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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.

One of the most common questions asked by our clients is: ’Does counselling really work?’ Like our clients, you may be looking for help with your relationship, with an anxiety problem or stress, or perhaps low mood or depression. Whatever the cause of your concern, there’s good news: clinical counselling has proven to help those with common mental health complaints such as anxiety and depression. Moreover, relationship counselling for marriage or couple issues is also a helpful therapy for assisting couples to improve their relationship.

Counselling: How does it work?
There are a number of types of modalities which counsellors can employ to help you. The therapy they choose will largely depend on the counsellors training and their judgement of your problems. Some of the best validated treatments for anxiety and depression include cognitive behavioural therapy. This therapy works by thinking in depth about behaviours and thoughts that generally increase your level of anxiety or depression, and help you to overcome this patterned response. For example, those who experience anxiety could be telling themselves things such as: ”I will never make it”, or ”I will be terribly embarrassed if people see how nervous I am”. Such thoughts are identified together with your therapist, and changed, more accurate self-representations are now used to challenge these beliefs. With ongoing practice and perhaps some skills training such as relaxation, positive results are experienced by most people.

Can relationship counselling really help my partnership?
It’s important to see that relationships are changeable -they go through phases, from the initial honeymoon stage to a 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 along, etc. As these pressures increase, the partners in the relationship are no longer able to accommodate the other’s emotional needs, and conflict can develop - perhaps into frequent and recurring arguments. Relationship counselling enables each partner to learn to soothe their own distress, whilst also learning to identify and name the unspoken needs that are not being satisfied. Partners 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 recognised and can be worked with.

What issues can psychologists help with?
Therapists and psychologists are trained to assist you with a broad 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 should I choose a counsellor or psychologist?
Get in touch with a registered counsellor or psychologist for a start to a better life. These licenced mental health professionals can help you to overcome emotional challenges. Depending on the country you are in you can find assistance from the professional body which registers counsellors or psychologists in your state. In Australia, Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney can connect you with a registered therapist near you.

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