The issue
Jenny and Ahmet had been having a rough time since Ahemt’s mother had come to stay from Turkey. Ahmet’s father had died in February and his mother, feeling lonely and sad, had asked if she could spend an extended holiday with them. She had been staying for several months and while Jenny was keen to be supportive and caring, she was finding living with her mother-in-law very stressful.
The process
The couple had been having some angry rows about the whole situation, culminating in Jenny threatening to leave home and taking their 22 month old baby with her. They called us for an urgent appointment and, after an initial consultation, were offered couples therapy with a counsellor called Jo.
Ahmet and Jenny came to 22 sessions with Jo, where they explored their situation and thought about the way forward. They began to understand that their difficulties had existed before the arrival of his mother, but that this event had pushed them over the edge. Adjusting to a new baby and losing a parent were the themes that they worked on until they felt that they had a better understanding of each other’s point of view.
The outcome
The understanding they came to through this couples therapy led to a new closeness between Jenny and Ahmet and together they addressed the issues that were facing them. When they finished their sessions, they both agreed that the counselling had been very helpful and said they would come again, if the need arose.