start the ball rolling or engage in the creation, and respectful defense of, healthy boundaries. Putting up with relationship stress is just putting off the conflict until another day. Often the unresolved issues return and sometimes they become magnified.

It is important to maintain healthy boundaries that define what behaviours a person is willing to tolerate in themselves and from others. These boundaries let us know us when it is time for change by generating anxiety, sadness, anger or frustration. Sometimes however, we need to change our own behaviours first before we can expect better from others.

Counselling can help you understand your relationships. It can help you define what kind of relationship you want, and if a new direction is needed. It can also help with clarifying what changes are needed in order to help you achieve the outcome you desire.

Much of the time relationships fail due to communication breakdown. Letting others know what we want and need, and what we do not want and need, improves our chances of getting our needs met. 

If you would like to speak to one of our counsellors, please click on the contact us page and send us your details. We can then make an appointment for you to come in individually or with the other person who you are currently experiencing relationship issues with.  

Our services are strictly private and confidential. We are not ethically allowed to disclose any information that is shared in a counselling session without your prior knowledge and written consent.

There are times when confidentiality can be breached such as;

• When there is risk of harm to self/others. 
• When details of a past/future crime is revealed. 

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