Looking with you at your family and culture(s) of origin to understand the roots of codependency in your particular situation. Learning brings understanding. With understanding and empathy, practice exercises and targeted homework, you'll learn how to establish healthy boundaries, embody authenticity and your genuine self.
Licensed Professional Counsellor, B.Ed, MACP, MPCC
Everyone is codependent to a certain degree. People do not often recognize codependency as an issue when it is the issue. Codependency can contribute to, create and sustain, anxiety, depression, or relationship challenges.
Codependency involves sacrificing one’s personal needs to try to meet the needs of others. Someone who is codependent has an extreme focus outside themselves. Their thoughts and actions revolve around other people, such as spouses or relatives.
Codependency often appears in relationships that are unbalanced and unhealthy. A person with codependency often tries to save others from themselves. An example is a wife not purchasing things for herself because her husband overspends but juggles the bills and never discusses the overspending. She is trying to save him from his overspending by compensating and going without what she needs. Another example is when family members protect their family by keeping their problems private. But enabling one party’s abuse usually causes harm to the other family members, especially those being abused.
It can be complicated and challenging to identify codependent behaviour in one's self and even harder to heal. If you suspect your codependent behaviour is causing or contributing to your anxiety, depression or relationship concerns, contact me today to begin your healing and relief.
One of the most common issues people discover when in relationship. We will work on the underlying unmet needs and trauma that have led to this pattern.
I have taught in the Addictions Counselling Program at Medicine Hat College for more than 13 years and an important aspect of addiction is recognizing that the person who lives/lived with the addict is also greatly impacted by living with a huge part of their life being out of control (the addict or alcoholic) and the continual hypervigilance in trying to predict the unpredictable. This impacts a person's sense of self, their ability to maintain boundaries, and their future relationships. I love to work with people who have had a mother, father, brother, sister, partner, or child who has an addiction in a compassionate, supportive way to work towards regaining serenity in their lives. Increasing awareness of the impact the alcoholic or addict has had in their lives is the first essential step towards healing.
34 Years Experience
