Interpersonal Relationships

People-Pleasing and Unmet Needs

Do you have a hard time saying no to others, voicing what you really want, or feeling satisfied in your social relationships? Are you worried that your honest thoughts or preferences would be a burden to those around you? It probably felt like the right thing to do, or the safer way to be, for a long time. In fact, there are usually reasons you learned to operate this way in your relationships in the first place, whether to preserve peace, for fear of upsetting those around you, or worse, to prevent abandonment. 

If this no longer works for you, it may be time to work through those life experiences that may have taught you to sacrifice your needs for others in the first place. In therapy, we'll practice new ways of communicating, seeing yourself, and setting boundaries. Ultimately, the goal is for you to feel more fulfilled with yourself and your relationships.  

Isolation and Disconnection

As a society, we've become lonelier than ever despite more ways of connecting and communicating. Sometimes, being surrounded by people or having plenty of followers and views on our accounts doesn't correspond with having a meaningful support system. Other times, you may feel fine about the way you interact with others, and yet at the end of the day, you're not sure if anyone truly gets you. You might even question if you need any help, because nothing is technically "wrong" with your life.

You deserve meaningful connections, whatever that looks like for you. Feeling seen and understood in meaningful relationships can improve your mental and physical health tremendously. If you think you might want to feel better and connect better, let this be a reminder that you don't need justification for seeking help. 

Relationship Patterns

Ah, relationship patterns. We all have them, to different extents. Some are benign and innocuous, others may be more harmful, or even toxic. For it to be a pattern, we usually only notice it after a few repetitions, or maybe even when someone around us points it out. Relationship patterns can take shape due to a variety of factors, including our childhood, family life, upbringing, past relationships, identities, and cultural contexts. 

In therapy, we can learn about your relationship patterns and find ways to break out of any unhelpful parts of them. Having a better understanding of your relationship patterns helps you make more intentional choices and empowers you to take charge of your relationships with more awareness, knowledge, and ultimately, satisfaction and fulfillment.