LGBT Couple Counselling ~ Specialist in Havant.

Would you like to understand why couple counselling can be important to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans relationships?

Here’s the real story…

Any lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans* couple relationship can suffer strain, conflict, arguments, acting-out or abuse.

But we can suffer in our relationships because of a problem our parents didn’t have: as we grew up observing our heterosexual parents’ relationship, we didn’t gain enough information to manage our same-sex relationships. We’re employing a slightly off-centred relationship template.

Until recently we didn’t have role-models to look up to. Simply employing heterosexual behaviour to gay relationships can result in unnecessary struggles.

We had to develop our own relationship philosophy. One that works for our distinctly LGBT couple relationships.

There is good news.

I can’t emphasis this enough:-

LGBT couples whose behaviour leads to a break-up… sometimes later leading to reconciliation… only to break-up again later… can be helped by a counsellor who specialises in working with LGBT Couples.

But this isn’t just any generic relationship we’re talking about… it’s yours!

Meeting with LGBT Couple Counsellor Dean Richardson MNCS(Accredited Registrant) in Havant or Waterlooville (Hampshire) can help LGBT couples:-

(a) learn to discover and understand what may really be going on underneath relationship behaviours & conflicts.

(b) learn to take creative and considered steps to unravel repeating problems.

(c) learn to consider different ways to respond, snuffing out not just old conflicts, but new ones as they occur in the future.

This is what you were looking for:-

As a lesbian, gay or mixed-orientation couple, we can develop our own ways of becoming curious about our relationship’s behaviour. This curiosity (employed with our partner), can become a powerful relationship tool.

And there’s a bonus:-

The couple therapy approach employed by Dean Richardson continues to help couples long after they’ve ended couple counselling.

Click to learn about how to begin LGBT Couple Counselling…

Why choose a Specialist LGBT Couple Counsellor?

Let me tell you why you’d choose me as your couple counsellor.

Are you ready?

Hi – I’m Dean Richardson and I’m an actual gay couples’ counsellor.

You see, although most professional counselling bodies (now!) frown upon counsellors who decline to work with lesbian and gay people, they won’t stop some counsellors who refuse to work with your relationship (e.g. citing religious beliefs).

That’s kinda appalling in this modern day.

Transparently gay!

Some couple therapy services will advertise with sentiments meant to suggest that “biblical traditional marriages” is the standard to achieve. I wonder if “biblical” is a coded message.

The approach that I use with LGBT couples means that rather than tell you “what a normal couple would do is…” I employ powerful (“circular”) questioning that allows the couple to discover their own effective resolutions to conflicts.

Why does this matter?

I understand the specific needs and difficulties of lesbian and gay couples in a heteronormative society. Plus, I’ll focus specifically on your relationship needs. My aim is to become redundant; you won’t need me after we’re done.

This means that you’ll leave couple counselling with ways to manage your relationship both now and in the future.

My therapeutic approach with LGBT Couples means there doesn’t need to be more than one counsellor in the room with you, neither. (Yes, some services employ two counsellors in the room).

Plus, I’m quite down-to-earth and “non-counselley”. I’ll use swearing and everything (meaning – I use the same language that you do)! This helps you become at-ease with the counselling processes.

Separation or Reconciliation.

If you wish to separate; if you wish to reconcile; if you’re not sure… LGBT Couple Counselling with Dean Richardson can help the both of you decide which way to move forward… together.

Click to learn more about LGBT Couple Counselling…

Not just an LGBT Counsellor.

Here’s something you need to know:-

It’s not commonly known that general qualifications in counselling cover only the skills necessary to work with a single person (“individual” counselling). This can leave self-titled “fully qualified” counsellors without adequate understanding or training of the needs of couple relationships. Couple counselling is not the same approach as individual counselling.

What makes Dean a Different Counsellor?

Dean Richardson is not just a qualified counsellor. Dean is also a QUALIFIED COUPLE COUNSELLOR (Dip systemic / psychodynamic Couple Counselling; Chichester).

Dean’s private practice focuses on the therapeutic, psychological & developmental needs of lesbian & gay couple relationships as part of his continued professional development (CPD); LGBT/Q Counselling is one of his specialities.

What to ask the other counsellors.

Even if you choose not to work with Dean, it’s worth asking each couple counsellor you interview: “what qualifies you to work with lesbian/gay couples?”. Listen carefully to the counsellor’s reply. It may help you discover reasons (not?) to choose that counsellor.

Click to learn more about why you’d choose Dean Richardson…

Dean Richardson MNCS(Accredited Registrant) is a specialist in LGBT Counselling (individuals, couples and small groups), and he is based in central Havant, Hampshire.

His offices are quiet and discreet, with plenty of car parks just around the corner, a short walking distance from Havant Central Bus & Train Stations, and just 5 minutes drive from the main A27 access road.

The location is suitable for wheelchairs & the severely mobility impaired (with wheelchair accessible toilet facilities) on a flat surface with no steps.