Case Study: Janet and John
Janet and John had planned and hoped for a baby and they were delighted when Janet became pregnant. But neither of them had reckoned how tired she would feel and she began to worry about how she would cope once the baby arrived. Although they had talked together about her worries, Janet didn't really feel that John had understood. Although he too was working hard to get everything ready for the birth Janet felt resentful and worried. Gradually talking got more difficult and after the baby was born and sleep was hard to come by for them both, it stopped completely. John felt Janet no longer cared for him and missed their sexual relationship and Janet felt he didn't have the slightest idea how difficult her life had become how useless she felt and worse, how he could possible think about sex.
In the end Janet and John contacted us because they were so worried at what seemed to be happening to them. They no longer felt like a couple. During their time with a counsellor both of them were helped and encouraged to speak about their relationship, what they now needed and wanted from each other now they had become parents and explored some practical changes that both found helpful.