“When partners hear and are responsive to the other’s internal world, as a couple they may overcome great adversity. Many families overcome the illness and death of a child or severe financial difficulties. It is not the stress of life but the ability to see the relationship as a haven in a difficult world that defines marital satisfaction.” Marion F. Solomon, Narcissism and Intimacy
Romantic love can be intoxicating and wonderful. The choice of a life partner is one of the most important decisions that many of us will make. We begin our committed relationships with passion, hope and optimism. However, an important part of the journey as a couple is the challenge of maintaining the balance and flow of the relationship amid the conflicts and disappointments that inevitably arise.
Committed partners face a host of issues over the course of a lifetime, and conflict within our intimate relationships can be particularly disturbing. Whether it’s working through important decisions together, such as getting married or having children, or concerns about parenting, sexuality or retirement, powerful feelings can emerge. Understanding and communicating our feelings about such issues as infertility, infidelity, or financial difficulty is no easy task. We sometimes feel tremendous disappointment, blame, resentment, and even contempt for our partners. Instead of being a safe haven, intimacy can feel dangerous, or not worth the effort.
I love working with couples, and I have experience working with couples at various stages of life, and levels of conflict. It can be very helpful to have a therapist of your choice enter the conversation of your marriage. My personal belief is that although the work of marriage can be difficult, it is an opportunity to experience the very breadth and depth of love in an engaging, empowering and ultimately deeply humanizing process.
Copyright © 2008-2018 Eileen M Flanagan LMFT All rights reserved.