What do we do?
ACCORD offers professional couples counselling, both in-person and online, throughout the island of Ireland. We work confidentially with couples and individuals, helping them work to resolve the challenges that arise in their relationships.
Couples counselling is a particular specialisation within the field of counselling and therapy. In addition to the theoretical knowledge of personal development, relationship dynamics, all of ACCORD’s counsellors receive rigorous practical skills training from experienced couples’ therapy practitioners.
Counselling Services
Accord’s modality is the person centred or humanistic approach (also known as Rogerian).We believe it is the most appropriate modality for couples’ counselling and therapy as it is characterised by unconditional positive regard and acceptance of each client. It does not instruct clients in a directive way, but rather the process facilitates clients to deepen their understanding of themselves, each other, their relationship dynamic and also to explore and agree what will work best for them in their relationship. Our couples counsellors also use interventions and strategies from many other modalities as necessary to meet the needs of each case.
ACCORD’s couples counselling service is welcoming of everyone seeking support for relationship issues irrespective of their relationship status.
Why Couples Counselling?
Couples and individuals come to Accord for professional expertise in helping them to work through their relationship issues and reach common ground. Research from Amarach (2022) indicates that 20% of couples across the entire age and social spectrum of society, at any given time, are experiencing strain and difficulties in their relationships.
We encounter relationships that are new and old. We hear about problems that are emerging and long established. We know there are many causes of such difficulties – and we also know there are also many ways to improve relationships.
Areas where we can help
Our Couples Counsellors support their clients as they work to:
- deepen of their understanding of themselves and one another
- manage conflict and disagreements in a better way
- handle challenges relating to illness, disability and neurodivergence
- Identify, understand and manage the impact of trauma
- manage the impact of addictions on their relationship
- renegotiate their relationship following infidelity and other breaches of trust
- improve and develop their emotional connection
- understand and work to resolve difficulties in their sexual relationship
- improve their ability to self-regulate and manage themselves and their behaviours
- discuss the use and impact of technology and social media on their relationship
- openly discuss concerns about separation
- understand and manage the impact of grief and loss on themselves and their relationship
- understand and work to manage any difficulties with extended family
- manage parenting responsibilities positively in challenging family situations
- identify and resolve patterns of situational domestic abuse
- When coercive control is identified in a relationship, ACCORD Couples Counsellors are guided by comprehensive protocols designed to safeguard the person at risk.
Why ACCORD?
All ACCORD Counsellors undergo a rigorous selection process before they can commence their professional training. Our counsellors must have personal qualities such as warmth, understanding, acceptance, genuineness and respect – qualities essential for effective counselling.
ACCORD offers its confidential service at convenient locations across Ireland. Find your nearest location HERE.
For clients choosing online counselling, ACCORD offers online couples counselling for individuals and couples. ACCORD has counsellors who have completed specialised training programmes for delivering couples counselling remotely. Find further information about online couples counselling HERE.
Accord’s couples counselling service is provided on the basis of need rather than ability to pay. In the Republic of Ireland Accord receives an annual grant from TUSLA to support the provision of the service. This grant does not cover the entire cost of providing sessions consequently clients are requested to make a contribution based on their financial circumstances. Lack of finances will never hinder your access to couples counselling with ACCORD.
ACCORD’s Approach
Our approach is a person centred, non-directive approach, which empowers clients to explore, address and manage their difficulties in a way appropriate for themselves, with the support of professionally trained ACCORD couples counsellors.
In-person couples counselling is undertaken in a safe and re-assuring atmosphere, away from the stresses of home. In our experience, this calm environment can play an important part in leading clients to a deeper understanding of themselves, their spouse or partner, their relationship dynamic and their situation – which can in turn lead to better connection, communication, an improved relationship and strategies and skills to better manage difficulties now and into the future.
Online couples therapy is as effective as in-person therapy. It takes place virtually in a safe, private, confidential space for the couple or individual, in their home or other appropriate private and confidential setting. Accord counsellors receive professional training for providing couple therapy on line.
Our counsellors will always be alert to the possibility of abusive behaviour in relationships and are trained to manage such situations appropriately and safely.
Our counsellors listen to your experiences, your needs and to how you would like your relationship to work.
ACCORD Counsellors are experienced in working with a wide range of life issues that confront couples and individuals struggling to manage a relationship and family life. Our counsellors will not be shocked by or trivialise any issues that clients bring to counselling.
First steps with ACCORD
On your first appointment, you will meet your counsellor who will commence an assessment process designed to help you and your partner identify and clarify the challenges in your relationship. The assessment process will help the counsellor to work with you to prioritise the issues needing attention.
At the first session your counsellor will explain Accord’s policies on Confidentiality, Child Safeguarding and Data Protection and the ‘terms and conditions’ of ACCORD couples counselling service. Once the assessment process has been completed, the way forward will be agreed with your counsellor.
If you need support beyond couples and relationships counselling, we can advise on other ACCORD services such as Psychosexual therapy or Fertility and Wellbeing counselling.
Find out More
If you would like to find out more about our online or inperson couples and relationship counselling service please fill out form below
Counselling Form
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