Re-entering the world of dating can be “intimidating.” However, it also has the potential to be really exciting. If you have experienced the butterflies that come with connecting to someone special, you know what I mean. But sometimes this excitement can take over into something bigger - fantasy. So, how do we enter into the world of dating without falling into fear or fantasy?

Enmeshment is the blurring of boundaries that separate your thoughts, feelings, and responsibilities from someone else’s. Imagine you are standing in a hula hoop with your partner. If they move, your space is affected. Now apply this idea to a real life situation - maybe your partner has had a bad day and now, because you are enmeshed, you take ownership for their bad mood. Thankfully, you can move into healthy differentiation by setting clear emotional boundaries in your relationship. In doing so, both parties' separate thoughts, feelings, and responsibilities are honored.

There are two theories that set themselves apart when it comes to couples therapy: The Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). This is not just our opinion - the effectiveness of both methods has been demonstrated through extensive research.

Emotionally focused therapy can help you and your partner heal from emotional hurt in your relationships. How? It starts with learning to recognize your needs for secure connection and how those needs drive your interactions.

The road to partner recovery after betrayal can be long and difficult. While we cannot rush this process, knowing the 6 stages to recovery is a great place for anyone to start their healing journey.

Some say that love is easy and blissful - something we fall into without control. But if you have been involved in betrayal—on either end—you know that love can be very complicated and even intensely painful. Real love requires an enormous amount of courage.