Tiffany Guerraro asked 12 years ago
I have been living with someone for six years. He provides for me and our children, but he ignores me and has little time for us. Any chance he gets, he hangs out with his friends. I’ve had enough and I don’t know what to do. We have not gone out in a year. Should I stay or should I leave?
Insight Psychological Staff answered 12 years ago
Determining whether or not to end a relationship is a major decision. Have you voiced your concerns to your significant other about feeling neglected? Is he willing to work on the relationship? These are questions to consider. If he is willing to work on bettering the relationship, I would suggest couples counseling. With this, a neutral party is brought into the couples system and views the relationship from an unbiased perspective. This provides both individuals in the couples system to voice their concerns, needs, and expectations of the relationship from the other. Once this is established, a therapist can support each of you in how to teach the other to meet these expectations with healthy communication styles. If separation is something you both feel is best, a therapist can also support you in a healthy, respectful separation, keeping in mind the children that may be involved as well.
