Codependency, sometimes referred to as “relationship addiction," describes sacrificing one’s personal needs to try to meet the needs of others. Although it is often associated with romantic relationships, codependency can be experienced in all types of close relationships, including with family and friendships. Someone who is codependent has an extreme focus outside themselves. Their thoughts and actions revolve around other people, such as a spouse or relative or they build their identity on helping or “saving” other people. Codependents typically experience feelings of low self-esteem, anxiety and insecurity in these relationships and may also experience perfectionism and control issues. Codependent symptoms can worsen if left untreated. If you are worried that you might be codependent, reach out to one of TherapyDen’s codependency experts today!
Codependency refers to a relationship dynamic in which one person has an unhealthy need to be needed and thus loses their sense of self by trying to "fix" the other person who may have addiction or mental health issues. Many people struggle with setting personal boundaries and healthy communication. Healing codependent relationship patterns requires learning how to value your own thoughts, needs, and feelings and practice assertive communication.
— Stacey Hellman, Clinical Social Worker in Ellicott City, MDPutting others people in front of yourself to your detriment is my definition of codependency. Let's explore what if any, issues this might be causing in your life.
— Vickie Kulinski, Licensed Clinical Social WorkerDo you struggle with interpersonal boundaries either finding yourself with no boundaries getting hurt often or putting up walls and feeling the pain of isolation? Do you find that you hold resentment, have distorted/nonexistent spirituality, avoid reality (e.g. through addictions), or have a hard time with sustaining intimacy with others? I provide a safe, nurturing environment where we can gently explore these areas to create new experiences with oneself and one’s past.
— Addie Michlitsch, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Roseville, MNCodependency is getting needs met by meeting the needs of others. While this may not sound so bad at first, this pattern has the potential to cause wreckage in our personal experience in relationships, our career, etc. Counseling around codependent behaviors focuses on identifying my clients needs and supporting my client in getting their own needs met.
— Suzanne Cooper, Addictions Counselor in Englewood, CO, COCodependency means so much more than enabling with someone you love and today this idea has expanded to include adults who may or may not have lived with an addict. Codependency can more accurately be defined as the tendency to put others needs before your own; accommodating to others to such a degree that you tend to discount or ignore your own feelings, desires and basic needs.
— Gary Alexander, Therapist in Seattle, WAHaving worked in the addiction field with dysfunctional family systems for the last eight years, I have developed a special interest and effectiveness in helping people with codependency concerns. The typical codependent relationship includes someone who rescues and someone who needs rescuing. I am passionate about helping people find their authentic individual identity, set healthy boundaries, become more assertive, and lead more fulfilling and happier lives.
— Natalie Worobel, Licensed Professional Counselor in Denver, COCodependency is often tied to the relationships that we have with addicts in our lives. Codependency is often defined as behaviors that enable behaviors we wish to see the end of but it often comes from a place of love, care and concern for others. The problem is that love, care and concern can result in giving too much to others. My goal in helping clients who struggle with codependency is to help them establish healthy boundaries so they can be supportive without overwhelming themselves.
— Aaron Bachler, Licensed Professional Counselor in Tempe, AZIt's hard to fault someone for being compassionate, caring or kind. Too often, other prey or take advantage our kindness and giving spirit. Inadvertently, we give away our power and then find life sometimes hopeless. Learn how to regain your sense of self- respect, security and independence. I utilize CBT therapy to rewire our brain changing our thoughts. Changing our thoughts changes how we feel, thus altering our actions. Using DBT, mindfulness practices and gaining self-confidence help us to
— Barbara Beck, Marriage & Family Therapist in Leawood, KSCodependency most often comes from growing up in a dysfunctional environment with underlying trauma at the core. The manifested symptoms are vast and can include; the belief that you need someone or something outside of yourself to feel whole, being so absorbed by other's problems (addiction, illness, etc) that you don't take care of yourself, having the need to control people and events because you feel out of control inside or being unable to set boundaries or say no.
— Kim Tayler, Licensed Professional Counselor in , TXAt its root, codependency is a struggle with valuing the self and in knowing what it means to set boundaries with others. We can often feel confused by feeling selfish if we value ourselves, or mean if we set boundaries. It can be helpful to have someone work through these confusing thoughts and feelings toward a way of being where we know who we are and how to care for others without compromising a core sense of self.
— Joseph Hovemeyer, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Sierra Madre, CAWhen your relationship with someone you love demands more from you than you understand how to give, it can be difficult to maintain boundaries that allow you to feel like your own needs can be met in the relationship. It can often feel like you are not aware anymore of what your own needs are. When loved ones struggle with addiction or other mental health problems, codependency is the result of having a relationship with them and this can be managed so you can be well, even if they are not.
— Lauren Hadley, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Campbell, CAMany people grow up in a chaotic home environment where healthy boundaries did not exist and where you were forced to be hypervigilant in order to keep the peace, maintain harmony, or appease a violent or unpredictable authority figure. As a result you struggle with maintaining your boundaries as an adult. Perhaps you constantly put others' needs before your own, are stretched too thin and become resentful, and you don't know where you end and others begin. I can help.
— Grace Yeh, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist in Cedar Park, TXI practice the Healing Our Core Issues (HOCI) model, a developmental and relational trauma therapy stemming from the work of Pia Mellody’s Post-Induction Therapy (PIT). In this model, you will learn about what you have experienced & develop the language to verbalize your reality, learn how to show up for & reparent the under-developed parts of yourself in a compassionate mindful practice, & learn the lifelong skills to cultivate healthy loving acceptance in relationship to yourself and others.
— Morgen Simpson, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Bloomington, MNI am trained in and utilize Pia Mellody's "Developmental Immaturity" model of codependency treatment, known as Post Induction Therapy. https://www.themeadows.com/workshops/post-induction-therapy-pit/
— Aly Dearborn, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Los Angeles, CAJordan helps clients move from painful and draining codependence to a nourishing balance of inter- and independence. Knowledgeable in both 12-step and other recovery networks, Jordan works with her clients to find appropriate support while exploring the root cause of codependency.
— Jordan Dobrowski, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Chicago, ILCodependency is when you struggle with prioritizing yourself or implementing healthy boundaries with others. You are typically more concerned with helping others feel okay about themselves and the world than you are thinking of yourself, your values, and your goals in life. If you struggle with codependency, you always feel the need to stuff your emotions so that others around you are not uncomfortable. Codependency is many other things, but you know it is too exhausting to be sustainable.
— Amanda Alberson, Counselor in Westminster, COAt its root, codependency is a struggle with valuing the self and in knowing what it means to set boundaries with others. We can often feel confused by feeling selfish if we value ourselves, or mean if we set boundaries. It can be helpful to have someone work through these confusing thoughts and feelings toward a way of being where we know who we are and how to care for others without compromising a core sense of self.
— Joseph Hovemeyer, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Sierra Madre, CACodependency is often tied to the relationships that we have with addicts in our lives. Codependency is often defined as behaviors that enable behaviors we wish to see the end of but it often comes from a place of love, care and concern for others. The problem is that love, care and concern can result in giving too much to others. My goal in helping clients who struggle with codependency is to help them establish healthy boundaries so they can be supportive without overwhelming themselves.
— Aaron Bachler, Licensed Professional Counselor in Tempe, AZThose suffering from codependency may be feeling like they have to give up themselves in order to make the relationship work. Often times you may put the other person's needs ahead of your own because if you don't the other person may realize they don't love you and leave you. You may have thoughts of "If I am not helpful, useful, or what my partner needs me to be then they are going to leave me" These are all scary thoughts! We can unpack them in a safe space together.
— Joshua Bogart, Professional Counselor Associate in Beaverton, OR