To reach out to a stranger and ask for help, to seek to talk is a positive step towards growth and well being.

relationship counselling

People seek relationship Counselling for varied reasons. Sometimes this is done as a couple, sometimes individually.

Hello, my name is Denese MacDonald and I am a certified Relationship Counsellor of ’Imago Therapy, with over 20 years’ experience. I am BACP registered, which means I am qualified to work with both individuals and couples. Although relationship counselling is my main area of expertise.

Imago Therapy is a process designed to assist couples in overcoming a distanced hurting relationship in order to find the love you want again. Whilst I am a practitioner of Imago Therapy I’m essentially an 'integrative therapist'. That’s because I don't believe in a 'one size fits all' approach, so I use different therapeutic models, depending on each couples’ individual needs.

How I can help

Perhaps you are tired of recycling the same conflicts, resulting in you feeling misunderstood, hurt or angry. Or maybe you feel so unhappy in your relationship that you are wondering if you should stay or leave.

Often, when couples are experiencing a lot of pain and frustration in their relationship, they feel disconnected and defensive. I shall assist you in creating a positive change in the way you communicate. So instead of being defensive and acting out your hurt with destructive behaviours. I will help you both calmly express your pain or dissatisfactions and explore them in more detail. We will discuss what you would like to change and tailor the counselling to meet your goals.

Undertaking counselling with your partner in a safe non-judgemental space will allow listening and understanding instead of escalation and conflict. Couple counselling can help expand awareness and develop the skills needed to repair and grow your relationship to its full potential.

If change is not possible and recovery is not your goal. Then couple counselling can support you to talk this out, with kindness and mutual respect; so, you can move forward more positively in separate lives.

I am familiar and experienced in working with, co-dependency, love addiction and recovery from narcissistic abuse.

Counselling is a positive action to navigate your way through your relationship difficulties. Being accurately heard and understood is the start of healing and growth.

Ethical Practice

Being a BACP member means that my practice is informed by their code of ethics. I also undertake regular professional development and supervision.

adjustment + transition

Change is a feature of modern lives more than ever. Even in positive change it can be challenging to reach a place of disengagement from the old or unattainable and adjust to the new. Counselling as a support at this time can help you develop a supportive perspective on this change and face your challenges remembering you will have navigated through many transitions before.

bereavement, LOSS + change

Are you living with the searing pain of grief?

Do you feel overwhelmed by its intensity and wonder if you can ever come through it and find pleasure in life again?

Counselling is that safe place where we can sit with your thoughts and feelings. Counselling does not respond to your natural feelings trying to fix it. Counselling will witness your loss, and support you, navigate your unique journey of grief and growth. It takes courage to feel the feelings, talk out the difficulty and find your way to integrate in a meaningful way, your loss, with your life now.

family of origin issues

Did you grow up in a home that was terrifying and chronically stressful?

Did you feel anxious, uncertain about what you would return to every day?

Do you feel there is a legacy from your childhood that is impacting your life negatively?

Make that decision to face your past. We do this so we can stop dragging it into our now life where it undermines us with unhelpful beliefs about our self, others and the world. These beliefs create rules for living that become destructive to our well being and trap us in a loop of self-limiting and harmful behaviours.

Counselling can be your bridge to healing and thriving. Thriving comes when you integrate and accept your experiences and with the power of understanding and reprogramming your mindset you finally let go.

To let go is to not regret the past but grow and live for the future.

These are some of the areas counselling can assist with. Please use the no obligation call and discuss your aims for seeking counselling and we can consider together if I may be able to offer assistance.