Psychotherapy
& Counselling
Sarah came to therapy because she was struggling with her relationship with her mother. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it but whenever she went to see her mother, she came away feeling like something had been taken away from her. No one else quite seemed to understand what she was going through as even her siblings didn’t seem to feel the same way. Often feeling like the “black sheep” of the family, Sarah's decisions were constantly questioned, like she wasn’t capable of doing anything without her mother’s prior approval.
Sarah felt guilty for resenting her mother. Her mum had physically been there for her when she was growing up - she had always cooked tea after school, took Sarah to activities and after school clubs, and did the best she could with the resources she had, but there was something missing in their relationship.
Let me tell you about Sarah…
Does this sound familiar?
Do you feel depleted and drained after spending time with your parent?
Does a conversation with them leave you feeling not good enough?
Do you struggle with resentment for a parent that you also love?
Sarah was at the end of her tether, and her relationships with her partner and children were suffering as a result.
After working with Sarah;
She is now able to attend family functions happy and excited to see other family members and comes away feeling proud and confident.
She is able to maintain a relationship with her mother, without letting it consume her and take over her life.
She is self-assured and unshaken by her mother’s remarks - living life on her own terms.
Her mental well-being is healthy and is no longer dependent on interactions with her mother.
Sarah’s mother displayed classic signs of emotional immaturity.
Unfortunately, you cannot control an emotionally immature person, all you can do is control how you respond and how you manage the relationship. I helped Sarah to build a healthy relationship with her mum AND protect her own mental well-being, and I can support you to do the same.
*Sarah’s name has been changed to protect her identity.
Coming to terms with the idea that your parent isn’t the kind, loving, parent that you used to think, or that you didn’t have a “normal” childhood can be incredibly difficult.
It can be extremely upsetting to realise that your parent may not have your best interests at heart, or that they expect a lot in return for doing what most parents do without even thinking about it (namely, raising you).
You might be struggling with the idea of becoming a parent yourself, and not wanting to parent your own child in the way that you were parented. Or maybe you’re seeing your relationship with your parent play out with your own children.
In recognising these attributes in our parent(s) and/or wider family structure, you may feel isolated, alone, and like no one understands. You may even feel like you are going “crazy”, particularly if other people are telling you that “it wasn’t that bad”.
Therapy sessions can support you in recognising an validating what you went through and are still going through. Regular therapy sessions can provide you with a safe and non-judgemental space in which to process what you experienced and explore how you might manage the relationship going forward.
I have had other types of therapy before that did not work for me and I felt like I came out more stressed than when I went in. With Amy I felt like I had the space to speak freely and always felt more positive after the sessions.
B. B.