Athena

Couples Coaching

I am a warm hearted, mature woman with a wealth of life experiences who is passionate about communication, growth and getting most out of life.

I have been working with individuals and couples in the field of personal growth for the last 50 years.

I will bring this experience to help you evolve and improve the quality of your relationships.

So, you’re wondering if a counsellor could help with an aspect of your relationship? Here are a few of the things that people say when we sit down together in my session room.

• “We’re here because we’ve grown apart over a few years and don’t know how to find our way back to each other”
• “There was an affair and now I don’t know how to love again, or trust”
• “I’m often so angry and it is damaging our relationship. I don’t know how to not be”
• “The kids are mine not theirs. We disagree and argue about their behaviour and how to treat it. We’re not on the same page.”
• “We don’t know how to support our kid who’s going through some stuff”
• “My partner wants to break up but I don’t and we’re here to see if it will help.”
• “I don’t love my partner anymore; we are more like flatmates. I don’t know what to do.”

Communication

One of my passions is communication and so, whatever else we talk about, I will also be prioritising how we talk to each other so that it reflects helpful relationship understandings. The relationship foundation stone of mutual respect, for instance, is reflected in a willingness to take responsibility for our own actions. There are communications skills that assist in reminding us that we alone are in control of what we do with our own feelings. Obviously how we process feelings is influenced by our personality, our past experiences and our stress levels at the time. And so, it goes on.

I am: committed to listening to and understanding aspects of your relationship, committed to finding solutions that work for you, and committed to supporting small or large changes. I believe one of the things that makes life feel worthwhile is when we grow and evolve month to month. In fact, change is inevitable, so I want it to be as smooth as possible. That’s what I work towards.

Obviously looking for change also requires openness on your part and a willingness to make an effort. We will be working as a team together and so that first session will be a bit of a get-to-know. The first thing I will do is ask you what you'd like to work on and if anything in particular has brought you through my door.

I always try and do something useful in the first session so that, hopefully, you walk away with something to think about, discuss or practice.

I am down to earth, compassionate, plain speaking, highly motivated and surprisingly open to finding moments of light-heartedness wherever we can! Sessions are an active process for me; I share ideas, techniques and beliefs, and it is your choice what you take away and what you discard. I may well question, challenge and clarify with you the perceptions and understandings you have about your life, relationship and life in general.

If you want to know more or make an appointment, feel free to contact me.