Rob waited in the waiting room, anxious to talk with his therapist. Some things recently happened and he needed help to process them. He watched the door willing it to open, with thoughts racing through his head.

After what seemed like hours, the door finally opened and the patient left the office and walked quickly through the waiting room and out the door. Rob wanted to launch himself out of his seat and go in, but he waited until he was called.

Dr. Ogden finally came out and called him back. Rob walked in the office quickly and sat down quickly on the couch. Dr. Ogden followed and settled into his chair. He looked at Rob and noticed that he seemed more anxious than normal. He asked how he was doing and Rob started unloading.

In the beginning, it was hard for Dr. Ogden to follow Rob’s story. As Rob continued to speak, his words gained clarity and Dr. Ogden could see the pain etched on his face. Rob’s voice wavered as he recounted recent events that fueled the current session – the sleepless nights, the racing thoughts, the feeling of drowning in a sea of emotions. Dr. Ogden listened intently, offering words of understanding and encouragement when needed.

As the session progressed, Rob shared more information about a new relationship, and his concerns around his tendency to become over involved too quickly. They talked about his previous relationship, skills Rob had been working to improve, and progress he had made.

They reviewed previous mistakes that Rob made in relationships, and trauma related to his childhood that affected his ability to manage relationships. Dr. Ogden was good at helping him focus his thoughts and develop a plan.

A sense of relief washed over Rob as he and Dr. Ogden worked on a plan. It was cathartic to finally voice his inner turmoil to someone who could help him make sense of it all. Dr. Ogden guided Rob through a series of questions and reflections, gently unraveling the tangled threads of his mind.

By the end of the session, Rob felt lighter and more prepared to move forward with his new relationship. Dr. Ogden commended him for his courage in seeking help and assured him they would navigate this journey together.

As Rob left the office, a glimmer of hope sparkled in his eyes, a newfound sense of resilience blooming within him. The road to healing would be long and winding, but he was no longer walking it alone.

He thought about his past relationships and how he became overly involved in them. He often gave more than he got, and his last relationship almost bankrupted him, emotionally and financially, before he realized he had to get out.

Separating himself from his partner was hard, and left him broke and emotionally drained. When they met, his previous partner didn’t have a job, but “was looking”. Rob thought this was the person he was waiting for, and before he knew it they were living together and he was paying the bills.

It took him a year to realize there was no job hunting, no intent to pay for anything. He got talked into a vacation, which he was still paying for, and paid all the expenses for both of them.

The more he learned, the more he realized he was being played. He had to take his losses and leave the relationship to save his own future.

Now he met someone while he was out with friends. They had spent time together over the last six months, and after a recent talk agreed that they wanted to go to the next level. He had a plan, and he was ready to make that happen.

Don’t miss part 2- Click here to read more