Codependency therapy with our Thriveworks Alpharetta 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 to Conquer Codependency in Alpharetta, GA—Relationship Therapists and Coaches
Clichés may hang around for decades, if not centuries, because they are often beneficial pieces of advice. Hundreds of years after Shakespeare asked, “can one desire too much of a good thing?” people still say, “too much of a good thing.” Intuitively, people know this to be true. One doughnut may be delicious, but eating a dozen is too much. The same is true for helping loved ones: some help is good, but too much often causes trouble. In this case, the behavior even has a name: codependency.
If you have found yourself compensating for a loved one, know that you are not alone. Many people struggle with how to help without causing harm, and Thriveworks Alpharetta has guided many codependent people away from unhealthy and enabling behaviors and toward healthy relationships. Reach out today if you think you could benefit from codependency counseling.
Identifying Codependent Behaviors
Codependency often results in deeply hurtful behavior, but knowing the difference between healthy connection and codependent behavior is a challenge. The following are identifying characteristics of codependent behavior:
- People-pleasing tendencies: Codependent people often want to make sure their loved ones are happy. When anyone is upset, disappointed, or angry, codependents may feel responsible or anxious.
- Low self-esteem: Inadequacy, shame, and guilt are overwhelming feelings for the codependent person and often motivate their actions. They may tell themselves that they will be loved, belong, and be competent through what they do for others.
- Poor communication skills: Afraid that their thoughts, needs, or feelings may upset their loved ones, codependent often struggle to communicate. They may even have trouble admitting their true thoughts, needs, and feelings to themselves, much less others.
- No/few boundaries: Codependent people often struggle to set limits or say, “no.” They may even risk their well-being to fulfill an inappropriate request.
- Caretaking: Without ever being asked, codependents may anticipate what their loved ones need and fulfill it. In many ways, caretaking becomes a codependent person’s identity. Refusing their help is often taken personally.
- Dependency: Rejection and abandonment are often a codependent’s most basic fears. They soothe this fear by forming dependent relationships, telling themselves, “if my loved one needs me, they will not leave me.” Unfortunately, dependency does not cure the codependent’s fears.
- Minimization: People who struggle with codependency often face serious personal challenges, but they often minimize their own struggles, distracting themselves by fixing others. They have a hard time seeing the harm this causes to themselves and to others.
Get Codependency Help at Thriveworks Alpharetta
If you recognize some of these codependent behaviors and attitudes in your own life, know that there are better ways to feel loved, worthy, and competent than focusing upon other people. Usually, the first step toward freedom and away from codependency is focusing upon your own needs, feelings, and thoughts. It is okay to seek help for yourself, and you are not alone. Thriveworks Alpharetta is ready to be a support and a guide toward a healthier you.
If you call our office to schedule therapy for codependency, know that you may be able to meet with a therapist the same week. We also offer evening and weekend appointments, and our clients will never be put on a waitlist. We also work with many different insurance companies and accept many different plans.
Is it time to leave codependency in the past? Call Thriveworks Alpharetta today.
