Couples Counseling – Looking at the Bigger Picture
When Sahed and Laura purchased a home in the suburbs of Chicago, they thought they had finally found home. Both had come from troubled families and lived in poor neighborhoods. Now that their careers had allowed them the opportunity to purchase some property, they felt excited to start their lives anew. After several months in their new home, they found themselves sitting before a couples counselor, and deeply unhappy.
Laura had this to say:
We’re just arguing all the time. We didn’t used to argue so much before. It’s as if this house has brought out the worst in us. In our tiny, cramped apartment in Chicago, we got along well. I mean, we had our fights but not like this. And I don’t get it. It’s almost like that old adage, “You might get what you what want.” Half of the time, I don’t even know what we’re arguing about.
It took some probing, but the counselor found out some of the deeper reasons why their new location was seemingly causing all of their problems. In their small apartment in Chicago, both partners had a network of friends and activities. In their new neighborhood, neither had one friend. They relied solely on each other for companionship and support. In addition, they weren’t as pressed for additional income in their previous location. Now both Laura and Sahed worked more hours than ever, leaving little time to bond and relax.
It took the 3rd party distance-eye of a marriage counselor to see that a new house wasn’t causing the problems at all. The remedies were within reach.
Related Posts
- The Bigger Roots to Smaller Problems in Couples Therapy
- Couples Counseling and Managing Embedded Grief
- Taking the Time to Heal in Couples Counseling
- Can Counseling for Couples Cure a Mental Illness?
- Couples Counseling – What People Have to Say
