Codependency therapy from our Thriveworks Atlanta therapists helps people reduce and overcome codependent habits, which involve sacrificing one's own needs to meet the needs of others (usually those closest to them). It helps to improve one's well-being as well as the health of their relationships.
Codependency therapy works by helping the individual recognize, understand, and accept codependent patterns — including why and how they might've developed. In addition, it focuses on helping the individual to kick these tendencies and build more balanced relationships that allow them to support others without neglecting their own needs.
Codependent counseling can last for a few weeks, months, or longer. It depends on the exact needs of the client as well as the severity of their codependent challenges and other needs or preferences.
Counseling and Coaching for Codependency in Atlanta, GA—Sandy Springs Counselors
People often sacrifice their own well-being to meet another’s needs, or they may shield their loved ones from the consequences of their poor behavior—all in the hopes of caring for them. However, these behaviors ultimately bring more harm than health, and they are codependent.
Thriveworks Atlanta in Sandy Springs offers therapy for codependency because many people struggle with when, where, and how to be supportive in relationships without losing their own health in the process.
What Is Codependency?
A codependent person’s actions and thoughts center upon another person and they may become trapped in a cycle, where compensation and sacrifice only leads to having more and more demanded of them.
How can you tell the difference between being helpful and being codependent? Here are characteristics of codependent behavior:
- Difficulty setting boundaries: codependents often have a hard time saying, “no.” They may receive financial, physical, and emotional requests, and internally, they do not want to grant the request. Yet, they do not listen to that little voice inside themselves. Instead, codependents often sacrifice their own health in order to say, “yes,” to inappropriate demands.
- Low self-esteem: Codependents often feel inadequate. Feelings of guilt and shame may plague them. They may rely upon another person for fulfillment instead of drawing upon their own, internal strength.
- People-pleasing tendencies: Codependent people may feel responsible for keeping other people happy. They may blame themselves if someone they love is upset, angry, or disappointed. They may experience intense anxiety if someone is upset with them.
- Poor communication skills: Often, people who struggle with codependency will have difficulty expressing their needs, thoughts, and feelings to others for fear of rejection or displeasing another. At times, codependents may even have difficulty admitting their own needs, thoughts, and feelings to themselves.
- Caretaking: Codependent individuals may need to take care of others. They may anticipate needs and meet them before others can even ask, all while neglecting their own well-being. Codependents may feel rejected if someone declines help. Codependents may also expect others to meet their needs instead of taking responsibility for their own physical and emotional health.
- Dependency: Codependents fear rejection and abandonment. They may feel fulfilled when people to appreciate them or like them. Codependent people may have a hard time ending a relationship, even one that is abusive or harmful, because they need to be in a relationship.
- Denial: Because codependents often appear helpful and supportive within at relationship at first, it may be hard for them to admit that their behavior is a problem. They may also blame the difficulty they experience upon the person they are helping.
Therapy for Codependency
Many people need the support of a counselor as they identify unhealthy habits and replace them with new patterns of behavior. Through therapy, many people have learned how to:
- Prioritize their own financial, physical, and emotional well-being. Then, they can help from a position of strength, not need.
- Set boundaries (saying, “no”) while still being kind and compassionate.
- Distinguish between fixing another person (unhealthy) and supporting them (healthy).
- See patterns of their own unhealthy behavior that they can take responsibility for and adjust.
Would you like to be free from your codependent habits? Is it time to prioritize your own health? If you are ready to take these steps, we are ready to give support and guidance.
Thriveworks Atlanta in Sandy Springs, GA offers therapy for codependency—call or schedule online today.
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