Couples Therapy

In couples therapy, I pay close attention to the unconscious dynamics that shape the relationship. Often, individuals harbor pre-existing, unconscious frameworks through which they perceive their partners, and they may unconsciously conform to these perceptions. When one partner is expected to fulfill an unconscious role, they may suppress their own desires to meet this expectation. This dynamic can create a sense of stagnation, where partners find themselves ensnared in a cycle of expectation, losing the capacity for joy in their connection. Couples therapy serves as a space for partners to recognize and take ownership of their unconscious contributions to the relational dynamic, allowing for the possibility of transformation and the re-establishment of desire within the partnership. Freud posited that “the unconscious of one human being can react on that of another without passing into consciousness.”