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Online Couples Counselling

Online couples counselling : this service is for couples, & individuals, in a long term-relationship. Are you in a long-term relationship and struggling to make it work? Feeling worn down by life & exhausted by conflict? Wishing that it could all be easier? Would you like your relationship to be closer & more trusting? To be able to come home to a loving, supportive home & family life?

I offer caring, confidential & effective help and support based on the research evidence of what really helps.

Let me help you understand the difficulties in your relationship better and what you can do to break forever this cycle of disappointment & pain. I will give you the knowledge & skills you need to maximize your chances of restoring the closeness & friendship you once shared.

Let me help you understand why you haven’t been able to create the lasting happiness you seek. I will show you how to move forward, in this area of your life, to where you want to be. Whether you are married, living-together, gay or straight and whether you want one to one support or to come together with your partner, if you are looking for evidence-based, effective help with relationships, this service is for you.

Contact me!

“Relationship stress? Feel depressed? Happens to everyone. There’s nothing I can do about it, unless I agree to long term surgery of my past in a psychiatrists den. That’s what I thought – and fortunately Ann Marie proved me wrong. She helped me to see these apparently little things. The things in my relationships that build up and multiply until I feel them of crushing importance. I learnt what to watch out for and with her feedback was able to integrate this into daily practice. You are never too old – I just turned 60 – or too young to change your life. Three sessions helped me to rejuvenate my marriage and vaccinate me against depression attacks.” Relationships-

I just wanted to tell you the good news that (my husband) and I are back together & have been since about May. Didn’t want to ring you earlier as was keen to see how things were going but so far it is great and I have my lovely husband (not grumpy one) back! All is so much better and we are both in much better places than we were b4. I am very grateful to u as on our journey u were the only professional who understood it properly

My Story

At a turning point in my own relationship, many years ago, I rediscovered the work of
Psychologist John Gottman & applied his research findings to my own relationship with great
success. This eventually led to my current work with couples and individuals having difficulties in
relationships, based on combining Gottman’s research with my background in psychology &
training in the human givens (solution-focused) approach and have found that by doing this I am
having great success in helping people turn failing relationships around.
I have also written a book about this, 5 Steps to lasting Love: an evidence-based guide to
protecting & repairing your relationship, available s here.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

FAQs I am currently offering sessions by phone /Zoom/Skype (or whatever platform you prefer). In my experience this works surprisingly well- especially for couples (my preference is for couples to be in separate rooms, on separate devices).

To arrange an appointment, please contact me using the form here.

What is your approach?

My approach is evidence-based & solution-focused (particularly drawing on psychology, & the 40+ years of relationship research by the Gottman Institute).

What can I / we expect in the sessions?

Sessions are structured & unrushed ( I allow up to 90 minutes for each session) as I aim to provide a high quality, effective service.

Most often clients see improvements from the first session. My aim is that you need as few sessions as possible.

How many sessions will It Take?

This varies as everyone is different & I aim to be flexible to meet your needs. Most of my clients have at least four to six session and these can be spread out over a few months (every two or three weeks- to allow time to try out the changes we have discussed). Some need fewer sessions (there is no commitment – you can have as many or as few sessions as you’d like) & some choose to have ongoing support, for instance once a month.

There is no commitment, you are welcome to come for just one session and see if it fits with your needs.

What are your fees?

I charge by the session, not by hour, as session length varies because I aim to provide relaxed & supportive sessions – for both participants in couples counselling. First sessions usually tend to be longer- up to 90 minutes.

These are my current fees:

Couples counselling — €150
All other sessions/ appointments — €120

How long is a session?

Sessions vary in length- I allow up to 90 minutes for each session as I aim to provide a quality service where the sessions don’t feel rushed & people see results quickly

When are you available?

I work by appointment only on weekdays and, some evenings (time zone CET).

How long have you done this work?

I have used this approach in my work since 2002 and have worked with people in related fields for over thirty years.

How do I book an appointment?

The easiest way is to contact me using the form here.

I’m confused. Is this counselling, psychotherapy or coaching?

Counselling & psychotherapy are umbrella terms & traditionally refer to lengthy processes which focus a lot on the past. This approach is usually much shorter as it starts from where you are now & focuses on where you want to be and how to help you get there. In this it is more similar to coaching.

I have an honours degree in Psychology and am fully trained and accredited in Human Givens Therapy which is a form of Brief Solution-focused Therapy. However it has a lot in common with coaching in that my clients can expect to make significant progress within a few weeks or months. As it is a brief solution-focused therapy it is future focused & each session is structured.

Human Givens Therapy uses a range of tools & techniques to help people overcome whatever is holding them back & keeping them stuck. It is evidence-based & draws heavily on the research literature, particularly in the areas of psychology & neuroscience to understand the cause of someone’s difficulties. It combines this understanding with tools drawn from the history of effective practitioners & interventions across different related fields. It is this combination of knowledge & tools taken from different but related fields that makes it so effective.

Do you give advice?

Yes -advice that is based on the evidence. There has been a huge amount of research in the area of emotional health, wellbeing & relationships. There is evidence from both psychology & neuroscience of what helps people with emotional & stress- related conditions & what makes them worse. Human Givens Therapists believe that people working in this field should be aware of that body of research evidence and be using it to advise people in distress.

So contact me here- I’d love to help you!