What Is Friendship Therapy?

Friendship Therapy focuses specifically on the emotional, communication, and relational patterns that shape friendships.

Unlike general relationship counseling, this approach emphasizes platonic bonds—helping friends or individuals address misunderstandings, repair disconnects, and develop healthier expectations and boundaries.

This therapy may take place individually (you working through friendship challenges) or with a friend (you both attending together).

Friendships deserve care, understanding, and intentional healing—just like any other relationship.

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When Friendship Therapy Can Help

Friendships can be deeply fulfilling, but they can also trigger stress, insecurity, or confusion. Therapy can help if you are experiencing:

• Conflict or miscommunication with a friend
• Emotional distance or drifting apart
• Feeling unsupported, unheard, or taken for granted
• Unhealthy attachment or codependency
• Trouble forming or maintaining close friendships
• Repeated patterns of toxic or one-sided friendships
• A painful friendship breakup
• Difficulty setting or respecting boundaries
• Jealousy, comparison, or insecurity

Friendship therapy helps you understand the root of these issues and build the skills necessary for healthier, more fulfilling connections.

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Our Approach to Friendship Therapy

Our therapists use a blend of emotional exploration, communication coaching, and relational skill-building to help clients navigate friendship challenges.

We combine evidence-based methods with an empathetic, nonjudgmental approach, including:

• Relational Therapy: Improves emotional awareness and communication within friendships.
  
  
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps address negative assumptions or patterns affecting friendships.
  
  
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Supports emotional regulation and boundary-setting skills.
  
  
• Mindfulness-Based Therapy: Encourages presence and grounded decision-making.
  
  
• Conflict Resolution Techniques: Guides friends toward understanding and rebuilding trust.

Sessions focus on developing self-awareness, emotional clarity, and healthier relational habits.

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What to Expect in Friendship Therapy

Therapy sessions are designed to meet your unique needs—whether you come alone or with a friend.

1. Exploring the Issue: You’ll discuss the history of the friendship, the challenges, and emotional impact.
   
   
2. Identifying Patterns: Your therapist helps uncover thought and behavior patterns that may be contributing to conflict or distance.
   
   
3. Communication Skills: You’ll learn how to express your needs clearly and listen with empathy.
   
   
4. Boundary Building: We explore what healthy boundaries look like and how to maintain them.
   
   
5. Resolution or Closure: Whether repairing the friendship or finding closure, therapy supports compassionate, informed decision-making.

Friendship therapy is not about assigning blame—it’s about fostering understanding, healing, and growth.

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Benefits of Friendship Therapy

• Strengthen communication and emotional expression
• Improve trust and understanding between friends
• Build healthy boundaries and mutual respect
• Reduce conflict and miscommunication
• Heal from friendship breakups or disappointments
• Break cycles of unhealthy relational patterns
• Increase confidence in forming new friendships
• Deepen emotional connection within supportive friendships

Strong, healthy friendships are essential for emotional wellbeing—and therapy can help nurture them.

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Who Is Friendship Therapy For?

Friendship therapy can support:

• Long-term friends experiencing conflict
• Newer friendships struggling with expectations
• Individuals wanting to understand their friendship patterns
• People healing from friendship loss
• Anyone wanting to build healthier, more fulfilling connections

No matter your situation, therapy offers insight and tools to strengthen the relationships that matter most.

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Related Services and Specialties

Friendship Therapy often aligns with:

These services work together to strengthen interpersonal awareness and emotional confidence.

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Our Therapists

Our therapists specialize in relational wellness and communication work. They create a safe, supportive space for honest exploration and gentle, productive conversations—whether you attend as an individual or with a friend.

Meet Our Team →