MEET Richard and Sally Worthing-Davies. Drawing on the troubles they experienced in their own marriage they set up a relationship counselling service in Swindon.

And later this month Adver readers will have the chance to take some of the couple's expert advice in a fortnightly column in which they will talk candidly about everyday relationship problems.

They are living proof that sitting down and talking about difficulties in relationships works.

Swift, a counselling, coaching and conflict resolution service, based in Grovelands Avenue, Old Town, has been operating for the past five years.

Originally from Wales, Richard, 62, said: "My wife and I were on the verge of getting divorced many years ago but we realised the importance of making time to sit and talk to each other.

"We set dates in our diaries to go out, we go to the pub and talk. It's one of most important things in a relationship."

Richard said he and his wife, also 62, hear three common problems when people visit their clinic.

"My husband doesn't listen, my wife always nags me and there's no affection in the relationship, are all common complaints," he said.

"People get caught up in the world in which they work and rarely set aside time to talk, listen and enjoy themselves.

"A relationship is like a car, every now and again it needs a service, but it's amazing how many people think relationships will magically just work.

"When I say to the couple 'what sort of fun do you have in your relationship' people sometimes just sit and stare blankly before saying 'we haven't been out for three years' it's incredible."

Richard says he has a high success rate in solving relationship problems.

"We rarely see people more than six times," he said. "Sometimes we only see people once."

Richard, a former company director, trained as a family therapist after becoming fed-up with his previous jobs in industry.

He and his wife have established something of a reputation as Swindon's relationship trouble-shooters.

They work with social services and help a lot of couples in violent relationships.

American-born Sally holds sessions at Victoria Cross Surgery in Victoria Hill.

"It's very rewarding, especially when people write or call back to tell us that we have helped them sort out their problems," said Richard.

"We do get a lot of feedback and rarely get any failures. But there are obviously some situations when the person has to get out of the relationship for whatever reason.

"Our message is that if you never work at a relationship it will never succeed.

Contact Swift on Swindon 612706 and look out for the new column in next Saturday's Evening Advertiser.