Couple support

Coaching for couples whatever stage your relationship is at, whether dating, engaged, married or living together.

From our own experience of being married for over 30 years, we know that this key relationship doesn’t just happen but needs constant care and attention. There will be times of complete harmony in our relationship but there are also as likely to be periods of strain and tension between us as a couple.

As ‘life happens’ around us, a couple will inevitably go through different seasons in their relationship, bringing with it fresh joys and challenges too. With circumstances changing around us, such as our employment, health issues, starting a family, retirement or caring for elderly relatives, we can also change as individuals which, putting pressures on our relationship as we try to adapt to each other. We can also have expectations of our partner that can be either healthy or sometimes unrealistic.

How we can help

In our work, we can help couples to discuss these things, to bring clarity and understanding between them of each other’s expectations. Working with us can help you to navigate change, as well as being a safe place to have some important discussions that will help you through challenging times when they arise.

So often a couple will feel like they are the only ones facing these challenges and are relieved to discover that much of what they’re going through is often perfectly normal. For couples, so often the hardest step is asking for help and realising that talking things through with someone might be beneficial. Seeking help can feel like failure. However, we know from working with many couples over the years, that this can be the first step to taking control of your relationship when it feels like things are slipping away from you.

A positive experience

Couples can be reluctant to seek help because they feel ashamed of where they are in their marriage, or they feel that everything is bad. When we work together, we have the joy of looking at the strengths in a couple’s marriage as well as the growth areas. This is always a really positive experience as some couples can experience the relief of realising their relationship isn’t as bad as they thought it was!

“Fiona & Andy are excellent facilitators in providing marriage support. Using an individualised tool as a starting point, they create a safe space to explore many areas of marriage, as well as points of challenge and conflict. They aid deep communication, are skilled in asking key questions to get to the heart of things, are comfortable with emotion and able to support and encourage as issues are worked through, all at the couples pace. They bring a wealth of experience and at times share helpful examples to normalise and bring hope to any situation. Empathetic, insightful, experienced, refreshingly honest and humorous, they are a great team to champion anyone in their marriage journey. Would highly recommend.”

“Andy and Fiona are a living example of a great marriage – packed with energy, fun and a deep commitment to each other and their family. They also have a well thought out framework and understanding of what makes a marriage, and indeed any couple relationship, really work. They are unafraid to confront the tough issues that can ensnare any couple, and bring a refreshing clarity and hope with the advice they offer. Armed with the latest tools in the SYMBIS programme, they should be the ‘go-to’ couple for advice and help in good times or bad.”

“Andy and Fiona are wise and compassionate people who know from their own experience the joys of marriage but also its challenges and are realistic about both. More importantly, they are gifted in helping other couples navigate those waters themselves. We have been friends for many years, and they have journeyed with us through our own marriage. We are grateful to them and for them and commend them unreservedly.”

“I have known Andy and Fiona Banes for over ten years and have been consistently impressed by their compassion, wisdom and professionalism regarding their ministry to marriage. I have referred a number of couples to Andy and Fiona both through my role as a local parish priest and in my wider responsibility in the Portsmouth diocese. Those who have worked with Andy and Fiona attested to their care and kindness, but also to the way that their approach and programme of sessions has benefitted their marriages and family life.”

We can support you whether you are thriving in your relationship, experiencing change in your relationship, or feel your relationship needs a boost; we also support couples in crisis.

Our experience in dealing with many different aspects of relationships, includes:

Mental health issues (including anxiety, depression, and post-natal depression)
Pressures of parenting
Menopause
Separation
Affair
Faith shift/spirituality
Seasons in marriage
Communication
Conflict resolution
Sex and intimacy
Couples in leadership (either church or secular) and couples in the public eye

Generally, when meeting with a relationship therapist, you meet with one person. We believe that participating in sessions with us both, as a couple, can provide an enhanced dynamic, as you get two complementary perspectives on your relationship and the subjects that are being discussed.

Although we’re based in the UK, as the sessions are via Zoom, we can work with couples all around the world—language & time zones permitting.

The SYMBIS Report

Have you ever wished that you could take an X-ray of your marriage to see what’s really going on underneath the surface? We are delighted to utilise the award winning SYMBIS Assessment to work with couples in all aspects of their relationship which helps to do just that.

The SYMBIS report produces an illuminating snapshot of your relationship based on the answers that you give to an online questionnaire, showing what is going well in your relationship as well as areas that could benefit from some discussion & focus.

SYMBIS will show you:

Your Money Methods: Kick financial friction to the curb and ensure you realize your shared dreams together.
Your Fight Types: Discover your “hot topics” and the secret of leveraging conflict positively for a stronger relationship.
Your Love Life: Cultivate deeper intimacy and enduring passion for a lifetime of pleasure and fulfilment.
Your Personalities : Unpack your unique personality dynamics not only as individuals but more importantly as a couple.
Your Talk Styles : Crack the code for deep and meaningful conversations to enjoy heartfelt and lasting connections.
Your Deepest Longing: Create your ultimate soul-to-soul connection and discover how to infuse your relationship with meaning.

How it works:

Take the Assessment 
You can take the assessment on any device—laptop, tablet or phone—and it only takes about 30 minutes to complete.
SYMBIS Works It’s Magic
Sit back and relax while SYMBIS put your results together to create a tool kit of new insights for your relationship.
Improve your relationship
We will walk you through your customised report, encouraging conversations between you and your partner. Generally, this process takes six sessions each lasting an hour via zoom.

Lets' talk

We'd love to talk with you about the Couple Support you need. Book a free 20 minute consultation or make an enquiry: