Practical guidance
When should a couple seek therapy?
Couples therapy is not reserved for relationships on the verge of ending.
When the same conflict keeps returning
The subject may change while the pattern remains the same: one person pursues, the other withdraws; criticism produces defensiveness; both partners leave the conversation feeling unheard.
When silence replaces conflict
An absence of arguments does not always mean things are well. Emotional distance, avoidance and living parallel lives can also signal that the couple needs help restoring dialogue.
During major transitions
Parenthood, infertility treatment, migration, illness, bereavement and changes in work or family roles can destabilise a relationship that previously felt secure.
When separation is being considered
Therapy cannot guarantee reconciliation. It can help partners understand what has happened, make a more considered decision and, where necessary, separate with greater clarity and respect.