Relationships
Friendships and intimate relationships can be sources of joy and sorrow. Since there isn’t a guidebook of how to manage relationships, it can be helpful to collaborate with a therapist on how to manage the relationship difficulties we all face. One of the most important relationships we will discuss is your relationship with yourself.
Common Relationship Themes
We May Address in Therapy
Friends & Family
Making new friends, meeting like-minded people, and deepening connections
Increasing open communication generally, or depth of communication
Dealing with ghosting, drifting apart, and other relationship casualties
Fear of missing out, being left out, or being judged
Getting clarity on whether it’s time to let go of a relationship
Creating or re-creating trust in the wake of dishonesty, lack of reliability, broken promises or boundary violations
Maintaining reciprocity in relationships
Reducing fear and anxiety about losing relationships
Intimate/Romantic Relationships
Healing shame and low self-esteem to increase love, compassion, and assertive communication
Navigating challenges of modern dating, including online dating, dating as a parent, and navigating communication pitfalls in the digital world
Recognizing repetitive patterns of behavior in relationships
Relationships after sexual abuse and/or assault
Dealing with the breakdown of trust from things like dishonesty, hiding, keeping secrets, broken promises or agreements, violating personal boundaries, or infidelity
Navigating inequality in the division of the home, family, and financial responsibilities
Ready to Improve Your Relationships?
A high-quality relationship can have long-lasting and cumulative positive effects on your physical and emotional well-being. When you take steps to improve the quality of your relationships, you start a journey of self-discovery that can be richly rewarding.
Our work in therapy will help you better understand yourself and your role in relationships while developing strategies to promote fulfilling relationships.