Dating and Relationship Therapy in Michigan
Therapy for Relationship Issues
Relationships are fundamental to our wellbeing, and having a strong support system has a positive impact on our mental health. Many of my clients have felt frustrated or disappointed by their relationships, either because they’ve had trouble finding people they connect with, they experience anxiety and conflict, or their needs aren’t being met.
Struggling in relationships is a lonely feeling, and it certainly doesn’t help that people have been more isolated than ever. Doing the work of building or rebuilding connections after years of separation can be overwhelming.
Individual therapy can be transformative for your relationships. Understanding why you’ve had a hard time finding fulfillment around others can give you a greater sense of control. Creating positive, healthy relationships is a skill that can be cultivated.
A few ways I can help:
01. Therapy for Dating
A pattern of painful dating experiences can make us question if we’ll feel alone forever. It can seem as though others move in and out of relationships with ease while you are struggling to meet quality people to spend your time with.
You might notice that you get hurt often, even when it seems like you’ve met someone great. You wonder if it’s just bad luck, or if there’s something about you that enables others to be so careless.
These are such common feelings. Difficulty in dating might be painful and lonely, but it does not mean something is wrong with you. It is possible to meet wonderful people who see you for the kind and unique person you are. With some exploration, we can gain a better understanding of your experience and make connecting with others feel easier.
Depending on your needs, dating therapy might include:
Patterns We’ll explore what you’ve noticed in your previous relationships, what has felt difficult, and understanding what drew you to those relationships
History We’ll discuss formative relational experiences, which may include trauma, an abusive relationship, painful loss, or other experiences
Attachment Through the lens of Attachment Theory, we can make the process of identifying stable relationships easier, and develop skills to feel safer around others
Relationship to self We can work to understand what beliefs you’ve internalized about yourself and how they might impact your relationships
02. Individual Therapy for Relationship Issues
Romantic partnerships require work, but you might notice that things just consistently feel hard. It might be that you and your partner spend too much time fighting or that you don’t connect the way you’d like to. It could also be more personal–that you often feel anxious or like your needs aren’t being met.
We often bring our fears and previous experiences into our relationships. Something that seems like a pattern in your relationship may actually be rooted in the way you relate to yourself and others.
If you have a complicated history with conflict you might go out of our way to avoid it, sidelining your needs in the process.
If you’ve experienced betrayal in previous relationships, you might have a hard time trusting your partner.
If you don’t always believe you’re worthy of love, you might believe your partner feels the same way and worry they will leave.
These and other feelings might bring up conflict, miscommunication, and frustration in relationships. Though couples’ counseling might be helpful to work through some issues, it is also important to address which beliefs are shaping the way you show up with your partner.
Individual relationship therapy might focus on the following:
Conflict We’ll identify your patterns when it comes to conflict and unpack what might be going on for you in those moments.
Communication If communication has been an issue in your relationship, it is important to understand why. Do you feel safe communicating your needs? Do you feel heard? Are your words landing with each other?
Boundaries When needs are unmet in a relationship, it might make sense to begin with your experience with boundaries and expectations.
Intimacy and Trust We’ll explore why trust and vulnerability might feel overwhelming for you and work toward a greater sense of safety.
