Relationship issues
For the patterns that follow you from one relationship to the next.
Relationship trouble is not limited to marriage. Strain with a parent or adult child, friendships that keep ending the same way, conflict with a boss or coworker, or a pattern of choosing partners who are not good for you can all wear a person down, and they often trace back to the same few habits.
Individual counseling for relationship issues focuses on your side of the pattern, since that is the part you can change. Brett brings both a clinical counselor's and a family therapist's eye to how relationships work.
What it can look like
- Conflict with family that flares at every holiday or phone call
- Friendships or partnerships that end the same way each time
- Trouble setting or holding boundaries
- Saying yes when you mean no, then resenting it
- Difficulty trusting, or trusting too fast
- Feeling responsible for everyone else's feelings
How counseling helps
The work begins with your relationship history, not to assign blame but to spot the pattern: how you handle closeness, conflict, and disappointment, and where that came from.
Then the focus shifts to skills. Attachment theory explains how you handle closeness, conflict, and disappointment and where that came from; cognitive behavioral tools help you notice the thoughts that drive the old reactions. Add concrete practice with boundaries and direct communication, and a plan for the specific relationships that are hardest right now. Sessions often include rehearsing a conversation before you have it.
If a partner or family member is willing to join, sessions can be arranged. Most of this work, though, happens with you alone, and it changes how every relationship goes.
Three steps, and the first one is free
- 01
Free 10-minute call
A short conversation about what keeps happening and what you would like to be different.
- 02
Initial assessment
A full session on your history and the relationships that matter most right now.
- 03
Skills and practice
Regular sessions by secure video or in person, with specific conversations and boundaries to practice between them.
How long it takes
Pattern work usually runs a few months. Many people notice their reactions changing within the first several sessions, and the relationships around them start to shift after that.
Counseling is a good fit if
- The same relationship problem keeps repeating with different people
- A family relationship is draining you and you want to handle it differently
- Boundaries are hard for you to set or keep
- You want to change your part rather than wait for others to change
Before the first call
Anything not answered here is a good question for the free call. All FAQs →
Is this the same as couples counseling?
No. Couples counseling treats a relationship with both partners present. This is individual work on how you relate, which helps every relationship you are in.
Can a family member join a session?
Sometimes, when it would help. Brett will suggest it if it makes sense and prepare both of you first.
Can this be done by video?
Yes, on Carepatron from anywhere in Ohio or Kentucky. In-person sessions are available in Cincinnati.
What does it cost?
A $175 initial assessment, then $150 per session. In network with UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Anthem, and CareSource.
Related
All specialties →
Marriage and couples
Communication that has broken down, trust that needs repair, or a relationship you want to strengthen before it strains.
Learn more →
Anxiety and stress
Racing thoughts, worry that will not switch off, panic, and the toll it takes on sleep and work.
Learn more →
Men's issues
Anger, isolation, pressure to hold it together, career strain, and fatherhood. A place to talk plainly.
Learn more →
