Relate Press Releases
SEP 09 / Relationship Counselling benefits all
Relate, the UK's largest provider of relationship counselling, today published research on the impact of couple counselling. People using the service found that relationship counselling not only had a positive impact on them as a couple but also benefited their parenting skills and their ability to cope with work.
The research, Relate: the difference we make, is launched to coincide with the Relate Institute lecture where Nick Clegg, MP and Leader of the Liberal Democrats, will make a keynote speech on the importance of supporting relationships.
While the charity does offer family counselling and counselling for children and young people, the report focused solely on those that had come for couple counselling. The report found that:
Relationships
- 80% of clients for whom the question was relevant said Relate had had a positive effect in helping them maintain or strengthen their couple relationship
- 73% of client for whom the question was relevant said Relate had a positive effect in helping them to save their couple relationship
- 74% of clients, for whom the question was relevant, felt that we had helped them come to terms with a relationship which had ended
Parenting
- There was a 20% decrease in days off school taken by children whose parents used our service
- 72% of clients, for whom the question was relevant felt they were better able to deal with the arrival of children or their on-going care
Work
- 58% of clients felt we had had a positive effect on their ability to concentrate as work
- 45% of clients felt we had had a positive effect on their ability to manage conflict at work
Individual
- 70% of clients felt we had a positive effect on their self-confidence
- 98% of clients said they would recommend Relate services to friends and family
Clare Tyler, Chief Executive at Relate, said:
"People tend not to talk about having counselling, but this report shows that it can be a huge help. Our counselling has helped thousands save their relationships, while others received help coming to terms with the end of a relationship, or in coping at stressful times such as around the birth of a child. The knock on effect of this in terms of boosting self confidence, being able to concentrate at work and feeling better able to cope with their children further demonstrates how counselling can enable people to turn their lives around.
Relate sees some 150,000 people annually, including 22,000 children and young people and 9,000 families. Face to face services are provided by two-thousand practitioners working in seventy-eight local Centres across England and Wales. Relate also works with clients in a range of other locations including GP surgeries, Children's Centres and schools. In addition, counselling is provided over the telephone and via email."
Supportive Quotes
Children Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls said:
"The support and help Relate offer to families across the country is invaluable and that's why I wholeheartedly back their important work. We've recently given Relate an additional £1m to help them support families who are experiencing relationship problems as a result of the impact of the recession on their lives. I congratulate Relate on continuing to raise public awareness about the importance of developing and maintaining good relationships and enabling us to talk about these issues more openly"
Shadow Minister for the Family Maria Miller MP said:
"The work of Relate clearly shows that we improve the life chances of children if we focus on strengthening the relationship of parents. We need to move to services which are not just child-focussed, but family-focussed too"
Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said:
"When people lose or are at risk of losing their job or home, this can have a devastating effect on their relationships.
This makes the work of Relate all the more important during the recession as the knock on effects of the downturn inevitably impact upon families and marriages. Relationship counselling benefits not only the couple receiving support but also helps people in their jobs and as parents.
Tragically there's still a stigma associated with asking for help when times are tough. But the thousands of people that Relate help every week are testament to the excellent and necessary value of their work."
Notes to Editors
- Research based on completed questionnaires of 29,000 Relate Clients. Participating Centres selected themselves and were not chosen on a representative basis. Relate is working to promote health, respect and justice in couple and family relationships
- Relate's services extend beyond couple counselling to family counselling, counselling for young people, online counselling, sex therapy and relationship skills workshops
- Relate works in schools, primary care settings, prisons, and with local authorities on homelessness prevention services
- Relate supports 150,000 people each year in over 600 locations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Relate has a work-force of 2,000 people nationwide
Contact: Mel Merritt
Telephone: 020 7554 2892
Email: mel.merritt@relate.org.uk