Therapy for Relationship Issues
Triggered and disconnected…
After Beatrice’s partner gets angry with her for making a simple request, Beatrice* gets this painful feeling of being alone in the world. She shuts down and retreats inward, giving her partner the silent treatment.
She used to feel so safe in the relationship. Now, she wonders if she can talk to her partner without getting into a disagreement. Beatrice feels like she’s walking on eggshells, and the problem is only getting worse.
Beatrice can become less reactive with her partner, but she must first recognize when she’s getting emotionally triggered. That’s the key to soothing an overactive nervous system. Only then can she be grounded and express herself calmly with her partner.
Spread thin and dismissed…
On the surface, Sarah* looks like she can do it all. She’s a parent of three athletic teenagers, a wife, and a full-time worker. She’s the taskmaster and project manager for the entire family, all while taking care of their aging parents.
Sarah has a knot in her stomach because she just got off the phone with her elderly mother. Sarah agreed to have the entire family pack up and spend the holidays at her parents’ house, even though everyone would rather stay home and relax.
Sarah has a pattern of bottling up her feelings until she eventually explodes. She’s tired of picking up after her kids and husband and being at the beck and call of her parents and in-laws. The tape inside her head says that others’ feelings and needs are more important than hers. When she does put her needs first, she struggles with guilt. She feels like she can’t win!
Sarah can learn how to express her emotions before she explodes, but to do so, she needs to see that her feelings are valid and it’s not selfish to prioritize her needs. Sarah also needs to set boundaries with her family before she gets carried away by her resentment.
Anxious and in love…
Sandrine* is ready to give up on dating, but what stops her is her desire to find a partner, settle down, and start a family. She’s only getting older. What if she never finds the one?
Whenever she starts scrolling on dating apps and going out, she gets so anxious that she can’t relax. She’s bothered by so many nagging thoughts – about not being liked… or being rejected… or if SHE likes her dates. The thoughts of “what might happen” are so intense that she tries to make things work before she even knows if the other person is right for her.
Sandrine’s last relationship wasn’t a good fit. When she’s honest with herself, she realizes there were some red flags early on… but she couldn’t stop herself from being emotionally sucked in. Whenever she was criticized or dismissed, that only made her MORE worried that she’d end up rejected – and that it would all be her fault.
Sandrine can become better at dating, setting boundaries, and rejecting the wrong romantic partners, but she first needs to learn more about her adult attachment style (the anxious type) and how to express her needs openly and honestly. Sandrine has to slow things down so she can stop abandoning herself.
On edge and always in doubt…
Maria* is frustrated with her boss because every time she asks him for direction, he tells her to focus on one thing but turns around and tells her something different the next time they meet.
She’s a high achiever, but she’s starting to doubt herself and her ability to do a good job. She can’t seem to communicate effectively with her boss. She’s not used to being in situations where she feels confused and frustrated in front of her managers.
Maria worries about what will happen if she confronts him on what isn’t working. She wonders if this is all her problem. She’s starting to feel like a failure.
Maria can become more skilled in communicating with her manager, but that won’t happen if she isn’t willing to be honest and direct with him and trust in herself and her ability to handle conflict.
When people throw away the script and show up in the moment, suddenly a lot of creative energy is released, and something can get accomplished .
– Susan Campbell
Are YOU ready to make a change?
Individual therapy for relationship issues can be a powerful tool for helping you improve your relationship with others and, ultimately, with yourself.
There’s “good news” and “bad news” here…
The good news is that you can learn tangible skills to care of yourself when dealing with others.
The bad news is you’ll have to be brave and do uncomfortable things like expressing yourself honestly and accepting you can’t control others.
But I’ve got your back! I’ll give you the tools you’ll need to set boundaries, be less reactive, and feel empowered to speak up for yourself.
I love this work, and I can’t wait to meet you. Take the first step in reclaiming your relationships by calling to set up a free consultation: (507) 200-0206.