Does relationship counselling work? How about individual therapy for anxiety and depression. Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney, a leading service provider, answers your questions about counselling therapy.

It’s commonly asked by people is: “Does counselling really work?” You may be looking for help for a relationship, with an anxiety problem or stress, or maybe low mood or depression. Whatever the cause of concern, the good news is that clinical counselling has proven to help those with complaints like anxiety and depression. And importantly also, relationship counselling for marriage or couple issues is a validated therapy for helping couples improve the quality of their relationship.

Counselling: How does it work?
There are several different modalities which counsellors are able to employ to help you. The therapy they choose will largely depend on the counsellors training and their assessment of your problems. Some of the best validated treatments for anxiety and depression include cognitive behavioural therapy. This therapy works considering behaviours and thoughts that generally increase your level of anxiety or depression, and help you to overcome this patterned or habitual response. For example, people who suffer anxiety may tell themselves things such as: “I will never make it”, or ‘I’ll be terribly embarrassed if people see how nervous I am’. Such thoughts are recognised together with your therapist, and changed, positive self-representations are used to challenge these beliefs. With continued practice and perhaps some skills training such as relaxation, positive results are experienced by most people.

Can relationship counselling help my marriage?

It’s important to accept that relationships are changeable -they go through phases, from the initial honeymoon stage to the many stages of maturing of the relationships. For many couples, as a relationship matures, so do lifestyle demands and responsibility, whether it’s in the form of increased work pressure or children coming into the family, etc. As these common pressures increase, the partners in a relationship may no longer be able to accommodate the other’s emotional needs, and conflict may develop – often into frequent and recurring arguments. Relationship counselling enables each person to learn to soothe their own distress, and at the same time learn to identify and name any unspoken needs that are not being met. Partners are able to begin to negotiate what they can do for each other and which demands may need to go unmet. A new, more realistic life plan is identified.

What issues can therapists help with?

Therapists and psychologists are familiar with assisting with a wide range of issues including anxiety or stress, depression or sadness, couple and marriage issues, grief and bereavement, addictions, anger management, eating disorders and many other complaints of modern living.

How can I choose a counsellor or psychologist?

Contact a registered counsellor or psychologist for a start to a better life. These licenced mental health professionals are able to help you to overcome your emotional challenges. Depending on the country you are in you can seek assistance from the professional body which registers psychologists or counsellors in your state. In Australia, Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney are able to offer details of a registered therapist near you.

Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney – psychologist services including, cognitive behaviour therapy, general counselling, psychology and marriage counselling Sydney. Call (02)8205 0566 or visit 418/185 Elizabeth Street, Sydney 2000.