Strained relationships. My clients struggle like you do. They want to have healthy relationships, but they struggle to understand their own feelings or behaviors.

Trust issues. When they first come in, they have been putting up emotional walls. They’re afraid to express their feelings and beliefs. When their partners disagree with them, they shut down. A part of them thinks their own feelings don’t matter. Another part thinks they will be overwhelmed by anger or sadness if it bubbles up to the surface.

Grief. Despite wanting new relationships, they keep to themselves. They ghost partners and friends. They’ve experienced loss before, and it was an overwhelming process. They’re afraid of losing loved ones and community again.

Shame. All of this “back-and-forth” makes it hard to improve relationships. They can't stop judging themselves.

Religious trauma. Some of their grief comes from leaving religion, community, and parents. They used to have a system they trusted, and now they don’t. They have a new perspective on the harmful lessons they learned growing up. They’re still reeling from the pain that comes from how the church treated them.

Climate and political anxiety. Their personal pain does not exist in a bubble. While they are trying to find themselves and heal from their past, they continue to experience oppressive systems stemming from capitalism, government, and media. They’re not sure how to live a meaningful life in a world on fire.

Career issues. Without a clear purpose in life, work feels aimless. Perhaps they make a stable living, but they don’t enjoy what they do. They’re afraid to admit what they really want, or they have parts that are resistant to making a change.