What is Relationship Counselling?
Counselling offers a caring, confidential and supportive environment in which you can examine problems and think about ways to address them. Watch this video, in which Relate Counsellor Graham explains what Relationship Counselling is.
What happens in Relationship Counselling?
Our counsellors are trained to help people understand themselves better, relate better to others, work through things for themselves and make decisions about what to do next.
After making an appointment, you'll be seen by a trained Relate Counsellor for a 50 minutes session at either our Bristol or Bath premises, or online. You can choose from these options and decide if you'd like to attend on your own or with your partner.
In your first session your counsellor will ask you questions about your relationship, any problems you’re experiencing and what you hope to get from counselling. If you come to Relate Avon as a couple we will also make time to talk to you separately in that first session. This provides a safe place for each of you to explain your reasons for attending Relate and to tell the counsellor what issues you would like to work on together. What you discuss with your counsellor in your individual time is always confidential to you.
At the end of that first session, your counsellor will discuss with you how Relate might be able to help you and any options for ongoing counselling.
You might meet only once, or you might meet once a week at a regular time for several weeks or longer. These sessions will be for 50 minutes each. What kind of counselling you receive – and how long counselling continues – all depends on you and what kind of issues you want to address.
What sort of issues can counselling help with?
People come to see us for lots of different reasons.
You may be in a relationship where you're arguing a lot or you’re struggling to talk to your partner. Or maybe the spark has gone and perhaps you’re thinking about ending your relationship. Or maybe you’re coming to terms with a break up.
You might be happy in your relationship but looking to resolve an issue or strengthen your connection for the future. Or perhaps you’re not in a relationship right now and want to look at why.
Whatever the issue, your counsellor will not judge you and everything you say will be confidential.
What is the cost of counselling?
We are a charity and we don't make a profit from the services we provide. We charge a fee for counselling to cover the costs of the sessions.
To find out more about our charges read our FAQs.
Book an appointment
To find out more about Relationship Counselling and to arrange an appointment contact us via email, call Relate Avon direct on 0117 942 8444 or complete this enquiry form.
Comments from clients
"We were very pleased with the service we received. We would recommend other people experiencing difficulties to take advantage of the Relate service."
"My counsellor evokes a strong sense of confidentiality and trust."
“Hard work.”
“I think Relate is absolutely the best. I don't wish to be anonymous. My counsellor ... was absolutely brilliant. The help and support I have received will enable me to move forward. First-class Relate staff have shown me kindness, care and respect. Thank you so much.”
“It has helped hugely.”
“I found the counsellor most personable, understanding and helpful.”
“At first I was concerned about the possibility of the counsellor being a man but I must say my concerns were completely unfounded.”
“The counsellor, before the first session was over, became the person who was as keen as I to resolve my problems and I found it very easy going to ‘open up’ to him. I came to Relate because I thought I’d tried everything to make my partner happy and it wasn’t working. I’ve been encouraged to move towards the things that make me happy and amazingly my marriage is recovering because I’m more confident.”
“Thank you ..., you’ve been great!”
“I have found the experience has been helpful to us both and I have felt supported as an individual as well as one half of a couple.”