marriage Archives - Page 3 of 3 - Cape Coral Therapists

Toxic Has No Gender

April 12, 2022 by April Brown

Toxic Traits

A toxic relationship can leave you feeling mentally or physically exhausted and insecure. It is usually the topic that men are the toxic ones, but toxicity has no gender. Being the one in the toxic relationship makes it difficult to view the red flags. We get fixated on the months and years spent together and wanting to be the one to help heal your partner, but it takes a toll on our mental health. Family and friends are the first to see how negative a relationship can be to your health. A toxic partner can display the following traits:

Gaslighting
Manipulation
Anger Issues
Controlling
Selfishness
Arrogant

A toxic partner has actions and behaviors that will hurt, drain, and impact your life negatively. Constant pressure for perfection, it’ll feel as though nothing done is good enough. They will get angry when things don’t go their way, doesn’t matter if it is out of your control or not. You will slowly start changing, fall into depression, insecurities grow, anxiety, irritability, and experience irrational behavior. If you leave the relationship, you are left in shambles with self-loathing, self-doubt, and avoidance.

Detoxify

Acknowledging the toxic relationship is the first step, what follows after is up to you. Setting boundaries, asking for help, going to relationship/marriage counseling, or reinforcing positive social groups. It is important you find out what your boundaries are, what you want and don’t want in a relationship. A new life without them can be the answer to creating a better mental and physical state for yourself.

Written by Rachel Gonzalez

Filed Under: Anxiety, Communication, Couples/Marriage, Depression, empower, honesty, Inspire, love, marriage, Mental Health, Self-Worth

Love is Communication

March 18, 2022 by April Brown

“Let communication be the seed that you water with honesty and love. So that it may produce a happy, fulfilling, and successful relationship.”

-Stephan Labossiere

We should fuel positivity, peace, and love into our loved ones, especially to our partners. Stephan Labossiere quoted it beautifully, couples will experience arguments and disagreements, but how you approach the situation will set it apart from being toxic or unhealthy. Talking through the uncomfortable is how we grow as individuals and as a couple. Creating a safe environment where you both can speak on your feelings through the smallest to the most painful of topics sets the tone for you both to be open to conversation.

The following communication tips can help manage conflict in your relationship:

1. Always listen to your partner, do not listen just to answer.
2. Avoid using hurtful language.
3. Listen actively.
4. Use “I” statements rather than “You” statements to avoid making your partner feel attacked.
5. Speak to each other with respect and love.
6. Validate each other’s feelings.

Communication is key in a relationship to build a stronger and healthier bond for it to flourish and thrive. We all want to feel heard, not talked down or belittled. In a world that is already so cruel and harsh, be each other’s peace. Remember it is not you versus your partner, it is both of you versus the problem.

“Speak from your heart to his heart instead of from your mind to his mind.”

– Rori Raye

Written by Rachel Gonzalez

Filed Under: Communication, Couples/Marriage, honesty, kindness, love, marriage

Why Consider Premarital Counseling with a Faith-Based Counselor

February 3, 2022 by April Brown

“’Til death do us part.” It’s a nice thought. Until about three years into the marriage when you realize you don’t really know the person you married.

Premarital counseling is a form of counseling offered by family therapists to help couples who are planning to marry. Premarital counseling is a great way for couples to identify and resolve any potential areas of conflict before tying the knot.

While licensed marriage and family counselors can provide this form of counseling, sometimes individuals may want to work with someone who shares their same faith. Since faith is such an integral part of people’s lives and relationships, it makes sense that couples would want to work with someone who shares and respects their religious and spiritual beliefs.

Here are some specific benefits of participating in premarital counseling with a faith-based counselor:

True Communion

Every faith has its unique perspective on marriage and commitment. Marriage is not just about spending time with someone you like and find attractive, it’s about joining together in the eyes of God to build an anointed life together. A faith-based counselor can help you pinpoint the reason you two are committing to one another.

Raising Children in the Faith

If you don’t know exactly what you both believe and where your values lie, how will you successfully raise children? To raise happy and healthy children, parents must be in agreement and alignment with one another and with their holy texts.

Better Communication

Numerous surveys by counselors have uncovered a simple truth: communication problems are the number one factor leading to divorce. Premarital counseling can help couples identify what each other says and how they say it. Faith-based counseling takes it one step further and helps couples respect one another so that successful communication is more likely.

If you’re interested in exploring faith-based counseling, please get in touch with me.

SOURCES:

Filed Under: faith, marriage