New Zealanders need to know that free counselling is available for people facing relationship issues, Relationship Services said today.
The organisation was responding to the Families Commission report, Reaching Out: Who New Zealanders turn to for relationship support, which said that people are more likely to seek to family or friends than professional counsellors when having relationship problems.
"Most people who are going through relationship difficulties are eligible for free counselling, which is funded by the Family Court," Relationship Services' national practice manager of relationship services Cary Hayward said.
"It is a concern when we see that cost is one of the main barriers to people seeking counselling support for their relationship in the Families Commission report...
"Family Court funded counselling is available from Relationship Services' 75 offices throughout New Zealand."
The commission's research confirms both Relationship Services' experience and research that most people resolve relationship problems by talking with their partner and/or family or friends. "This highlights the importance of people learning good relationship skills, both for their own relationship and to support friends and family," Mr Hayward said.
"We recognise that people are often reluctant to seek help from counsellors. Many people look for ideas in books or on the internet."
She said there was practical advice on Relationship Services' website, www.relate.org.nz.
"While it is good that people are seeking help from a variety of sources, it is also important that they are encouraged to seek professional help when it is needed. Our client feedback shows that 90 percent of people find counselling very useful, and we know that counselling does work, particularly if people go early enough" Mr Hayward said.
As part of the study, researchers talked in depth to 50 people to find out how they accessed information and support to sustain their couple relationships.
A surprising finding, not found in overseas research, was the tendency to talk to professionals other than counsellors about relationship problems, said Chief Commissioner Jan Pryor.
"Our study found that people who distrust formal counselling services, who keep problems to themselves, or have limited social networks were more likely to open up to professional people they already had trust in such as GPs, Plunket nurses and midwives."
In general, participants were not aware of the options for formal support provided by counselling professionals. The cost and scepticism about its benefits were also among the barriers to people seeking this type of help. Some saw formal counselling as a last resort.
