Relationship Counseling for Individuals

Relationship problems are one of the most common reasons that people seek counseling. Struggles in our closest relationships can result in unhappiness, frustration, loneliness, depression, anxiety, and a sense of hopelessness and helplessness. Counseling can provide you with skills to improve your relationships, or help you make tough decisions about letting go of relationships that aren’t working.

Research has shown that relationship struggles are a primary source of depression in both men and women. Lack of emotional closeness and intimacy, power struggles, communication problems, and conflicts about important issues like parenting or finances – these are the type of relationship struggles that drain the joy and vitality from our relationships and our lives, creating a sense of distance and sadness.

On an individual level, many people struggle to find a loving partnership. We may make poor choices in our partners; or find ourselves trapped in an unfulfilling, distant, or even abusive relationship, but not know how to let go and move on. Or perhaps we have been left or betrayed by somebody we loved and trusted, and are struggling with grief, pain and confusion, unable to heal and move forward.

Co-dependence is another problem that interferes with our ability to enjoy healthy relationships. In co-dependency, we sacrifice our sense of self and our own goals, values, and needs for a relationship that doesn’t meet our needs; and we may find ourselves trapped in a relationship with someone who ignores us, abandons us, mistreats us, or abuses alcohol or drugs.

Or, we may have a tendency to emotionally distance – the opposite of co-dependence. As emotional distancers, we are unable to really give ourselves to another person and experience the deep security of emotional closeness. Emotional intimacy may feel threatening or confusing, so we keep core parts of ourselves separate or hidden from others – often with subtle defense mechanisms that confound ourselves and others.

Couples who are struggling with their relationship can seek couples or marriage counseling. But individuals can also seek help with their relationship struggles through individual counseling – including struggles with friends, family members, children, in-laws, ex-partners, ex-in-laws, stepfamily members and even co-workers.

Whether you are struggling in one particular relationship, or if you keep hitting the same problems in relationship after relationship, counseling can help you clarify “what’s not working”, make decisions, and learn new behaviors and new strategies to be more effective in your interpersonal relationships.