I'm a marriage and relationship coach.

[marriagecoach]

I work mostly with women to help heal relationships where couples really want to stay together but simply don't know how.

AMA

This is what terrifies me about coaches like this- you've just done one (non-specified) course and as a result you feel qualified to guide people through what might be one of the hardest times in their life. Can't help but feel that there ought to be stricter rules about who can provide this sort of service.

Yes, I have had clients where I have identified things like financial control, emotional abuse or isolation. In these cases I refer them to a therapist or woman's refuge.

So you have no actual qualifications, training, supervision, or experience in the field. How did you actually study Psychology? Having a 'deep interest' doesn't make you an expert. I think you are one of those who reads a few books or attends some course and suddenly, you are a coach. You definitely sound fake and it's scary that there are people out there like you.

What would be your top tips for maintaining a successful partnership?

So none then. An “armchair coach” at best.

I think it depends on the circumstances. I thinks there instances where instructions are definitely helpful because it makes the expectations a lot more clear.

If I take a mundane example like doing the dishes, you can tell someone to do the dishes and they may wash, dry, put away and clean the sink after or they might just wash them and leave on the rack to dry. The latter could feel like half a job was done or that they were being lazy, it could cause irritation in one person while the other happily walked away thinking the dishes are "done". Sometimes simple things like this can trigger an argument and I can see where instructions would be helpful here.

I think in the beginning, whether it be a new relationship or the beginning of healing of an older one, instructions in the form of clarity are good. As long as it doesn't come across condescending and be said respectfully with love.

The free sessions, honestly, because there were people in my community who needed help and simply didn't have the resources to pay.

Do you have regular supervision? A good supervisor would draw your attention to your rescuer tendencies. Not a good footing for building a working therapeutic relationship with clients.

What professional body regulates your practice? Do you have regular supervision sessions? Are you insured?

So it’s been surmised that you have no qualifications. Would you at least consider doing some training with Relate?

yeah - i think you are in over your head and i would really like to see proper accreditation for people offering your services (which are hugely expensive, IMO, and i would expect qualifications for that).

Do you ever advise people to split up if you know they can't solve their problems

I wondered this. It doesn't seem like she's actually officially qualified and accredited?

I'd expect a relationship or any psychotherapist to have the qualifications and accreditation you speak of having.

I guess if you call yourself a 'coach' you don't need anything. It's just a word.

So nothing in counselling or relationship therapy then?
sounds fab.

Also as an actual qualified relationship therapist, I am quite concerned that you’d advertise yourself as such despite not being qualified. Shame on you.

What supervision do you do? Let me guess? Nothing.

Psychology is the study of mind and behaviour. Having an interest doesn’t qualify you to be a counsellor.

To answer some questions.

I am a certified coach qualified through an online coaching institute. This also included supervision during sessions. I am still a member of the institute and have regular access to continued learning and supervision.

I am not a therapist or a clinical psychologist. Nor do I pretend to be. I do not deal with trauma or past experiences or attempt to dissect these issues.

What I do is, listen, ask questions, establish patterns in behaviour and actions that don't currently work well and help implement new patterns that can work better.

as long as you make all that clear before people fork over a huge wodge of cash...

“I am a certified coach qualified through an online coaching institute.”

Gosh, this is scary.

She's doing her best to make it as clear as mud to us 😂"I studied psychology throughout my life including at university during my (non psychology) degree" etc etc.

I don't advise on splitting up, no.

Not because I don't believe in it or anything like that, but I wouldn't advise on such a huge life changing decision.

I will help to improve communication so that they can talk and discuss their wants and needs and then they can make a decision from a place of understanding rather than anger or resentment.

The answers here are a reason why I’ve never sought ‘relationship therapy’.

This should be a regulated field.

How many clients have you had, op?

Scary stuff.

I'm also an accredited psychotherapist (transferred from other registered core NHS profession with 3 years additional post-reg training through NHS) and still have imposter syndrome that I'm not a 'proper' therapist.

Oh, God…
So you’re not even a proper therapist/counsellor, let alone a psychologist, you have no accredited qualifications and you “have a passion” for relationships.
You’re a liability.