The Counsellor

Katrina Peacock (PG Dip Systemic Psychotherapy)

Katrina has been working with couples and families for over 10 years. She is registered with the UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy) and practices according to their ethics and codes of conduct. Her experience spans working with children and their parents in schools, as a Couple and Family Psychotherapist for the NHS, and a wide spectrum of couples and families in her private practice both for organisations and private referrals.

What is it?

Most of us are familiar with the idea of counselling/psychotherapy for individuals when they are experiencing distress, difficulties or problems. However, often those people that we live with such as a partner and/or family can also be involved in and/or experiencing the effects of the distress, difficulty or problem. The benefit of couple and family counselling is that all voices, concerns, experiences and ideas can be heard and taken into consideration for coming to a shared understanding and solutions for ways forward. Working in counselling together as a couple or family means that there will be more acceptance of and commitment to these. It also provides the couple and/or family with understanding and strategies for how to work together for any future difficulties or problems.

Couple and family counselling is based on systemic psychotherapy which looks at:

• how we create who we are and our way of understanding the world from the relationships we live in i.e. our culture, society, family, work/school colleagues etc
• how distress, difficulties and problems exist in relation to those we are in relationship with; it focuses on how they exist in relationships rather than individuals
• unlocking the hindrances, support and resources we have from our relationships in finding ways forward from distress, difficulties and problems

Obviously not every situation is appropriate for couple and/family counselling. However in situations where those that you live with also seem to be involved in, or living with, the distress, difficulty and problem, or if it does seem to be a shared situation such as the dynamics in a couple relationship/family, working with everyone involved can be very effective.

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Who for?

Couple or family counselling is appropriate for any situation where it seems that more than just on person is involved in, or living with, the distress, difficulty or problem.

Typical situations where you might consider couple counselling:

• Conflicts that seem to remain unresolved
• Difficulties in communication
• Impact of one partner suffering depression
• Considering separation/divorce
• Issues around anger, abuse or violence
• Challenges of having different cultures/backgrounds
• Demands of new baby/extended family on the couple relationship
• Sexual difficulties
• Moving on from infidelity

Typical situations where you might consider family counselling:

• Challenges of moving into different life stages such as teenage years, children leaving home, bereavement
• Challenging/upsetting behaviour of a child or teenager
• Becoming a step-family
• Living with the impact of separation/divorce on the family
• Challenges of relocation on the family

I welcome referrals from all members of society irrespective of their culture, ethnicity, sexuality and age.

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Testimonials

I have been working with couples and families for over 10 years, here are some testimonials from them:

"We found the service really supportive, it helped us to understand depression and work together as a couple in managing it"

"Since using couple counselling we seem to understand each other a bit more and argue less"

"Before coming for family counselling we were all struggling to become a step-family. Now we are enjoying our new way of life a lot more"

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Questions & Answers

How do I decide to go for individual or couple/family counselling?
Couple or family counselling is very helpful when more than one person seems to be involved, in or living with, the impact of distress, difficulties or problems. If you haven’t already please read the sections What is it? and Who for? to help in answering this question. Alternatively you are most welcome to contact me to discuss further whether couple or family counselling would be suitable for you.

How can I explain this to my partner and/or family?
Partners or family members can use the counselling sessions as an opportunity to offer support and guidance to each other whilst getting to better understand each other and the distress, difficulties or problems being experienced.

What if my partner/family can’t make every session?
Commitment to the counselling is an area that we would explore carefully in the first session, particularly as it is not unusual for members of a couple/family to have different expectations and interest in counselling. In couple counselling sessions a session with just one of you can take place occasionally if 24 hours notice to reschedule cannot be given. When working with a family it is not critical for all members of the family to attend every session. It is not unusual for one member of a family not to want to attend the counselling sessions, in which case we would find ways of including them.

Do we have to commit to a certain number of sessions?
You are under no obligation to attend a certain number of sessions. To get the best out of your investment in counselling I usually recommend a course of 6 sessions, after which we would review how things were going around the distress, difficulty, problem that you had requested counselling for. Most clients have between 6 to 10 sessions.

What about confidentiality?
Counselling is confidential, unless there are exceptional circumstances such as significant risk of harm, or where other professionals need to be involved. In ALL instances I would first discuss with my clients the need to involve other professionals such as a GP.

What about confidentiality between my partner and I?
There may be situations where for whatever reason you or your partner may not feel able to disclose certain information/issues/feelings to each other. My role as your counsellor is not to act as referee or enforce any disclosure. We will work with whatever can be communicated with the aim of looking at trust and expectations in the relationship.

What about confidentiality between parent/s and children?
It is not unusual when working with a family to get to a point where the issues are more relevant to working with the parent/s without the children. An example of this is when although the initial request for counselling was due to the challenging behaviour of a child/teenager, the way forward seems to be working with the dynamics between the parents/personal challenges faced by the parent. I am very mindful of this and work very carefully with parents to ensure that the content of the sessions is appropriate to whoever is present.

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Price List

Couple consultations:
the first session is £65.00 for 90 minutes with subsequent sessions at £50.00 for one hour

Family consultations:
the first session is £80.00 for 90 minutes with subsequent sessions at £65.00 for one hour

I do require at least 24 hours notice to reschedule or cancel an appointment, otherwise the full fee will apply. In situations of genuine emergency, sudden illness etc this will be wavered.

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Contact Details

Please contact Katrina on: 07765 251903

If I am unable to answer the phone please leave your name and number and I promise to get back to you.

I very much welcome the opportunity to answer any questions or uncertainties you may have even if at this stage you just want to know more about couple and family counselling with no obligation to make an initial appointment.

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Useful Links

The Institute of Family Therapy

UK Council for Psychotherapy

Willow Herbal Centre

Complementary Therapies

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