Relational Therapy
At our core, we are wired for connection.
Yet for many people, relationships—whether with family, friends, partners, or even themselves—have been a source of pain. Maybe you struggle with feeling unseen, unworthy, or misunderstood. Perhaps you find yourself repeating the same relational patterns, feeling disconnected, or struggling with trust. When our earliest relationships were marked by inconsistency, neglect, or harm, it can be difficult to build healthy, fulfilling connections in the present.
Relational therapy is based on the idea that healing happens in relationship—and that the therapeutic relationship itself is a space where deep change can occur. Rather than seeing therapy as a place where I simply give advice or interpret your experiences from a distance, relational therapy invites us to explore together how patterns of relating show up between us in real time. By doing so, we create a living, breathing experience of connection that can help you transform how you relate to others in your life.
How Relational Therapy Works:
In relational therapy, the relationship between therapist and client is not just a tool—it is central to the healing process. Using our relationship, we can bring awareness to unconscious relational dynamics, process emotional wounds, and create new, healthier ways of connecting.
Here’s what relational therapy focuses on:
Exploring Your Relational Patterns: Understanding how past relationships—especially early ones—have shaped the way you connect, trust, and seek closeness.
Bringing Awareness to the Therapy Relationship: Noticing and discussing what happens between us in the here-and-now to uncover deep-seated patterns, anxieties, and hurts.
Processing Emotional Wounds Through Connection: Using our therapeutic relationship as a safe space to repair relational hurts, develop trust, and practice new ways of engaging.
Transforming How You Relate to Others: What is learned and healed in therapy extends beyond our sessions, influencing how you connect in your everyday life.
Who Can Benefit from Relational Therapy?
Relational therapy is a deeply healing approach for those who:
Struggle with intimacy, trust, or vulnerability because of past experiences of trauma, abuse, or difficult relationships
Have difficulty expressing needs or setting boundaries
Feel disconnected, lonely, or unseen in relationships
Experience relationship anxiety or fear of abandonment
Repeat painful relational patterns and want to break the cycle
Want to deepen their self-awareness and capacity for meaningful connection
You don’t have to navigate relationships alone. Through relational therapy, we can create a space where you feel truly seen, heard, and understood—perhaps in a way you never have before. If you’re ready to explore this journey, reach out via 615-510-7573 or amandawhitehurstlcsw@gmail.com to get started. Healing begins in connection.
Contact Me
Reach out to schedule a free 15 minute consultation to ask any questions or determine if I’m the right fit for you. I look forward to hearing from you.