What is Couples Therapy?
Couples therapy is sometimes also referred to as marriage counselling, but is indicated for couples who are involved in an intimate relationship, whether married or not. At Hometree, we aim to assist couples in working through their relational difficulties, which involves commitment from both intimate partners. However, couples therapy can also assist couples in deciding whether they should stay together or not.
Jackie Fleetwood prefers working within an IMAGO framework. Our other therapists may adopt different approaches.
The IMAGO framework offers a sound basis of understanding the spiritual, emotional and physical intimacy in relationships. The IMAGO dialogue technique offers couples the development to basic communication skills to facilitate improved connection on all levels. IMAGO work offers couples exponential growth, pass their perceived difficulties in a constructive, functional, time effective manner; in that they develop the necessary skills not only to resolve their current difficulties but to enrich themselves as individuals and take their relationship to a higher level of connectedness and intimacy. Through IMAGO couples truly are GROWING TOGETHER.
If you’d like to read more about IMAGO before you start your process, you can refer to the book by Dr. Harville Hendrix, Ph.D and his co-author wife Dr. Helen Lakelly Hunt. Ph.D. "Getting the love you want". PLEASE NOTE that reading information (on a cognitive level) does not replace the therapeutic process which addresses subconscious dysfunctional emotional and cognitive belief patterns, and by doing so, alter the connection within the relationship.
What can I expect?
Evaluation Phase
During this phase, questions concerning the couples' personal and relationship history are asked, which may be experienced as intrusive. This assists us in developing an in depth understanding of the challenges faced by the couple, so that we may best tackle the relational difficulties that exist between the couple.
Therapeutic Phase
Sessions involve one on one communication in a safe, empathic and non-judgemental space.
During IMAGO sessions the role of the therapist is that of a facilitator of effective communication between partners, thus the therapist does not analyses or interpret the behavior or personalities of partners. This process enables a safe environment where no one is blamed; the objective is to relate and understand each other. Sessions are therefore not confrontational hence resulting in minimised conflict. IMAGO also works well for ‘silent’ couples who experience difficulty with opening up and talking.
Ending Therapy
Either party may terminate therapy at any stage. However, we will only terminate therapy in consultation with you and in a professionally accountable way. If you wish to terminate therapy, please discuss it with us so that we may have closure for the therapeutic process.
If at any stage you feel uncomfortable with what is happening in therapy, or with suggestions or the therapeutic procedures that are being used, please discuss this. This is of the utmost importance for the therapeutic relationship, and the process of therapy.
Will other people know what I say in sessions?
Your personal information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality, and no information will be shared with others without your verbal or written consent. However, there are some situations in which we may be obliged to break confidentiality. This includes:
- Emergency situations: Such situations are those where you may be at risk of harming yourself, another person or the therapist.
- Statutory duty: A provision in an Act may oblige me to disclose information.
- Court orders: A court may order us to disclose private information where we, in terms of our professional rules shall however endeavour to do everything possible to prevent the disclosure of private information.
- Certain medical aids require a diagnostic code in order to pay the account. If you do not agree to this code being disclosed, the medical aid may refuse to pay your account.
- From time to time we may need to refer you to other practioners such as a general medical doctor or psychiatrist. In this event, we will discuss this with you and your consent will be obtained to share information with these parties
Appointments
- Sessions typically are 50-60 minutes long.
- Appointments are generally set for the same time, in the same place each week.
- The length of therapy is dependent on the findings of the evaluation phase and may be long or short term in nature.
- Appointments should be cancelled 24 hours in advance.
Fees
- Sessions can be paid for in cash or via credit card.
- We are also able to claim from medical aids on your behalf.
- Some medical aids offer a prescribed minimum benefit for therapy for certain conditions. You can discuss this further with us or consult our fees page in order to establish how this works.