Joy Behrmann

I have an MA in relationship counselling and my practice focuses on couple counselling & adult family counselling. My expertise is in relationship therapy and it is not an add-on to general therapy work. I have been seeing couples for the past 17 years.

I am BACP accredited (this is an enhanced level of membership)

In addition to my private practice I work for Relate, the leading relationship charity. 

I also counsel couples and families at a cancer charity and am very aware of the impact of health issues on relationships.

I formerly practiced as a family lawyer. This gave me insight into the emotional impact on couples and families facing disputes and conflict. 

I see clients at all different stages of their relationships, from couples who have been dating for a few months to clients who have recently celebrated their silver wedding anniversary.

Some clients come alone, to explore patterns in previous relationships which have created problems or to get over a recent break-up.

A family may have experienced difficult events in the past which have not been openly discussed and are continuing to cause alienation.

Whatever your issue, if there is a relational focus, I hope I can help you to achieve clarity and change.

 As a relationship & adult family counsellor I enjoy working collaboratively and creatively with my clients to create opportunities for change and growth.

All clients and relationships have their own unique dynamic and although I am guided by theory and established techniques, I am flexible and versatile in my approach.

I try to make the sessions stimulating, challenging and constructive.

I am very interested in the way clients tell and interpret their stories and how two people can relate the same occurrence in such different ways.

I approach the work from a position of empathy, curiosity, creativity and hope.

Whether you are married, living together, separated, a family or single, counselling can help you deal with relationship difficulties.

Relationship counselling cannot always solve your problems, but it should give you the tools to deal with them in the best way possible.

I have experience dealing with a wide range of issues including: -

Communication & conflict

Sex & intimacy

Parenting & blended families

Life stages

Affairs & trust issues

Illness

Money worries

Separation

Loss & bereavement

We can examine together what you bring to relationships from your earlier experiences. This may influence what you expect and take for granted. We will also consider how you connect and attach. You may both have different ways of receiving and showing love.

The aim is to have a better understanding of each other and to find a way forward to break the impasse. Assumptions and misunderstandings can be aired and discussed.

It is not unusual to hear a partner of many decades saying: “I have never heard you say that before or I never knew you felt that way.”

We often mind-read or second guess our partners inaccurately.

I ask open questions to encourage novel ideas, different perspectives and change to emerge.

The first session will be an assessment. This is a chance for you to tell me what is happening and what you hope to achieve through counselling. I will explain how relationship counselling works and answer any questions you might have. This gives us a good framework to start the counselling.