16 August 2013
Is Couples Therapy Just A Sign Of The End Of A Relationship?
I would be lying if years ago, upon hearing that a couple were considering relationship counselling, I didn’t hear a voice in the back of my head cry out: “Dead man walking!”. In other words, it seemed that couples therapy was the beginning of the end.
This is a bit of fatalism which is not helped by a dearth of positive examples in TV and film. North American society has lived under an implicit rule that admitting you need help is a sign of an underlying weakness of character. The reality is that, increasingly, couples are realizing that talking openly about their differences with a qualified therapist is in fact a marvellous way to discharge tension in the relationship.
When we enter a serious relationship, we bring our own ideas with us; ideas about money, sexual intimacy, communication, privacy. Many of these ideas are influenced by previous relationships. And sometimes, while individually each partner’s influences may be sound, when merged there can be dissonance.
Seeing a therapist as a couple is a way to put everything on the table without the responsibility of one party taking on the dreaded role of Argument Sheriff. A qualified therapist will be careful not to allow any one party to overshadow the needs of the other.
On this note, I will direct you to an article about couples who decide to see a therapist prior to the birth of their first child.
If you are interested in learning more about my services, about me, or perhaps booking an appointment, please call me at 416-873-7828 or email me at info@downtowntherapy.ca for more information.
filed under: couples therapy• general info• men• parents• women
22 July 2013
It’s OK To Be An Introvert
I thought I would pull your attention toward a wonderful graphic illustration which depicts the potential hardships (and differences in quality-of-life) of those who identify as introverts.
For those of us who have never really thought of ourselves as either introverts or extroverts (or somewhere between the two), when we struggle with personal hardships it can sometimes be helpful to see our predicament depicted by others. We make a connection and discover that we are not alone in our challenges.
On the topic of introverts, a book that I have heard wonderful things about, which is certainly on my to-read list, is Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain.
If you are interested in learning more about my services, about me, or perhaps booking an appointment, please call me at 416-873-7828 or email me at info@downtowntherapy.ca for more information.
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