Understanding the Journey of Both Partners
Many couples facing the transition of one partner seek therapy to navigate through this time together. One of the first questions they have to answer is whether this transition will push them apart or draw them together.
Although sometimes individuals come to therapy to work through those feelings on their own, couples therapy for couples in transition offers something very different. It is a space where the experiences of both individuals can be seen, heard, appreciated, and understood by their partner. Transition affects the identity and self-perception of both people, not just the trans partner. While the transitioning partner is facing the challenges of feeling so spotlighted in their life, often the non-transitioning partner can feel somewhat invisible. This is just one of the many shifting dynamics that couples in transition experience.
It is not uncommon for couples to feel more distant from one another in some ways, at the same time that they feel more connected than ever in other ways. Conflict can occur, and conflict may feel different than it did pre-transition.
As one partner transitions, so too does their relationship. Transition forever changes how the relationship functions physically, sexually, emotionally, and psychologically. And just like the social and physical changes that are happening, these relationship changes will also stabilize at some point. It can be helpful to seek therapy to help support and shape your relationship during this time of challenge and change.
