Support for Partners & Families

When It’s Not Just Them  It’s All of You

When someone in the family is struggling with their mental health, trauma, or addiction, it doesn’t just affect them it affects everyone who loves them. Whether you’re a partner, parent, sibling, or adult child, the emotional toll can be heavy.

You may feel:

• Responsible for “fixing” things

• Confused by sudden changes in behaviour

• Hurt by their distance or anger

• Exhausted from trying to keep everything together

• Guilty for needing help yourself

At Stick By Me Counselling, we want you to know: your pain matters too.

You Are Not Alone

Support for partners and families is often overlooked in mental health conversations. But when someone you care about is in crisis  emotionally, psychologically, or behaviourally  you also deserve a space to heal.

Family dynamics can become strained when:

• Someone is living with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or a personality disorder

• There is an addiction to sex, substances, or behaviours

• Trust and communication have broken down

• There’s secrecy, shame, or past trauma in the family system

How Family and Partner Support Can Help

Individual or family therapy offers a safe, non-judgmental space to:

✅ Understand what your loved one is going through

✅ Set emotional and physical boundaries

✅ Process feelings of anger, grief, or guilt

✅ Break patterns of enabling, silence, or conflict

✅ Rebuild connection, trust, and communication

💬 You can’t pour from an empty cup. Getting support helps you stay grounded, present, and well-resourced.

Common Experiences We Support at Stick By Me Counselling

• Partners of those in addiction recovery You may feel unsure how to trust again, manage triggers, or navigate intimacy.

• Adult children of emotionally unavailable or unstable parents You might carry deep wounds around worthiness, boundaries, or fear of abandonment.

• Families facing crisis after a mental health diagnosis You may need guidance around how to support without enabling or losing yourself.

• Partners navigating trauma recovery It’s hard to know how to help without making things worse. We help you find that balance.

How to Begin Healing as a Partner or Family Member

1. Acknowledge the Impact Suppressing your own emotional needs can lead to burnout or resentment. Name what’s true for you.

2. Learn to Set Boundaries Boundaries are not punishments  they’re acts of protection for everyone involved.

3. Get Support Without Shame Whether you’re grieving, angry, confused or simply worn out, your experiences are valid. Counselling is not about blame  it’s about finding a way forward.

Let’s Walk Through This Together

At Stick By Me Counselling, we work with:

• Individuals affected by a loved one’s addiction or mental health

• Partners navigating recovery together

• Family systems healing from long-term dysfunction or trauma

• Those who simply need space to process complex emotions without judgement

You don’t have to keep pretending you’re fine. You can take up space. You can ask for help.

Reach out when you’re ready.

Support is available not just for the one who’s struggling, but for you, too.

👉 Book a session or learn more at stickbymecounselling.com