If you notice these symptoms in your relationship, therapy may be recommended to help find solutions and restore a healthy relationship.
Communication problems: When a couple cannot communicate effectively, misunderstandings and conflicts can arise.
Loss of trust: When trust in a relationship is broken, it can create a lot of tension and doubt.
Loss of Proximity: If intimacy and closeness is lost or difficult, it can damage the relationship.
Financial problems: Money matters can cause tension and arguments in a relationship.
Parenting disagreements: Different understandings of how to raise children can cause conflicts.
Frequent quarrels: If a couple constantly gets into fights that remain unresolved, therapy may be necessary.
Different attachment styles can also lead to different relationship problems. Here are some examples of attachment types and their associated problems with symptoms:
Secure Attachment Style:
Example: Partners feel safe and trust each other.
Symptoms: Healthy communication, mutual support, difficulties are short-lived and resolved quickly.
Anxious attachment style:
Example: One of the partners is constantly worried about whether the other still loves them and is afraid of being abandoned.
Symptoms: Excessive need for confirmation, jealousy, frequent insecure quarrels.
Avoidant attachment style:
Example: The partner tries to avoid serious emotional connections and is often not open about sharing his feelings.
Symptoms: Withdrawal, difficulties in creating emotional closeness, difficulties in communication.
These are simple examples, but the impact of attachment styles on relationships can be more complex. Therapy can help couples better understand their attachment styles and learn how to deal with them for a healthier relationship.
Typical behavior patterns in relationships that can lead to serious problems (these patterns are outlined by John Gottman- Neil the Horseman):
Criticism:
Example: Partner says, “You're always so careless and don't care about my feelings.”
It is criticism where one partner blames the other person for negative qualities or behavior.
Contempt:
Example: Your partner makes fun of you, for example with disparaging remarks or statements of superiority.
Contempt takes the form of disrespect and belittling and can be very damaging to a relationship.
Protection:
Example: The partner shuts down emotionally and does not accept responsibility for his behavior.
Defensiveness is a reaction to criticism and contempt and can lead to communication being blocked.
Disregard:
Example: A partner ignores the other's feelings and needs as if they are not important.
Ignoring can manifest as a lack of importance in the relationship and a disregard for the other party.
These patterns of behavior can cause constant conflict in a relationship and lead to the deterioration of the relationship.
I help identify them and find communication skills and strategies to help avoid these patterns for a healthier and more mutually supportive relationship.
