29/07/2026
Do all your relationships follow the same destructive pattern? Do you find yourself repeating the same painful relationship patterns, even when you desperately want something different?
Dr. Julia Smith, Psychologist, states that “from a Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) perspective, we develop “relational patterns" early in life. They become the templates our brains use to predict what relationships should feel like, what to expect from other people, and how to respond in return. Whatever love looked like in childhood, that can be all we know. Familiarity creates a sense of certainty, even when it comes with emotional pain. So we can sometimes mistake it for compatibility. The people who trigger your deepest wounds can also feel strangely compelling - not because they're right for you, but because they fit an old pattern.”
THERE IS HOPE. Counselors at Bridge of Hope Counseling Center of Gaston can help you learn how to create new and healthier brain patterns through therapy. As you become healthier, your brain will begin to look for healthier, safer people to form relationships with and those old patterns will begin to dissipate. Contact us at [email protected] for more information. We look forward to serving you!
~Linnette Mullin, MA, LPCA
