I just wanted to follow on from helicopter's post about counselling and breaking the stalemate after an EA - but didn't want to 'hi-jack' your thread helicopter! so thought best to start a new one.
I would really appreciate views from people about how likely/possible it is to change deeply ingrained behavioural patterns through counselling. Me and H are having couple couselling after an EA. He has a controlling style of behaviour, can be bullying, 'rises' to any confrontation and is likely to have learnt that from an overbearing, aggressive father and a passive mother. I, on the other hand, am not assertive, avoid confrontation at all costs and seem to be copying my father's quiet, non-confrontational style (so not repeating the gender types I grew up with, but adopting the peacekeeper role in the family that he represented when I was a child).
That is where we have got to with counselling. However, H doesn't agree with all this analysis, thinks there is no 'science' behind it, so could all be made up and because it is not possible to 'prove' any of it, it could all be tosh (he is a scientist!). So while he is agreeing to change things at home, and is certainly agreeing that bullying is not good and should not be part of our interactions, it is a rational agreement, and I don't think he 'gets it' at all in terms of the deeper patterns of behaviour that need to be changed.
So while I want to be optimistic about this whole counselling thing, if he is only engaging because I want him to, but not believing in the process, are we going to get anywhere at all?
The other odd thing is that I feel upbeat and optimistic after our sessions, because my feelings have been validated and me and counsellor are 'agreeing' and on same page - but H is very down after sessions. He was genuinely very upset last time and says he feels his security in the relationship is totally thrown and he is scared about lossing me. But he is frankly pretty depressing to be around ATM, really draining.
Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody
Relationships
counselling after emotional affair
loves2walk · 02/07/2010 10:16
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