THE CENTER FOR MINDFUL LIVING
  • Home
  • Practitioners
  • Services
    • Individual Therapy & Creative Arts
    • Meditation Schedule (No Charge)
    • Workshops, Classes & Events >
      • Conversations with Wisdom
      • Beginning Meditation & Mindfulness
      • Mindful Self-Compassion
      • Yoga Offerings
      • Other Offerings
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Notes from Louisa
    • How to Meditate
    • Meditation at Home
    • Omaha Meditation Listing
    • In the News
  • Contact
  • COVID-19 Updates

PRACTICING MINDFULNESS:
THE CENTER FOR MINDFUL LIVING PRACTITIONERS' BLOG

How is COVID-19 Impacting Relationships?

6/29/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
By Daniel Tipton, LMHP
 
A remarkable amount of people (those who know I am a couples counselor) have said to me,  "You must be getting a lot of clients because people are spending so much time together." I was interested in how the pandemic might change my clients' stories. I thought I would share what I have seen thus far. These are based on my observation. I have not conducted formal surveys.
 
My first observation is that it has intensified problems that were already present rather than creating new ones. Now that people are together more, it is harder to ignore issues. The small things they redirected to their subconscious are now more glaring as there is a higher frequency  of related incidents. People who could get by focusing on the routine of life without addressing deeper issues are now coming to see me.
 
Another problem is time management. The pandemic thrust people into their home, forcing them to create new schedules and routines. Many of my clients complain about not having enough time together. Now, they have considerably more time, yet they still find ways to disengage from each other.
 
In my experience, quality time is more an issue of commitment and motivation, than logistical barriers. A quote I often share is, "If you don't have time for quality time, you don't have time for a relationship." I understand that many people are busy, but often there are deeper problems with intimacy, rather than simply, "making the time."
 
COVID-19 has undoubtedly increased stress on families and couples. Each of us has a finite amount of energy to give each day. If simply getting through a day is taxing, there is only going to be so much left for the couples to, "fill each other's buckets."
 
In this case, I start by helping couples determine what is an "inside job or outside job." In most cases, when clients see how important quality time is for repairing their relationship, new solutions arise due to increased motivation to change. This is the "outside job."
 
The inside work is where I come in to help couples address barriers to emotional connection and effective conflict management. Life is hard and we have to make space for connecting, especially with our commitment partner.
 
Relationship satisfaction is a huge factor in overall life satisfaction. Those couples who are managing conflict well and emotionally connecting are going to engage life stress as a common goal rather than an excuse to withdraw.
 
These are just a few observations. We have yet to see how the long-term effects will manifest in relationships. What I tell people is that most every couple could benefit from having a well-trained couples counselor at some point in their life. This pandemic is helping some of those people get into counseling sooner. However, I imagine that other couples might put continue to put  counseling off to deal with pandemic related challenges.

To view our complete newsletter for June, click here.
0 Comments

    Archives

    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015

    Categories

    All
    Art Therapy
    Awareness
    Balance
    Balance Theory
    Bartenieff
    Breathing
    Change
    Concentration
    Creativity
    Feldenkrais
    First-time Mother
    Insight
    Meditation
    Mindfulness
    Movement
    Wakefulness


    Join our mailing list to receive our monthly Newsletter.

    Join Now

    HOME
    PRACTITIONERS
    SERVICES
    RESOURCES
    ​CONTACT

Picture
​ 621 N. 51st St, Omaha NE 68132
​ info@thecenterformindfullivingomaha.com

 402.933.4070

Join our mailing list to receive our monthly newsletter!
Join Now

  • Home
  • Practitioners
  • Services
    • Individual Therapy & Creative Arts
    • Meditation Schedule (No Charge)
    • Workshops, Classes & Events >
      • Conversations with Wisdom
      • Beginning Meditation & Mindfulness
      • Mindful Self-Compassion
      • Yoga Offerings
      • Other Offerings
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Notes from Louisa
    • How to Meditate
    • Meditation at Home
    • Omaha Meditation Listing
    • In the News
  • Contact
  • COVID-19 Updates