Relationships. We all have them. Sometimes we want more of them, sometimes we want less of them.
Sometimes it’s a quality issue. Why do we get stuck in the same patterns with others over and over?
Counselling can help to find answers to dilemmas like these.
Many clients who meet with me in my downtown Vancouver counselling and therapy office are seeking help for relationship issues.
Types of relationships
- Couples / intimate partners
- Adult children and their parents
- Parents and their children
- Divorced / separated partners
- Siblings
- Friends
- Inlaws
- Blended family relationships
- Grandparents and grandchildren
- Co-workers
- Neighbours
- Caregivers
- Relationships from the past where the “other” has passed away, yet ‘baggage’ remains
The issues
While not an exhaustive list, some common relationship problems include:
Couples issues
- Financial disagreements
- Interpersonal conflict / anger management
- To stay or leave?
- Communication problems
- Differences in emotional styles
- Sex (quality and quantity)
- Divergent life goals / dreams
- Gridlock over core life issues
- The balance between independence and interdependence
- Past traumas / hurts affecting the current relationship
- Affairs
- Parenting disagreements
- How work and leisure time should be divided and spent
- Dreams / shared vision for the future as a couple
Parents and children
- Parenting concerns
- Discipline
- Co-parenting
- Ages and stages issues, worries, planning
- Leaving home
Adult children and parents
- Dealing with past hurts
- Aging parents: caregiving stress / burnout; “care home” vs. “at home”
- When adult children have a disability: planning for their future
Divorced / Separated partners
- Grief and loss when a relationship ends
- The divorce / separation process
- When troubled relationships end
- Readjusting to single life
- Co-parenting
- Single parenting
- Dating again
Co-workers
- Workplace bullying
- Interpersonal conflict
- Communicating needs / expectations
- Employee management
Friendships
- Making and maintaining friendships
- Making social conversation
- Drifting apart
- Negative friendship patterns
- Giving and receiving support
Other family
- Hurts from childhood
- Getting along
- Separation / cut-offs
Because humans are by nature social beings, we can’t escape relationships! If a relationship problem is affecting your ability to cope, counselling may be a first step that’s right for you. Please call or email me if you have questions or would like to book an appointment.