Relationship Counselling Programme

The closer we are the more we can hurt each-other...

what if we could learn to do relationships differently?

Being able to relate in a way that feels safe enough to be authentic is an art. As an art it expresses the uniqueness of each couple (i.e., what feels right for one couple may not be for another) and it takes practice, patience and perseverance. Most of us got little by way of guidance on how to relate well to those close to us. Indeed, some of us may come from families where this art is not practiced well at all.

Crea Counselling offers a tailored Relationship Counselling Programme (RCP) for couples and other dyads (siblings; parent-adult children; friends; colleagues) to help both partners learn new ways of connecting with each other and with themselves.

What we learn about relationship as children gets played in our adult relationships...and it keeps not working!

We don't have to agree or feel the same: we can learn to have difficult conversations in a way that helps us both feel more heard and understood.

The RCP is a structured approach to couple therapy which blends guided self-reflection, therapeutic support and  educational tools to improve communication and increase a sense of safety and connection. It is a 10-session programme including 4 initial exploration sessions (2 with the couple + 1 individual session with each partner) and 6 couple sessions.

The waiting list for the Relationship Counselling Programme is currently full but do get in touch for any questions or to record your interest.

Is the Relationship Counselling Programme right for US?

Even though, often, one partner initiates couple therapy and feels  the need for change more urgently then the other, the decision to start the 10-week Relationship Counselling Programme requires a joint and equal desire to learn and experiment together in a way that feels productive and safe for both.

Doing a U-turn to be able to Re-turn

My aim is to facilitate deeper and more effective communication between you. We will look at what happens when reactive cycles occur, and I will guide you through some useful practices to help you pause and change course. Importantly, we will practice doing a 'U-turn', learning to attend to what happens inside, so that we can 're-turn' to the other with more awareness and choice.   

IFIO: Intimacy from the inside out

IFIO is a therapy model developed by Toni Herbine-Blank to adapt IFS to couples. It offers a road-map for listening and speaking more effectively, helping you understand what triggers your reactive parts so that they don't need to take over in difficult interactions. The IFIO couple therapy 'road-map' is what I will be guiding you through in the 10-weeks relationship counselling programme (RCP). 

Crea Counselling Galway Room

FAQ's

  • What is the Relationship Counselling Programme ?

    RCP is a guided, experiential psycho-education programme recommended for people who 

    • already have done some self-reflection work (in individual therapy or indipendently)
    • realise that each partner plays a role in the painful cycles the relatioship gets stuck in. 

    RCP is based on the premise that in order to change  interpersonal dynamics each partner has a willingness to look within themselves first! 

  • Who RCP is NOT recommended for?

    RCP is NOT open-ended couple therapy. 

    It is NOT recommened for couples managing active addiction, going through separation/divorce or where emotional, physical or sexual abuse is a concern (this is different from sometimes using offensive language or hurtful behaviours with eachother, but refers to a situation where there has been a threat to physical safety or personal dignity).

  • How does RCP works?

    RCP is a short-term, structured 10-session course blending educational/experiential and therapeutic interventions which couples can use in their day-to-day. It's divided in two stages.


    Stage 1: Exploration sessions 

    These are to assess whether this programme is a good fit for your needs and to reach together a clearer vision of where you are at and what you are working towards as a couple. They can be helpful as a stand-alone intervention to reflect together on your relationship.


    1st session with couple - 75 mins

    Introduction to the programme and getting to know each other


    2nd/3rd individual session with each partner - 50 mins 

    Exploring what each of you need from me to ensure safety in the therapy.


    4th session with couple - 75 mins

    Recap and, if applicable, establishing counselling agreement (confidentiality/safety/boundaries and objectives for the therapy).


    Stage 2: Relationship Counselling Sessions

    If we decide to work together for an additional 6 weekly sessions (75 mins), I will work toghether in gaining a deeper understanding of where you get stuck and why. We will also experiment with self-reflection, communication and co-regulation practices that you can use on your own.  

  • What about sessions frequency, duration and cost ?

    Sessions take place weekly


    Exploration sessions:

    2X 75 mins (with couple) - €100 per session (week 1 and 3)

    2X 50 mins (individual session) - €80 per session - (week 2)


    RCP

    6X 75mins sessions (with couple)- €120 per session (week 4 to 10)


    Payments can be processed online 24 hrs before each session or in two blocks,  4 Exploration sessions € 350 (€10 reduction) and 6 RCP sessions 700 (€20 reduction).


When you pick a partner you pick a story...and often you are recruited for a play you did not audition for.

- Esther Perel -

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