Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Remote Marriage Counselling

8 replies

N1C · 14/04/2024 10:51

Never done counselling before. I want to begin the process to feel happier in our marriage. At the moment I feel on edge and stressed because of my partner's mood swings/irrational anger episodes. Either I need to improve to prevent them or my partner needs to recognise they're unreasonable and address it or both.

Looking for counsellors; a lot of them are online via zoom etc but I feel in person would be best.

Does it actually make a difference?

Interested in hearing other's experiences. Experiences of service providers welcome too.

Thanks in advance for all comments

OP posts:
semideponent · 14/04/2024 11:07

Yes, it makes a difference because it is different. If your instinct is to go for face to face, then stick with that.

Thelnebriati · 14/04/2024 11:15

My personal opinion is that if you are having counselling for personal improvement reasons, zoom can work. But if you are doing it for anything related to risk or harm, or you are having couples therapy, its better to go face to face.

Chamomileteaplease · 14/04/2024 11:18

I can't imagine having marriage counselling via zoom. I am sure it would feel much safer and provide more clarity for everyone if you are all in the same room.

Just being able to see and hear everyone more clearly must surely be a good thing.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 14/04/2024 11:50

How does this man behave around and to other people?. If he can be all sweet and light with them and not you then what you’re really describing here is an abusive relationship. You do not need to improve in order to prevent them in your partner.
He has a problem with anger, your anger when you call him out.

Joint counselling is never recommended if there is abuse of any type within the relationship. I would also look for face to face counselling.

N1C · 14/04/2024 11:53

AttilaTheMeerkat · 14/04/2024 11:50

How does this man behave around and to other people?. If he can be all sweet and light with them and not you then what you’re really describing here is an abusive relationship. You do not need to improve in order to prevent them in your partner.
He has a problem with anger, your anger when you call him out.

Joint counselling is never recommended if there is abuse of any type within the relationship. I would also look for face to face counselling.

When outside his mood can be mixed. Sometimes he can get very angry towards strangers for minor reasons like how they look at him or approach him. It's really unsettling and he doesn't listen to me so wanted somebody neutral to tell him.

It's very hard to argue with him as he can manipulate me pretty easily and I feel overwhelmed. I feel so stuck.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 14/04/2024 11:58

He will not be amenable to reasoned talking from a counsellor. I would start to carefully and gradually plan your exit from this relationship. I would also suggest you contact Womens Aid.

theansweris42 · 14/04/2024 12:10

As the wise Attila said, definitely seek a face to face counsellor for YOU.

I'd say you need a space to talk, to think out loud, which is safe for you, without DH.

I have personal experience of what you describe. Sadly, many years of one P followed by an H who presented differently but in the end the effect was the same - confusion, misery and loss.

Unsettling, as you're describing now, easily becomes destabilising and wrecks self esteem. It's the idea in your OP that you need to improve to prevent his awful behaviour that prompts me to post, as Attila said.

If he's saying it's your fault (it's not), then the likelihood is you won't be OK with him. I am being purposely measured as I don't want to scare you away.

I hope that your situation is entirely different and that it works out well for you.

However I sorely sorely wish I'd found a way to have space to think straight, listen to myself and build up strength to reject poor behaviour and emotional abuse.

MN helped me leave P, but I'd been with him a long time and I need not have been. MN and my finally getting proper therapy is the reason I'm divorcing H, also long overdue.

Perhaps don't book anything yet. Take time to read your thread and digest and come back when questions occur Flowers

Grimsknee · 14/04/2024 12:20

I am a service provider. I do remote only if there's no other option. It is not ideal for couples at all. I strongly recommend inpersonif available.
If he is abusive, I echo what others have said - go and do counselling for yourself and tell them what's going on.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page