CREME DE LA CREME

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐭𝐰𝐨: counseling session

The soft hum of ambient music fills the office as Anastasia and Cameron sit across from Dr. Evelyn Rhodes, their marriage counselor. The walls are a calming shade of blue, and sunlight filters through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Dr. Rhodes, a woman in her mid-forties with kind eyes and an air of gentle authority, smiles at them from behind her desk before taking a seat in the armchair across from them.

"Thank you both for coming today," Dr. Rhodes begins, her voice soft yet steady. "I understand you're here because you're approaching a very important milestone—your wedding. But it sounds like there have been some challenges along the way that you'd like to address."

Anastasia, sitting with her hands clasped tightly in her lap, nods. "Yes. We've been struggling a bit lately. The trip to New York brought a lot of things to the surface, and we never really dealt with it. Now that the wedding is so close, I just... I want to make sure we're on solid ground."

Cameron, sitting beside her, reaches over to place a hand on her knee, a gesture of reassurance. "I agree. We've been distant lately, and I don't want that distance to follow us into our marriage."

Dr. Rhodes nods, scribbling a few notes in her leather-bound journal before looking up at them again. "I hear that both of you want to work on bridging this gap, and that's a great place to start. Before we dig into the specifics, I'd like each of you to take a moment to share how you've been feeling leading up to this point—both the good and the difficult. Whoever feels comfortable starting can go first."

Cameron glances at Anastasia, who gives him a small nod. He takes a deep breath. "I'll go. Honestly, I've been feeling like we're just coasting through everything. We've been busy with wedding planning, work, and everything else, but I think we've lost that sense of connection. After the New York trip... things didn't feel the same. We argued, but instead of talking about it, we just kind of swept it under the rug."

Anastasia swallows, her hands tightening around each other. "I've felt that too," she admits. "Like we're avoiding something. I was angry after that trip, and I didn't know how to say it. So I didn't. And now with the wedding coming up, I'm scared that if we don't address this, it'll come back to haunt us."

Dr. Rhodes listens intently, nodding as she jots down a few more notes. "It sounds like there's a shared sense of disconnection between you both, and that disconnection has built up over time. Often, when conflicts aren't resolved, they can create emotional distance, even if we don't mean for it to happen. But the fact that you're both here, willing to talk about it, shows a desire to reconnect."

She turns to Anastasia. "You mentioned feeling angry after the New York trip. Can you tell me more about what specifically triggered those feelings?"

Anastasia bites her lip, looking at Cameron before turning back to Dr. Rhodes. "It was the way Cameron handled things... or didn't handle them, I guess. There was a situation with his work that took priority over our time together. I felt... dismissed. Like I wasn't as important as everything else going on."

Cameron's brow furrows, and he opens his mouth to respond, but Dr. Rhodes gently holds up a hand. "Let's pause there for a moment. Cameron, I'll come back to you. Anastasia, thank you for sharing that. It sounds like you felt unseen and unimportant in that moment. Is that accurate?"

Anastasia nods, her voice quieter now. "Yes. I know Cameron's work is important, but I needed him, and I didn't feel like he was there for me."

Dr. Rhodes turns to Cameron, her tone even and calm. "Cameron, what are your thoughts on what Anastasia just shared?"

Cameron sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't realize she felt that way. In my head, I thought I was handling things the best I could. There was an emergency with the deal I was working on, and I thought she understood. But hearing her now... I can see that I didn't really communicate that. I was so focused on solving the problem that I didn't stop to check in with her. Instead also getting drunk."

Dr. Rhodes nods. "It's common for couples to have different perceptions of the same event. One partner may feel abandoned or overlooked, while the other believes they're doing what's necessary to manage the situation. Cameron, how do you feel knowing Anastasia felt dismissed during that trip?"

"I feel terrible," Cameron says, turning to Anastasia. "I didn't mean to make you feel that way. I just got caught up in the moment, and I thought I was doing what needed to be done. But I can see now that I should've handled it differently."

Anastasia looks down, her voice soft. "I didn't say anything because I didn't want to make things worse. But the more I held it in, the angrier I got. And I guess it just built up."

Dr. Rhodes leans forward slightly, her gaze gentle but firm. "This is a pattern that many couples fall into—avoiding conflict out of fear of making things worse, only for those feelings to fester and create distance. It's important that both of you feel safe expressing your emotions, even if they're uncomfortable. Conflict isn't inherently bad; it's how we handle it that matters."

She pauses, letting her words sink in. "What I'd like to focus on for the rest of this session is how the two of you can create a space where you can openly communicate, even when it's difficult. How does that sound?"

Anastasia and Cameron nod in agreement.

"Great," Dr. Rhodes says, offering a small smile. "Let's start by establishing some ground rules for communication moving forward. Anastasia, Cameron, how do you each feel about creating a system where you can safely express your needs without fear of judgment or defensiveness?"

Anastasia hesitates for a moment, then nods. "I think that would help. I just need to know that when I say something, it's being heard."

Cameron squeezes her hand gently. "I can do that. And I need to be better about not shutting down when things get tense."

Dr. Rhodes smiles. "It sounds like you're both committed to making this work. Let's dive into some practical ways you can do that, starting with active listening and expressing needs without blame..."

The session continues with Dr. Rhodes guiding them through exercises in communication, giving them tools to express their feelings and expectations without falling into old patterns. By the end of the hour, both Anastasia and Cameron feel lighter, more connected, and ready to work together toward building a stronger foundation for their marriage.

As they leave the office, hand in hand, there's a newfound sense of hope between them, a promise that they'll face whatever comes next together, with honesty and open hearts.