In couple therapy, the client is the relationship between the two partners. This means that both partners have to attend the sessions together. It is in fact the field between them, what they have co-created together and shared over time, that is currently “lost in the woods” because of a crisis and in need of a new direction. In therapy, couples have the chance to look for new paths and resources within the relationship that can lead to more fulfilment and meaning and, possibly, to a renewed and more intimate bond.
The aim of couple therapy is to create a safe space where partners can explore the difficulties they are experiencing in their relationship, whatever they might be. Partners have a chance to hear and be heard, to be responsive to each other’s inner world and, in so doing, they might discover something new about themselves and each other. In the safe and containing environment provided by the sessions, partners will also have the opportunity to explore healthier ways of communicating and coping with problems together. Ultimately, people come to couple therapy to sort out the complexities of their relationship and to reach new levels of understanding and relating to each other.