The Cautionary Tale of Opposite-Sex Friendships in Relationships

If you're in therapy or have discussed your relationship with a couples' therapist, you may have observed that when the topic of opposite-sex friendships arises between you and your partner, the therapist may tread cautiously in their response, especially when addressing your partner's long-term opposite-sex friend. This caution stems from therapists' experiences witnessing real-life examples of opposite-sex friendships causing rifts or problems in relationships. While these situations may unfold innocently, many couples fail to establish clear boundaries with old friends, making it challenging to address concerns about loyalty, friendship dynamics, or feelings of insecurity.

The truth is that, even though an opposite-sex friendship may be entirely innocent of any sexual thoughts or tension, the possibility exists, and boundaries between friendships and intimacy can easily blur, leading to a situation of micro-cheating without one even realizing it. This video talks about several reasons why having opposite-sex friends can be perilous for married couples.

Read more in my article: www.maryjorapini.com/single-post/opposite-sex-friendships-in-relationships

Mary Jo Rapini, MEd, LPC is a psychotherapist, specializing in intimacy, parenting, body image, and relationships.

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