Guidance extends beyond marriage

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 566, 13 December 1994, Page 12

Guidance extends beyond marriage

After nearly 50 years of community service, Marriage Guidance has a new name, "Relationship Services". In that time, it has helped thousands of New Zealanders find their own answers to their relationship difficulties. After the development of MGs between 1947 & 1949 the National Marriage Guidance Council was born and named in Lower Hutt in November 1949. The organisation's first task was to assist the families of returned servicemen who were in a state of post-war shock. Half a century on, the mission of developing positive relationships between people and families remains unchanged. However, unlike 50 years ago, when most clients were married, nowadays they may be single, gay, lesbian, couples, families, employers or employees. They come from all walks of life, occupation, ages and backgrounds. Explaining the reasons for the new name, Relationship Services chief executive Jacky Renouf says the name 'marriage guidance' may well once have been right in a society that believed there was one 'correct' path for people to follpw in relationships. Now with more options available, what matters most is relationships that work and provide well being and people having the ability to find their own answers to difficulties says Jacky Renouf. The new name reflects the wide role Relationship Services have in the community and workplace in helping people build positive and supportive relationships in all situations says Jacky Renouf. They offer a wide range of education and confidential counselling services to individuals, couples and families to deal with events such as separation, step-parenting, redundancy and parenting. They provide training in conflict resolution, change management and mediation within families and within workplaces. Counsellors, as part of an intensive two years training programme, also learn how to assist people affected by a community tragedy. Some clients decide to come to Relationship Services themselves, others may be referred by the Family Court, their doctor or other organisations. Increasingly companies are referring their staff to Relationship Services to improve their working relationships. Last year, Relationship Services undertook over 50,000 interviews with over 24,000 people throughout New Zea_land in many sorts of relationships.