Relationship Issues
Why do relationship difficulties keep repeating even when you want closeness and connection?
Relationship difficulties often develop not because you lack skills, but because earlier relationships were emotionally unsafe or inconsistent. For adults shaped by emotional neglect, criticism, or controlling dynamics, closeness can feel confusing, effortful, or uncertain, even when connection is deeply wanted.
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You may notice patterns such as choosing emotionally unavailable partners, overfunctioning to maintain closeness, difficulty expressing needs, or pulling away when intimacy increases. These patterns are not personal shortcomings. They are adaptations formed in relationships where safety, responsiveness, or mutuality could not be relied on.
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In therapy, relationship issues are approached by understanding how these patterns developed and how they continue to shape connection. We focus on restoring self-trust, emotional safety, and boundaries that support relationships based on clarity, respect, and choice rather than fear or self-erasure.