Allport Counselling

Relationships with others are a meaningful part of life, and bring us a great deal of happiness and fulfilment. Human beings are naturally very sociable. We enjoy the company of others and crave positive interactions. To an extent, good relationships are just as important as food and water, which can explain why our health suffers when our relationships go wrong. The better our relationships, the happier we are going to be. Extensive research shows that people who are in satisfying relationships are likely to have fewer health problems and live longer. In contrast, those with few social connections tend to show signs of depression and cognitive decline.

Symptoms of Loneliness or Difficulties in Relationships

Supportive relationships do not arise automatically. They require good communication skills, time and energy. Sometimes, meaningful connections break down, leaving people feeling lonely, disappointed and unsure of what to do next. In some cases our relationships may not fulfil our expectations, which can affect our happiness and satisfaction with life. In other cases, people may crave close friendships and/or romantic relationships, but find them difficult to forge. You may feel like you are alone. This may be especially true if your partner does not seem to understand you. Perhaps you have tried turning to friends and family for help, but they may not understand what is happening or what would be helpful to you.

Affairs & Betrayal

Having your spouse betray you can have serious consequences for your relationship as it destroys all sense of trust. Whether it is an affair, a financial secret or a hidden addiction, betrayal can be very painful and can in some cases lead to the end of a relationship. Many individuals want to work through their issues in order to overcome the pain and rebuild their relationship or to obtain closure if they decide to end the relationship.

Separation & Divorce

Sometimes couples decide to separate or divorce without taking into account the practicalities of this or considering whether the relationship could be saved. Counselling provides an opportunity to explore the possibility of a break-up before any final decision is made. This helps individuals to become closer and move forward in a way that is healthy for their particular needs.

Family Issues

Our relationships with our families are an integral part of our lives. When these become strained, it can cause a lot of pain and disappointment. In some cases it may just be one family member that is causing the rift.

Difficulty in Finding a New Relationship

Do you find it difficult to engage with people? Perhaps you are shy or socially anxious for various reasons. Are you frustrated that you keep making the same mistakes and choosing the wrong friends or partners? After ending a difficult relationship, you may be left feeling isolated and wanting to forge a new relationship. However, you may still be in pain or emotionally scarred from past experience, or recovering from a separation, divorce, or the death of a partner.

I work with individuals to explore their needs and concerns and what they want from relationships, enabling them to make the right decision for them, whether this be to end a particular relationship, or to rebuild it.