Why I Specialise in Couples & Relationship Therapy

Working with couples is, without a doubt, one of the most challenging areas of therapy, and also one of the most rewarding. It’s the area I’m most drawn to, and the one I’ve chosen to specialise in. Over time, I’ve undertaken further training to support this work, including an Advanced Diploma in Relationship Psychotherapy (Level 7), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Externship, Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and integrating EMDR into couples work. These approaches don’t just sit in theory, they shape how I support couples in the real, often messy, emotional space of relationships.

There Isn’t Just One Way

One of the biggest things I’ve learned through specialising in this area is that there isn’t a single “right” way to work with couples. Different approaches often share common threads, communication, attachment, emotional safety, but each brings something important.

• EFT focuses on emotional connection and bonding

• Gottman offers practical tools to manage conflict and build connection

• EMDR helps process past experiences that impact the relationship today

• Schema work looks at patterns we bring into relationships, often from earlier life

  
  

Rather than using one fixed approach, I integrate what’s most helpful for you as a couple, because no two relationships are the same.

Why specific training matters

Something many people don’t realise is that not all therapists who offer couples therapy have had specific training in working with relationships.

There are tens of thousands of therapists in the UK, registered across different professional bodies. For example:

• BACP has over 65,000 members

• UKCP has over 11,000 registered therapists

• NCPS has over 18,500 therapists on its accredited register

  
  

In comparison, COSRT, the professional body specifically for relationship and psychosexual therapy, has just over 1,200 therapists on its specialist registers. What this means is that while many therapists may offer couples therapy, far fewer have had dedicated training in working with relationships.

Couples therapy is different.

It’s not just about understanding one person, it’s about understanding the dynamic between two people, the patterns that get stuck, and how emotions play out between you in real time.

That’s where specialist training really matters.

What to Look For

If you’re considering couples therapy, it’s completely okay to ask:

• What training do you have in working with couples?

• Do you regularly work with couples, or mainly individuals?

• Are you part of a professional body for relationship therapy?

  
  

Many specialist relationship therapists are members of organisations such as COSRT, which helps ensure a certain level of training and standards.

You may also come across:

• Systemic therapists – trained to work with individuals, couples, and families from a systems perspective

• Relationship therapists – specifically trained in working with couples and relational dynamics

• Psychosexual therapists – trained to support with sexual and intimacy difficulties, including desire differences, performance anxiety, or the impact of trauma on intimacy

  
  

Continuing to Develop My Practice

Specialising in relationships also means recognising where there’s more to learn.

One area that comes up time and time again in couples work is sexual intimacy.

This is why I’m currently expanding my training to work towards becoming a psychosexual therapist. Through my experience, I’ve come to see that if you work with relationships, conversations around intimacy, desire, and connection are often part of the process.

Developing this area allows me to support couples more fully and with greater confidence.

Why I Love This Work

Couples therapy asks a lot, from both the clients and the therapist. It can feel intense at times. Emotions run high. Conversations can feel stuck. But it’s also where some of the most meaningful change happens. Seeing couples move from disconnection to understanding, from blame to curiosity, and from distance to closeness, that’s what keeps me doing this work.