Family Counseling for Couples in Life Transitions
Eric and Alex had what they and everyone else around them considered as perfect a marriage as could be found. They had dated for two years before Eric proposed then went to pre-marital counseling before the wedding to be sure that, on that special day, they had done everything they could to ensure a successful, happy life together. For quite a while this approach seemed to work as they lived, laughed and loved their way through 10 years of marriage and 2 children. Though small things could sometimes trip them up, they always found their way back to solid ground. In their 11th year of marriage, Eric and Alex had their third child, Jeff. Jeff was severely mentally handicapped, and Eric and Alex found that their carefully planned world suddenly became more difficult.
Alex felt that Eric emotionally left the entire family when Jeff was born, and had very little to do with the raising of their third child. Eric felt that Alex was focusing purely on Jeff, to the detriment of the two older children and even himself. The strain put on the family was more than they had ever faced before and, with the preconceived illusion that their marriage was invincible, they found themselves attending family counseling angry, disappointed, disillusioned, and generally unhappy.
The family counselor was able to address some of Eric’s concerns about Jeff and his own misplaced feelings of failure. The counselor also worked with Alex to help her understand the need to step aside somewhat and let Eric and Jeff form their own bond, free of interference.
Slowly but surely, the couple began reconnecting and the family itself began to come together. A family counselor was exactly what this couple, and this family, needed.
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