Codependency Counseling

Are you suffering from codependency? Do you find yourself striving wildly to please others at the expense of your emotional and physical well being? Do you feel the need to control others for their own good? If these concepts sound familiar, you may be in need of codependency counseling.

In order to understand the importance of codependency counseling, you must first know what codependency is. In most cases, it's something that originates from a childhood spent in a dysfunctional family. In order to avoid disapproval, neglect, or punishment, children seek to try and predict the needs of their parents to the point where they will do absolutely anything to please them.

Codependency counseling will tell you that this mentality is a defense mechanism designed to protect against feelings of rejection or shame. In some cases, this mentality echoes in adult relationships--the codependent partner will try excessively to please his or her partner to the point of lavishing the other person with gifts, doing unwanted favors, lending money, and doing extravagant errands for them, no matter how inconvenient or difficult the task may be. In their hearts, they believe they must validate their existence through the happiness of their partner. In addition to this, many codependents often feel that nothing they ever do is good enough. One of the points of codependency counseling is to help combat the self loathing, anxiety, and loneliness that many who suffer from this condition experience.

There is another type of codependent partner. This type seeks to control others--not out of any need to dominate, but because he or she simply believes that their way is best for everyone. As a result, they tend to become angry, hurt, or resentful when their advice isn't heeded. Codependency counseling also works to help these individuals learn that not everyone is dependent on them.

With this in mind, it's easy to see why codependency counseling is crucial to a sound recovery. By engaging in group therapy, individual counseling, or a 12 step program, codependent individuals can gradually learn that they don't need to validate themselves to anyone. They are free to live their lives as independent, capable people. There is no need for them to constantly influence others.

With time, patience, and perseverance, you can benefit from codependency counseling. If left untreated, many codependents turn to the all too temporary comforts of addictive behaviors such as over working, exercising too much, gambling, video games, the internet, and other absorbing activities. However, with codependency counseling, you can learn to live life happily without using these activities as a crutch. Learn more today!