UKCP Psychotherapist · Therapeutic Coach
Compassionate, evidence-based couples therapy to help you understand your emotions, build stable relationships, and create a life worth living.
Navigating recurring conflict, feeling more like flatmates than partners, or wanting to strengthen a good relationship? I provide a calm, structured space for you as a couple to reconnect and move forward, without committing to open-ended therapy.
Years of experience
Relationships can swing between intense closeness and painful distance. Over time, it feels like you are always repairing damage or bracing for the next hit.
We help you build healthier communication and repair skills to break deeper patterns of conflict.
You may constantly scan for signs of withdrawal or “impending doom,” driving over-checking or reassurance-seeking. Alternatively, you might shut down entirely to avoid further conflict.
Arguments hit fast and hard, making it impossible to hear each other once triggered. The fallout: regret, exhaustion, and feeling “out of control”, often lasts much longer than the disagreement itself.
We focus on de-escalation tools you build healthier communication, boundaries, reduce intensity and recover your connection faster.
You might feel you’ve lost who you are within the relationship, leading to people-pleasing or sudden shifts in life direction that leave both of you feeling empty.
In the heat of the moment, an urge to lash out or “leave” can feel non-negotiable. Then comes the guilt and the erosion of safety and trust.
You may feel numb, disconnected, or like you’re living as “roommates” rather than partners. When you can’t access shared emotion, life together starts to feel flat.
No packages to decode and no insurance panels. The first step is always a free call.
Starting from
£250
Studied CBT at King's College London
I’m Sabbir Ahmed, a UKCP-registered psychotherapist and EMCC-accredited therapeutic coach with more than 20 years of experience supporting couples to rebuild and strengthen their relationships. I specialise in DBT and family therapy approaches, working from both my Harley Street practice and City Road clinic in London, as well as offering online relationship counseling across the UK.
My approach combines clinical rigour with genuine warmth. I understand how relationship difficulties can feel, and I’m committed to creating a therapeutic space where you feel safe to explore your emotions, challenge unhelpful patterns, and build the life you deserve. Whether you’re seeking a couple therapist in London for the first time or looking for a different approach, I’m here to help.
With Sabbir’s continued support and guidance, I am better at dealing with negative thoughts and emotions, have improved the quality of the most important relationships in my life, and have finally clarified and made progress towards my personal and professional goals. If you are someone serious about improving your mental health and wellbeing, I highly recommend working with Sabbir.
Author and Entrepreneur
Sabbir Ahmed is truly one of the best of the best counselors I have been fortunate enough to cross paths with. We chose Sabbir not only based on his experience and qualifications, but his sheer honesty, integrity and love for humanity. He was able to see hope in my marriage where I could no longer…
Entrepreneur
I truly cannot say enough about how therapy with Sabbir has helped me.
With Sabbir’s continued support and guidance, I am better at dealing with negative thoughts and emotions, have improved the quality of the most important relationships in my life, and have finally clarified and made progress towards my personal and professional goals
IT Consultant and Startup Founder
Every couples therapy session is connected to your real-world challenges, differences, emotional needs and similarities. We don’t just discuss the relationship, but provide a safe space to work on and overcome the challenge you actually face.
With more than 20 years of experience as a couples therapist in London, including NHS and private practice, I bring deep clinical expertise to every session. I am UKCP registered and trained in CBT and DBT, with specialist knowledge of family therapy.
In relationships where one of the partners is neurodiverse, different communication styles, processing differences and sensory differences can impact daily interactions. My couples therapy practice is informed by a thorough understanding of these differences and how they can play out in relationships.
I work with clients from all backgrounds, cultures, and identities. Whether you’re a young professional, a parent, or someone navigating a life transition, my approach to couples counselling adapts to you.
Couples therapy that considers cultural awareness (including cultural differences between partners), spiritual sensitivity, and lifestyle. I factor this into a couples counselling programme that respects who you both are.
We set measurable therapy goals from the start and track your progress. Rebuilding a relationship is a journey, not a quick fix, and I’m committed to walking it with you, with regular reviews to keep you on track.
We don’t just talk about the problem; we understand the patterns and actively practice better ones.
We start by mapping the cycle you get caught in, whether it’s pursue/withdraw or shut down/escalate.
Together, we upgrade your communication with simple scripts for bids, boundaries, and difficult conversations.
We solidify your progress by strengthening friendship and intimacy, through daily micro-connections which align your priorities, from parenting to finances.
Practical changes we can work towards, without promises or fixed timelines.
Move beyond the "attack-defend" cycle with practical tools to manage high-intensity moments before they escalate. You’ll learn to pause, co-regulate, and respond to each other’s needs rather than reacting to their defenses.
Healthy relationships require clear boundaries that protect individual energy while maintaining closeness. Learn to say what you need and set limits without the fear of triggering rejection or causing a "blow-up."
Break the painful cycle of intense bonding followed by sudden distance. We work on building a "stable middle ground" where trust is consistent and both partners feel safe enough to be vulnerable.
Rediscover who you are as a couple without losing your individual selves. We use integrated therapy models to help you build a coherent "we" that supports, rather than stifles, your personal growth.
You do not need to be at your worst, or have the right words, to get in touch. A short message is enough to start.
I deliver couples therapy in my professional capacity as a UKCP-registered psychotherapist. Couples therapy means that we go beyond surface communication, and we work with the deeper emotional patterns driving conflict and disconnection.
Yes, for most of our work together; couples sessions are joint by default. In some cases, I’ll suggest a brief individual check-in with each of you separately, but I’ll always be transparent about when and why.
In couples therapy, it’s very common for one partner to be more hesitant. If that’s you, a single, no-commitment exploratory call with me is often enough to decide whether this feels right. Therapy works best when both people choose it freely.
Yes. Secure video sessions are available UK-wide and work just as well for couples as in-person. Many clients find it easier to fit sessions around work and family this way.
High-conflict relationships are exactly what this work is designed for. Couples sessions are structured to create safety for both of you; I’m not here to take sides, and I’m experienced in holding difficult conversations without them escalating.
Most couples notice meaningful shifts within 8–12 sessions. Some choose to continue beyond that for deeper work. We’ll review progress regularly so you’re never locked into something open-ended.
In person at 96 Harley Street, in London’s medical district, a few minutes from Oxford Circus and Bond Street, or at 335 City Road in Angel, a short walk from Angel station. Or online, wherever you are in the UK, with the same clinician either way.
Harley Street: 96 Harley Street, London W1G 7HY
London City Road: 335 City Rd, London EC1V 1LJ (Angel)
Online: Secure video sessions UK-wide and globally
Book your initial consultation today and take the first step towards clarity, confidence and lasting change.
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