Relationship Counseling
We have all heard the fairytale story- you meet the right person, fall in love, get engaged, tie the knot, and start a family. But, in the real world, life is not that simple. Maybe you are having a hard time meeting or picking the right partner. Perhaps communication issues keep arising in your relations. Or, intimacy issues are creating strong barriers that you cannot seem to get past no matter how hard you try to on your own.
A bond with a partner can be rewarding, but it is important to have a healthy bond with yourself first. Whether you feel as if there is no one out there who can fit your needs or you feel chronically single, working with a relationship counselor at Anchor Therapy can help you feel like the best version of yourself again.
What is Relationship Counseling for Singles?
Relationship counseling for singles is a specific form of therapy to help single individuals embark on their romantic lives while addressing personal obstacles and prepping for future romantic connections.
Traditional couples counseling works with two or more partners to improve their relationship dynamics. On the other hand, relationship counseling gives you the space to solely focus on you and your growth. The focus of solo relationship therapy is for you to garner the self-awareness you need to feel ready for a relationship.
Relationship counseling is all about self-exploration. What are your values and beliefs? What are your relationship goals? Are past romantic experiences affecting you currently? By exploring yourself, you get a better understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, along with any patterns you may notice arising in your relationships.
A relationship therapist will help pinpoint recurring relationship patterns going on in your life. For example, maybe you always find yourself attracting emotionally unavailable people due to things feeling ‘normal’ with this type of partner. Perhaps you grew up in an environment where your emotions were unmet as a child by your parent(s) or a caregiver so that feels comfortable to you although it is not a healthy dynamic. By identifying these types of choices, you can begin to break negative patterns and move towards making healthier decisions.
If you are healing from past relationships, relationship therapy is a great place to start. Dealing with a past heartbreak, betrayal, or even trauma in a romantic connection is not easy, and it should not have to be something you go through by yourself. Relationship counseling is a safe space for you to express your emotions and heal your wounds by creating healthy coping mechanisms. In order to move forward with your romantic life, you need to heal.
You may not even know exactly what your romantic goals are, which is where relationship counseling comes into play. Maybe you want to explore casual dating or perhaps you are looking for a serious, committed relationship. By working with a dating coach for singles, you will learn ways to match up your actions with your relationship goals.
Overcoming Barriers to Relationship Success with a Dating Expert
When it comes to finding and maintaining a healthy relationship, many of us tend to see things on the overly-optimistic side. You see that funny romantic comedy and start dreaming about what it would be like to find your perfect person. You may begin to think “If only I had that kind of a partner then I would be in my dream relationship.” No matter who you are or what your backstory is, you are capable of creating the relationship of your dreams. More often than not, it is you who stands in your own way of achieving your goals, from your personal life to professionally.
There may be some deeper rooted issues that are causing you to self-sabotage the “perfect” romantic relationship. For example, maybe social anxiety gets in your way of really being able to connect with other people. It can make it challenging for you to engage in new activities or meet new people. This can cause serious struggles to meet potential partners and form connections generally, including friendships.
If you are socially anxious, you may struggle with overthinking. You may excessively worry about what other people think about you, leading to considerable insecurities. To cope with your anxiety, you may resort to unhealthy coping skills, such as avoidance behaviors. You may find yourself beginning to avoid social events altogether or you are withdrawing from friends and family.
For others, a root cause getting in your way of finding a relationship that suits your needs can be low self-esteem. If you struggle with low self-esteem, you may not even believe that you are worthy of affection or love. You may overlook people who are interested in you because you do not feel deserving of their time and attention.
If you have low self-esteem, it is likely that you engage in negative self-talk which can worsen your self-confidence. This can even create a self-fulfilling prophecy where you believe you are not deserving of a healthy, long-lasting relationship.
If you do enter a relationship having low self-esteem, it may show up as insecurity within your relationship. Even if your partner has the best of intentions, you may constantly question them and their feelings towards you. This insecurity can lead to additional feelings and behaviors, like jealousy and/or clinginess.
Is Relationship Therapy Right For Me?
Dating setbacks are normal. As it is, dating is extremely difficult, especially in the greater New York City area, like Hoboken and Jersey City. It may feel like there are endless opportunities to meet new people and share new experiences, but you may begin to realize that quality over quantity matters most.
Dating has become overly complicated by technology, dating apps, and additional modern challenges. Dating culture is constantly changing, and you may find it difficult to adapt alongside it. You may feel like the connections you are nurturing lack respect and ghosting has become commonplace.
The emergence of dating apps may cause you to think less intentionally about your dating choices. It may seem like you have a world of options, but it is important to go deeper beyond the surface and think about how compatible you truly are with the person on the other side of the screen. Instead of trying out someone outside of your usual type or going on a date with someone you are not traditionally attracted to, you continue to mindlessly swipe left and right.
By attending relationship counseling, you can start to see blind spots like this that you may have. You can begin to learn that unhealthy patterns are not serving you and you can then address dating setbacks to finally get the partner you have been wishing for.
All in all, relationship therapy for singles is perfect for adults who are looking for personal growth, relationship readiness, and healing.
The following are some populations of people who can benefit from relationship counseling for individuals:
People struggling with the same dating patterns over and over again
People with low self-esteem
People with self-worth issues
Recently single people
Individuals seeking clarity regarding their relationship goals
People struggling with relationship trauma
Individuals going through big life transitions
People who feel stuck in their romantic life
Individuals looking for personal growth
People open to learning important relationship skills
Someone looking to invest in relationship readiness
If love is beginning to feel like it is too far out of reach for you, relationship therapy can help. Maybe you are always attracted to a certain type of person who you know cannot fulfill your emotional needs. Maybe you end up in codependent relationships, or connections where you are clingy.
In your search for love, you may become disheartened in the process. It can be understandably overwhelming to work on yourself while looking for your desired partner. Inappropriate dating behaviors, like ghosting and overly-casual sex, can leave you feeling lonely. You may become frustrated which leads to a disconnection within yourself. You may not be able to figure out what is stopping you from getting your dream relationship.
Considering relationship therapy for singles is a thoughtful step towards healing and self-improvement.
Try asking yourself the following questions to figure out if relationship counseling is right for you or not:
Do I have patterns in my dating life that I want to change?
Do I want to heal from past relationship wounds, so I can move forward with a positive outlook on love?
Do I feel stuck or dissatisfied in my love life?
Does past relationship trauma or heartbreak affect me now?
Am I struggling to find healthy, fulfilling relationships?
Am I dealing with low self-esteem or unresolved insecurities that are impacting my relationships?
Do I feel conflicted about commitment?
Am I open to exploring my emotions and vulnerabilities in a safe space like therapy?
How Solo Relationship Counseling Can Empower You
Simply put, relationship counseling gives you the space to outline your relationship goals and create a plan to actively work towards those aspirations. At Anchor Therapy, you can start your healing journey in a secure environment. When you heal, you open yourself up the partnership you desire.
Throughout your relationship therapy sessions, our professional, unbiased relationship counselors will challenge you while leading with empathy. By digging deep into past experiences, from childhood dynamics with your parents to past romantic relationship trauma, you can learn the root cause of your relationship woes. When unraveling this, you can clarify your wants and needs from a romantic partner so you can feel fulfilled within a relationship.
Our counselors use a range of therapeutic modalities to best serve you and your unique needs. In relationship counseling at Anchor Therapy, our therapists take a client-focused approach where your emotional needs are on display. Our counselors work so you can envision and create a healthy relationship.
Our relationship counselors may draw from the following types of therapy in their sessions with you:
Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
Narrative Therapy
If you are committed to working through your insecurities and engaging in deep self-reflection, you will receive the benefits of relationship therapy and acquire the intimacy and love you have been searching for.
Seeing a licensed relationship coach for solo relationship problems can offer the following benefits:
Gain perspective on your relationship issues and how you can heal them
Feel your feelings and express your emotions in a safe environment to receive the professional support you need
Improve your communication skills so you can prepare for a healthy relationship
Identify patterns in your relationships that may be contributing to the issues you are experiencing time and time again
Engage in personal growth and self-discovery that align with your values and beliefs
Learn coping skills to manage your relationship-related stress, anxiety, and additional emotions
Set realistic goals (e.g., improve communication, set boundaries, etc.)
Learn how to develop healthy relationship patterns (e.g., mutual respect, trust, and so on)
Address underlying issues, past traumas, or individual mental health concerns
Feel empowered to create positive change
If you are tired of undergoing the same relationship struggles and hitting the same dead-ends in relationships, our relationship counselors at Anchor Therapy can help. Our ultimate goal for you is to carve out therapy as a safe space in your life where you can enhance your confidence and foster self-love while you get rid of unhealthy behavioral issues or patterns at the same time.
During individual relationship counseling sessions, you and your relationship counselor will identify thoughts and emotions together so you no longer struggle in your interpersonal relationships. By establishing trust and confidentiality, you will feel encouraged to be open and honest with your relationship specialist so you can rid yourself of self-criticism. You are more than capable of creating positive change so you can have your dream relationship.
How Can I Start relationship counseling at Anchor Therapy?
WORKING WITH anchor therapy IS EASY
Fill out the contact form below.
An Intake Coordinator will respond to your inquiry, and match you with a relationship counselor on our team.
Feel empowered as you move forward in improving your relationships!
