Relationships

Most emotional difficulties that we face are caused by or affect our closest relationships, whether marital, parent-child, or “other.” The two primary determinants of our happiness are the satisfaction we derive from our work and the quality of our closest connections with others. We typically have difficulty both seeing ourselves as others see us and putting ourselves in the shoes of those we wish to draw close to. We also tend to ignore fundamental truths about how to sustain intimacy with other human beings (e.g., the destructive effects of criticism). Since most of our learning about how to form and maintain relationships has been “trial and error,” we tend to repeat rather then correct our mistakes. This is why the presence of a wise, optimistic, experienced, and non-judgemental therapist can be of inestimable benefit.

Consider the following excerpt from a book written by Dr. Gordon Livingston. "In the presence of one disposed to kindness, you will notice and absence of guile, an ability to listen, and a disinclination to compete. If you can reciprocate, you will experience a growing feeling of safety and trust. The need for self-protection drops away, as does the requirement to appear to be something other than you are. You are, at last, good enough. In fact, the image of yourself that you see reflected in your loved one’s eyes may be nearly perfect. You would like this moment to last forever. Imagine that."

Contact us today!