Info
A Complete Evidence-Based Care Package
- 3 Stages -
Assessment
Therapy begins with telling your story to help me get a full understanding of your relationship needs, individual wishes and hopes for change.
To inform your bespoke therapy plan, I'll also ask you specific questions based on over 50 years of research on what makes and breaks relationships.
For the therapy to be effective, it is also important to take into account your individual needs. As a Clinical Psychologist, I've had extensive training and experience working with both individual and couple issues, including a wider range of mental health issues.
I take great care to incorporate all what is important to you.
Whenever applicable, your plan will include methods from the most effective couples therapies, such as the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focussed and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapies.
An expert and bespoke approach is essential because there is no evidence that one type of therapy works for everyone.
Some common therapy modules
- Art of speaking and listening
- Art of love, bonding & intimacy
- Art of compromise
- Wreckers & their antidotes
- Baby decision
- Management of jealousy
- Management of anger/irritation/resentment
- Art of repair & reconnect
- Trust recovery & rebuilding
- Recovery from physical or emotional infidelity
- Reversal of emotional detachment
- How to grow stronger together
Treatment & Practice
When you are ready, we will carry out the plan together in a series of consultations. You are in control at all times.
The pacing and number of sessions will be as you choose. Research suggests that weekly or fortnightly sessions are most effective. The number of sessions vary considerably depending on presenting needs. For the most common problems/needs, 6 to 20 sessions are sufficient for successful progress.
Elective advanced tools will be offered to promote progress and effective learning, such as tailored hand-outs, exercises, video, adjunctive bibliotherapy, bespoke therapy letters and email/live-chat support.
Consultation Room
Georgian House, Duke St, BA2 4AQ
You can have the whole bespoke therapy in-person, online, or a mixture of both.
Aftercare
After the therapy, my interest in your well-being and success will not end. You can come back when you want for further advice, answers to questions, support or a top-up. It is good to be known and to have assistance easily available when needed.
To maintain gains and progress, research has shown that follow-up appointments are effective. For example, many clients benefit from ongoing brief support, refresher of skills learned, progress checking-ins and extra coaching to deal with old or new challenges.
You choose what you need. It may be a brief voice or video call, email exchange, one session or a small number of booster sessions.
By being well-known by your therapist, such support can be short and effective.
Avon Relationship Check‑up
Like going for a physical health check, it can also be good to take stock of your relationship to learn more about how to lead a healthy emotional and interpersonal lifestyle, and how to nurture long-lasting fun, bonding and romance.
At the Bath Couples Therapy Practice you can take advantage of ARC to do just this.
3 Therapy Target Domains
Problems
We will work on overcoming, managing and healing any issues that affect your relationship happiness and satisfaction.
The temporal focus of the therapy is your choice. Some clients choose to focus on the present and future whereas for others events in the past need to be understood, healed and repaired before addressing their current situation.
The mode of delivery is up to you. Your choices include establishment of a safe space to talk about sensitive issues, facilitated and guided therapeutic conversations, catharsis, bespoke evidence-based advice, psycho-education, coaching, therapist modelling, adjunctive bibliotherapy, analysis, home assignments, psychological observation & feedback and teletherapy.
Relationship Booster
In this programme, we will learn and practice how to revive romance and/or strengthen your relationship (with or without the presence of any current difficulties).
Learn more about what science says about how to maintain passion and loving bonds. Be coached to try out new and exciting ways to interact and grow closer.
Here are some examples of therapy modules you can choose:
- Foster a deeper connection & liven it up
- Relationship Health Check-up to learn more about strengths and weakness, so to rejoice and fully appreciate what is good and address things that can improve
- Resilience training
- Pre-marital counselling & Pre-problem therapy
Life Transitions
Most relationships face major challenges from time to time and many will benefit from expert support and help to manage them.
In therapy, we will learn and make use of what have worked for others and carefully adapt it to your unique situation and needs.
Here are some common life transitions brought to therapy:
- moving in together
- baby decision
- trial separation / divorce
- looking after someodisplay: flex; who is unwell
- physical or mental health issues
- trauma
- major life changes, such as losing one's job
- getting married
Common Problems Tackled
Passionate
- Feeling misunderstood or unheard
- Feeling disrespected
- Communication Problems
- Angry/volatile/uneasy arguments
- Cannot agree/compromise on important matters
- Frustration/dissatisfaction
- Need for an expert & non-judgemental outside opinion
- Housework/parenting conflict
Dispassionate
- Not enough fun together
- More roommates than romantic partners
- Growing apart / Living parallel lives
- Not enough affection
- Physical intimacy issues
- Unsure of the future of the relationship
- Thoughts of separation
- Emotional numbness or detachment
Friendly Agreement
Cost-effective & Insurance
To maximise the benefits to you, I also work for you between therapy sessions. This work (reviewing and tailoring the therapy) can demand up to two hours per paid session and is included in the sessional rates.
There are no set number of sessions. You decide how much or little help you need.
My aim is for you to have reached your therapy goals and gained the skills and knowledge that makes you independent of therapy in the shortest possible time and to support your continued success with additional support if and when needed; aftercare.
Dr Ryden is AXA Health Approved Therapist.
Sessional Fees
| General Queries | Phone/e-mail | Free |
| Support Remote Session (20min) | £35 |
| Introductory Meeting | £65 |
| Therapy (50min) | £105 |
| Therapy - Double Session (90min) | £140 |
| Therapy | Saturday (90min) | £215 |
| Avon Relationship Check-up (ARC) inclusive of two consultations and a comprehensive formal assessment | £265 |
Cancellation Policy
If you change your mind, it is easy to reschedule or cancel an appointment. Cancellations made with more than 48 hours notice will be fully refunded.
If you like to know more before deciding whether to try therapy or not, don't hesitate to contact me.
You can have one-off-introductory meeting without signing up for therapy.