Rebuilding trust and connection after years of emotional distance
Client Background
A couple in their early 50s, together for over 20 years, came to therapy feeling more like flatmates than partners. With children having recently left home, the emotional gap between them became stark. There had been no intimacy for over two years, and conversations often ended in silence or low-level tension.
Therapeutic Focus
Our work began by gently exploring the unspoken stories and assumptions each partner held. We looked at their family of origin experiences — one partner had grown up with a fear of emotional expression, while the other longed-for warmth and reassurance. Using emotionally focused and systemic techniques, we helped them begin speaking vulnerably about their needs, hurts, and longings.
Outcome
The couple developed a deeper understanding of each other’s emotional worlds. They began to express appreciation more freely, identify patterns of disconnection, and experiment with small acts of closeness. Therapy helped them find a new rhythm — not just as co-parents, but as a couple again.