Author name: Mariano García Martínez

Choosing a therapist is rarely a purely practical decision. Sometimes, even before the first session, certain questions, expectations, and very personal ways of seeking a place to talk begin to emerge. What do we hope to find when we seek help? What things bring us comfort? And what kind of space do we need to begin to talk about what's happening to us?

There are relationships where, despite affection, involvement, and moments that seem close to what one hopes for, a difficult feeling keeps returning: as if it were never quite enough. Sometimes, more than around love itself, the relationship begins to revolve around what is still missing.

Avoiding certain situations might seem like a way to protect oneself. If I don't go, if I don't speak up, if I don't expose myself, some of that familiar discomfort doesn't unfold. And in part, that works. But when something keeps coming back, perhaps it's not just about what's happening outside, but about how that scene is already anticipated before it even begins, and the position one finds oneself in even before arriving there.

There are situations where you know what you'd like to say, but it doesn't happen in the moment. It's not just a matter of character or being clear about what you want. Sometimes there's something at stake in the relationship with the other person that makes you give in again, even if you don't want to.