Intimacy Issues Internal Family Systems

Intimacy Issues

Intimacy issues are common for people who fear vulnerability. Some people can become vulnerable in front of a few trusted friends, however, but when a relationship starts becoming too close, they feel suffocated. In this sense, the intimacy issues are seated in the fear of developing a deep and meaningful relationship with another person.

Two fears that are at the heart of intimacy issues, are the fear of abandonment (fearing the partner might leave them) and the fear of engulfment (fearing that they would lose themselves in a relationship), which sometimes co-exist. These fears, often rooted in childhood traumas, are often deeply entrenched in codependent adult relationships where they cause friction.

A therapist who works with people who have intimacy issues will first help you to learn to become comfortable with yourself and accept yourself for who you are. You will explore the complex past events that have created these intimacy issues and discover that those events don't have to cloud your present experiences.

This process is essential in discovering that rejection does not have to be a traumatic experience. Finally, you will learn how to set personal boundaries that will help you to avoid the fear of engulfment and to cope, should abandonment occur. While healing intimacy issues can be a challenging and somewhat painful task, the rewards are incredible.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who addresses intimacy issues, you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.

Note: You may narrow your search by selecting more than one filter below.

Carly Goodfellow

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
*I am pleased to offer online Videoconferencing for counselling and hypnotherapy appointments.* You are not alone. Are you struggling with your feelings day after day? Do you feel life is harder that it... Read more

Tasha Davidson

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Hi, First, I recognize how challenging starting the process of counselling may be. Whether it feels like the problem is too big, no one will understand or 'maybe it's not that big of a deal,' I want you... Read more

Chelsea Stenner

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (#15201) and a Canadian Certified Counsellor (#10002791). I have a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. The first thing I want you to know... Read more

Jena Tharani

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Relationship Counselling (for individuals or couples) with Jena is for you if you: - Struggle to communicate effectively in your relationship - Are struggling with a specific issue or a general sense of... Read more
*Taking new clients*. My practice is here to help you to have honest conversations that start to uncover the areas in your life where you feel stuck or at a loss. Clients find that after only a few sessions they’... Read more

Elisa-Maria Chong

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
Our lives each contain moments of great joy and sorrow, pain and pleasure, opportunity, and obstacle. At the center of these experiences is our innate search for connection. We need relationships, they are precious and... Read more

Natalie Hansen

M.A., RCC
    • Blog on profile
    • Online booking
Walking with you through life's challenges Natalie is a caring and competent Individual and Couples Therapist in Uptown New Westminster. With over 17 years of counselling experience and a Master... Read more

Joelle Lazar

M.A., RCC
I love my work, and am passionate about helping people have more joy and fulfillment in their lives and relationships! I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with extensive training and experience providing... Read more

Lucia Pecnikova

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
Creating a safe space where you feel heard and seen is my priority and I consider my work a privilege as we create a secure therapeutic relationship to support your healing process and inner exploration. I have a master... Read more

Dave Vass

M.Couns., RCC
    • Video on profile
    • Online booking
I have specialized training in the treatment of Type-C Personalities (Conscientious/Competent/Self-Controlled). Who, or what is Type C ?? People tend to be quite familiar with Type A and Type B personalities. But... Read more

Jude Weir

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Counseling is about transforming relationships and lives - it might be about the relationship we have with ourselves or with others. Maybe it's about addressing specific problems so you can move... Read more

Erica Steward

M.A., RCC
    • Video on profile
    • Online booking
With a deep-rooted belief in the capacity for healing, personal growth, and transformation, I am honoured to offer my support on your unique journey. People often reach out to me when they feel stuck, struggle with... Read more

Jamie Johnson

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
As a man, therapy might not be your preferred use of time, yet a growing part of you is curious about what could be. Throughout your life, you’ve felt minimized and closed off from your potential. Maybe you’... Read more

Ksenia Belova

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
I work with people desiring stronger, deeper and more fulfilling relationships with themselves, and with other people. If you're struggling to feel well and to live the life you want, you may feel cut off from your... Read more

Sarah Levine

M.Ed., RCC
Welcome.  Counselling is very personal and it is important to have a good "fit" between you and your counsellor.  My reputation is for being kind, respectful and perceptive.  I... Read more

Daphne Georghiou

MFT, RCC
Get help from a seasoned, clinically trained psychotherapist in Vancouver, with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals, couples and families cultivate inner balance and create a path to finding joy in... Read more

Sara Kammerzell

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
For over twenty years, Sara has helped people grow through turbulent times in their lives so that they can reclaim their full vitality and live the life they were born to live.  She strives to connect with... Read more

Andrea Zimmering

M.C., RCC
    • Online booking
I come to this line of work passionate about providing support to individuals seeking change and growth. I strive to show up with integrity in my work and ensure that my clients feel seen, heard, and safe to show up... Read more

Josipa Katinic

M.Couns., RCC
    • Online booking
 I work with individuals (15+) and couples online.  My clients commonly have struggles in the following areas and are willing to and want to see and feel an improvement in their lives through a... Read more

Sarah Anne Trivett

M.C., RCC
    • Blog on profile
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with a passion for helping individuals, couples and multi-person relationships connect to themselves and each other through a creative blend of Internal Family... Read more

Lauren Wright

M.Couns., RCC
    • Online booking
Life can feel so confusing and overwhelming and we find ourselves stuck in patterns that we just can’t seem to get out of. Sometimes we feel like we just don’t recognize ourselves anymore, or that we’... Read more

Nicole Paley

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Drawing from the latest research on neuroscience, mindfulness and attachment theory, I'm a warm, client-centered therapist who views therapy as an opportunity to compassionately work with what's creating... Read more

Claire DeBoer

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Do you feel like you and your partner can't communicate without conflict? Are you stuck in a cycle where you try to connect and they shut down and pull away? These patterns are normal in long-term... Read more

Jordan Smail

M.A., RCC
If you here are looking for a therapist chances are you feel there are aspects of your life that are not as they should be. Perhaps you are in a cycle where your efforts are not producing the change you want, or maybe... Read more