Therapy for Navigating Open-Relationships
Embarking on New Adventures Can Get Dicey but They Don’t Have to Be
So, you’re venturing into the realm of open relationships—a journey with its fair share of thrills and spills. Buckle up; it’s like monogamous relationships’ adventurous cousin, pushing boundaries and challenging norms.
But let’s be honest—the potential bumps in the road. Open relationships aren’t a leisurely stroll; think more along the lines of a rollercoaster ride, complete with unexpected twists.
Communication is key, and it’s not your average chat. It’s an ongoing, open dialogue about comfort zones and potential gut punches. Without clear instructions, you might find yourself hitting a few bumps.
Open relationships may bring intense connections but can also produce waves of jealousy, insecurity, and the fear of being replaced. Enjoying the ride becomes tricky when someone messes with the controls.
And there’s the boundary game. Setting rules is like defining the rules of engagement, but what happens when someone accidentally steps over the line? It’s a test of patience and understanding, and not everyone gets an A+.
Even with a bumpy ride, open relationships have the potential to unlock new facets of yourself, and create renewed connection within your relationship. They also have the potential to lay bare vulnerabilities and erode stability in the relationship. It is a powerful thing that needs to be approached with intentionality.
How Counseling can ACTUALLY help?
Open relationships offer unique opportunities for self-development, and relational counseling can guide you in identifying and effectively leveraging these chances for growth and connection.
Counseling serves as a compass to untangle complexities, slow things down, and pinpoint where things went wrong. You’ll gain evidence-based tools to deepen your understanding of both your and your partner’s defensiveness within the context of your distinct relational dynamic. We’ll uncover sources of attachment wounds, and identify unique opportunities for healing and connection.
We will work together to unravel perspectives and be empowered to authentically show up in the relationship. It challenges you to become a healthier version of yourself, fostering a more genuine connection.
These strategies make room for you to establish and maintain clearer, healthier boundaries, creating an environment where your relationship can thrive.
How it Works
Still feeling a bit uncertain? That is perfectly normal. Let me walk you through what the first few sessions typically look like.
Session 1 & 2: Let’s Dive In!
- To kick it off you will both have the opportunity to share your thoughts about the relationship issues. I will challenge you both to reflect on your own contributions to these issues as well because in order for growth to flourish you both have to create a different environment in order to expect different results.
- I will ask you both a series of questions designed to quickly gather an overview of the relationship. We will discuss strengths, weaknesses and important elements of your relationship present and past.
- We will spend some time talking about each of your upbringings and how communication was handled in your house growing up. Often these early experiences inform of us what a relationship should and shouldn’t be so they are important to understand.
- You will participate in a “conflict discussion” in which you pick a topic that holds some tension for you both and you will engage in a discussion about it for 15 to 20 minutes so I can observe how you work through conflict.
Session 3: Let’s Make a Plan
- Once I have gathered all this information we will work together to create a personalized action plan to address the goals you are hoping to achieve.
Following Sessions: Getting Traction
- As we progress, real-life issues will become opportunities to practice your new skills.
- Once you’ve mastered the basics, we’ll venture into more advanced techniques, empowering both of you to better understand each other and fortify your bond. This journey is about growth and connection, and I’m here to support you every step of the way.
