Couple Counselling
In couple counselling, you can expect: to learn new communication and conflict resolution skills; to better manage anger and intense feelings; to explore better parenting techniques; to understand your partner better as you become aware of how your culture or family of origin has influenced your relationship. It is also a place of hope, where you can set new goals for your relationship.
As a result of couple counselling, improvement in the relationship starts in one of three areas. It can be a change in the definition of the problem within the relationship- the way the problem is seen. Perhaps it will be a change in the feelings that the couple have for each other, or a change in how the couple relates or communicates with each other. Where the process starts is not critical, for eventually the other areas will also show change and improvement. Patience is needed, for the change process begins from small points, but grows incrementally as trust and transparency are reactivated.
In order for these changes to happen, a trusting connection with the therapist is essential. The therapy room itself is considered a place where it is safe for partners to be open about the struggles they are having within the relationship. Information that is entrusted and shared during therapy sessions by either party needs to remain free from repercussion, for it is valuable insight into how each partner is experiencing the relationship. The therapist’s task in couple counseling is to carry that information in sacred confidence, to be neutral, equally aligned with both parties, in order to understand both perspectives, and to ensure that each has equal opportunity to express him/herself. When emotional content is brought into the session, the therapist sets the pace, sometimes slowing down discussion so that each partner can truly understand each other. Often, couples need to hear that their situation is not that unusual, that their relationship has strengths and can improve despite the struggles they are having. Couples who cannot reconcile will benefit from a better understanding of their relationship in order to go forward separately.
Cancer Support
Cancer cannot take away your Faith.
It cannot shatter your Hope or lessen your Love.
It cannot destroy true Friendship nor invade the Soul.
It cannot take away Eternal Life or conquer your Spirit.
(author unknown)
From diagnosis to survivorship, supportive counselling with a trained cancer therapist has been shown to improve health outcomes. Cancer is only part of who you really are. Often such emphasis is placed on the physical treatment of cancer and recovery from the effects of treatments, that it is easy to overlook the emotional and/or spiritual concerns.
Counselling provides a place to explore these concerns. Positive ways to respond to challenges can be found. The emphasis can then shift to living with cancer and enjoying a high quality of life with friends and family. Supportive counselling is needed when...
- You are learning to adjust to the shock, anxiety, fear, loss of control, coping with your cancer diagnosis
- Difficulty making decisions about treatment, work, or home
- Sadness, depression or anxiety interfere with your life
- Experiencing difficulty sleeping or managing symptoms such as pain
- Financial concerns are causing distress
- Relationship changes are causing concern
- You want to help your children understand and adjust to the changes cancer has brought to your family
- You need guidance for emotional or spiritual growth
- You need help coping with the uncertainty that cancer brings
- You have difficulty interacting with your healthcare team
- You want to talk with someone who is outside your circle of friends/family
- You want to explore the meaning of your illness (source: livestrong.org)
Counselling is an opportunity to pursue that which is seen to be important. The support of faith, prayer, and religious community has been demonstrated to be most effective in reducing death anxiety and disability, and is associated with longer survival. (CAPO info)
