Endings can be disorientating even when you initiate them.
You might feel relief, grief, anger, or all three in the same moment.
Counselling offers a regular anchor while you process the loss, redefine identity, and make practical decisions about the future.
What separation and breakups can feel like
- Waves of grief, even if the relationship was difficult.
- Second-guessing your decision or feeling guilt about hurting others.
- Managing co-parenting logistics while holding your own emotions together.
- Anxiety about finances, housing, or social changes.
- Revisiting old attachment wounds that reappear during endings.
- Feeling invisible as friends and family move on faster than you can.
Why this season is so emotionally intense
Separation touches every part of life: home, finances, routines, and your sense of belonging.
Well-meaning advice can feel minimising, while the legal process often prioritises outcomes over feelings. Without dedicated space to grieve and consider next steps, it is easy to slip into autopilot or stay stuck in resentment.
How counselling supports your transition
In our weekly sessions we make room for the full emotional range of this experience. We explore the story of the relationship, what you want to keep or release, and identify next steps that support your wellbeing. The predictable cadence of therapy provides stability when everything else feels uncertain.
Approaches we may use
- Grief-informed work to honour the endings and attachments involved.
- Boundary-focused conversations to support co-parenting or shared networks.
- Self-compassion practices to rebuild trust in yourself after difficult decisions.
Support for men moving through separation
Men often feel pressure to "stay strong" during breakups, which can leave emotions unprocessed. Therapy creates room to speak about loss, anger, and vulnerability without judgment, and to consider what you need from future relationships.
Affirming space for LGBTQ+ breakups and family shifts
Queer and trans separations can involve chosen family, legal invisibility, or immigration concerns. I recognise these realities and help you navigate practical matters alongside the emotional impact.
Separation and divorce counselling FAQs
Can therapy help with co-parenting communication?
We can plan conversations, rehearse scripts, and explore boundaries that protect your wellbeing and your children’s stability. Because many people are involved, we review these plans regularly so they stay responsive to what is happening.
What if I am unsure whether to end the relationship?
We can use sessions to explore both possibilities, clarifying your values and what a sustainable future would look like.
How long do people usually stay in therapy during a breakup?
It varies. Some people attend for a few months to get through the acute phase, while others continue longer as they rebuild their lives.
Next steps
Book a consultation to share where you are in the separation process. We will decide whether working together feels right and, if so, reserve a consistent weekly session to support you through the transition.