Couples Therapy in Cork and Online
Relationships can become stuck in ways that are painful and difficult to understand.
You may find yourselves having the same arguments repeatedly, becoming increasingly distant, struggling to communicate without conflict, or wondering how a relationship that once felt close has become so difficult.
Couples therapy offers a space to slow things down and begin to understand what is happening between you.
I am Karen Murphy, an accredited psychotherapist and supervisor specialising in couples and relationship therapy. I have worked with couples for more than a decade and am the founder of the Institute of Couples Therapy, where I train and supervise therapists working with relationships.
I work with couples in person in my private practice in Turners Cross, Cork City, and Online.
When Relationships Struggle
Most couples who come to therapy have already tried very hard to resolve their difficulties themselves.
Often the problem is not simply what you are arguing about. It is the pattern that develops between you.
One person may pursue while the other withdraws. One may become critical while the other becomes defensive. Difficult conversations may escalate quickly, or important things may remain unspoken for fear of making matters worse.
Over time, these patterns can leave both people feeling unheard, misunderstood, lonely or resentful.
Couples come to me with many different concerns, including:
repeated conflict and communication difficulties
– emotional or sexual distance
– loss of trust
– affairs and betrayal
– differences around parenting, family, money or intimacy
– major life transitions
– uncertainty about whether to remain together
– relationships that feel increasingly disconnected or stuck
You do not have to know exactly what is wrong before coming to therapy.
How I Work
My role is not to decide who is right or wrong, or to persuade either partner to change.
I am interested in helping you understand yourselves more deeply in relationship: what happens to each of you when difficulties arise, how you respond to one another, and how the ways you try to protect yourselves can unintentionally contribute to the very difficulties you are trying to solve.
Rather than remaining only with the content of arguments, we pay attention to the process between you.
As that process becomes clearer, couples often begin to have more choice about how they respond to one another and can develop different ways of relating.
My approach is primarily systemic and differentiation-based and is informed by many years of specialist study and clinical work with couples.
Specialist Experience in Couples Therapy
Couples therapy is the central focus of my clinical and professional work.
I have worked with couples for more than a decade and am the founder of the Institute of Couples Therapy, where I train and supervise psychotherapists working with couples.
I am an IACP-accredited psychotherapist and accredited supervisor and have undertaken extensive specialist training in couples and relationship psychotherapy.
Alongside my clinical practice, I contribute to the profession through training, supervision, public speaking and media work. I have been invited to speak on couples therapy, including as a keynote speaker, and have contributed to media conversations on relationships, emotional life and psychotherapy.
This broader professional involvement keeps me actively engaged in the ongoing development of couples therapy as a field, while remaining grounded in the realities of the consulting room.
Sessions
Couples sessions are 90 minutes.
I work with couples in person in Cork City and online.
Before beginning therapy, I have a brief introductory phone call with each partner. This gives each of you an opportunity to speak with me briefly and allows us to establish whether couples therapy with me is likely to be appropriate for you.
Click here for more details on couples counselling.
My practice is often at capacity and I don’t operate a waiting list. Availability does arise from time to time, so you are welcome to contact me to enquire about current availability. If I don’t have a suitable appointment, I can suggest alternative options.
Contact
Karen Murphy
Turners Cross
Cork City
Email: mail@karenmurphy.ie