My experience comes from working with different clients from a variety of backgrounds. I offer primarily relationship and family therapy, but also works with anyone seeking direction and meaning in life or seeking comfort after the loss of a loved one or connecting with yourself again after a traumatic event. My commitment to you and passion for this work will result in your story evolving in which every way you determine, as long as you are also prepared to do the necessary work.  

For relationship counselling/therapy I recommend that the first session is a double session for me to understand the background and the couple or family before the work can begin in the second visit. Relationship/marriage counselling is tricky and the reason that it has a perception of having a poor success rate is because the couple usually seek help when it is too late. When it is too late is because one of the partners may have already emotioanlly checked out of the relationship which results in little or no progress in the counselling sessions and definitely none in between sessions. 

Relationship therapy offered by me includes:   

* Pre-marriage or pre-moving in together engagement, where we explore some key aspects of relationships: personality, communication strategies, approaching finances, future in-law relationships, family expansion, or whatever else is unique to your relationship. I have had a number of clients that have benefited from this work prior to making their commitment to each other. 

* Relationship/marriage therapy will start with the current challenging issue in your relationship but will explore the patterns that you may have unconsciously brought into the relationship. We will explore root causes of issues, be it breakdown in communication, lack of support or involvement of one partner, infidelity, work stress, differing approach to finances, differing parental styles, addiction and or dependency, and whatever else comes up 

* Family therapy includes the parent(s) and child(ren) and the relationship between the individual parts of the system as well as the system as a whole. Some common problems can be related to the family structure and/or support, breakdown in communication, a child playing up as maybe they feel unloved, unseen, unheard, or something is happening outside of the family environment (bullying at school, varsity or the work place) and the impact thereof play out in the family space.  

* Adoption - if you are thinking of adopting or have been adopted and you need to process that I will gladly work with you to explore. Identity, expectations, loyalty and love are the common areas to explore in this regard. 

* Other relationships: these could be any other form of relationship: business partners, team dynamics in the corporate environment, etc. 

Please follow this link to book an appointment in my integrated practice diary: https://clientportal.uk.powerdiary.com/clientportal/michaelleak