communication breakdown

Communication Breakdown

When communication breaks down, couples often go around in circles, saying the same things and acting the same way bringing up the same issues and never get any further forward.

Communication Breakdown

This is by far the most common reason for couples to come into couple counselling.

When communication breaks down, couples find themselves stuck on how to reconnect. Usually, they go around in circles, saying the same things and acting the same way, bringing up the same issue and never getting any further forward. Arguing and bickering causes a great deal of frustration and resentment as there is no resolution. Equally; silences, one-word answers, factual communication, and cold and detached avoidance causes a great deal of sadness. Whatever communication difficulty you may be experiencing can dramatically improve with the intervention of an experienced couple counsellor.

The aim of the couples counsellor is to help the couple to:

  • Open the lines of communication
  • Listen without interruptions – not cut across each other
  • Learn the art of listening – really listening and hearing
  • Develop empathy
  • Break bad habits
  • Find a new and better way of relating
  • Unpack and examine the style of communication we learned from parents and peers
  • Understand how avoiding conflict creates it
  • How keeping quiet and holding on to resentment affects the relationship
  • How much of your relationship with yourself affects your communication

After we sort the communication issues, couples might be ready to move on. However, there may be situations or core issues from the past and present that we need to work on resolving. This becomes much easier when the communication is improved.

This is very specialised work which requires the experience and training of the couples counsellor to re-establish a strong foundation and rebuild a better relationship than the one that first entered the consulting room. In addition to helping you change your communication style we will use directed reading, worksheets and structured homework to give you the tools to stay on track.

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Nightingale Marriage Counselling Communication Breakdown

Struggling to communicate

“We arrived at Nightingale, sceptical of counselling, really struggling to communicate with each other and on the verge of (reluctantly) separating. Florence’s frankness and compassionate holistic approach helped us consider the whole relationship and unpick the origin of the problem. We are now able to healthily argue and are, we believe, on the road to a more intimate lifelong relationship.”

View Testimonials

Struggling to communicate

“We arrived at Nightingale, sceptical of counselling, really struggling to communicate with each other and on the verge of (reluctantly) separating. Florence’s frankness and compassionate holistic approach helped us consider the whole relationship and unpick the origin of the problem. We are now able to healthily argue and are, we believe, on the road to a more intimate lifelong relationship.”

View Testimonials

Below are a few of the communication styles we see in couple counselling. Look for your own not just your partners!

THE SHOUTER
THE BICKERER
THE SNAPPY
THE SULKIER
THE INSULTER
THE AVOIDANT
THE POOR ME
THE PUNISHER
THE CHATTERBOX
THE PLEASER
THE PARENT
THE FIXER
THE DEFENDER

Related Services

Below are a few of the issues we work with on a regular basis.