I was waiting for a new client, feeling a familiar curiosity and readiness. The man had mentioned over the phone that he was having some problems with his wife. As a psychologist, this was something I often encountered, so it was nothing unusual.<\/p>\n
![\"For](\"https:\/\/breakingnewstime.online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/454500680_122169889676191231_1547258414523304753_n.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
I glanced around my office, making sure everything was in place. The door opened, and I saw Colin, my new client. He was tall and looked a bit nervous.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cMay I?\u201d Colin asked, standing hesitantly at the door.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cYes, of course, come in,\u201d I said with a reassuring smile.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Colin walked in slowly, glancing around before settling on the couch opposite me. He looked nervous, his hands fidgeting in his lap.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cSo, what brings you here?\u201d I asked, hoping to put him at ease.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cI already mentioned that I have problems with my wife,\u201d he replied in a cold, defensive tone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
I could tell this would be a tough session. \u201cI know, but why don\u2019t you tell me more about it?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Colin sighed, looking away. \u201cShe won\u2019t let me take care of our son. She insists he\u2019s only hers.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cIt hurts. He\u2019s my son too,\u201d Colin said, his voice tight with emotion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
I knew that hurt often masked deeper feelings, like anger. \u201cDoes it make you angry that you can\u2019t spend time with your son?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cNo, I said it hurts,\u201d he snapped, his frustration evident.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Working with men often meant navigating their reluctance to admit feelings. \u201cHave you tried talking to her about it?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cYes, but she ignores me. She says she regrets marrying me,\u201d he said, his voice dropping to a whisper.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know. She keeps saying that our son is only hers and she will never have more children with me. We just had a baby. It should have brought us closer,\u201d Colin said, his voice filled with confusion and pain.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cOh, so you have a newborn?\u201d I asked, understanding more about their situation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cYes, he\u2019s just a month old,\u201d Colin replied, a hint of pride in his voice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cI see. Some women have a hard time after childbirth and fall into a depressive phase. Could it be related?\u201d I suggested, trying to explore all possibilities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cAnd what did you mean when you said your wife doesn\u2019t want more children with you?\u201d I asked, sensing a deeper issue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cShe says it\u2019s because I\u2019m a bad father. But she doesn\u2019t even give me a chance to be one,\u201d Colin said, his frustration clear.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
His wife\u2019s behavior was strange. Usually, postpartum depression causes a woman to withdraw from everyone, including the child. \u201cI understand your feelings. Can you recall any events that led to this period in your relationship?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cNot really. Everything was fine. Though, she has this friend, Toby. They spend a lot of time together, and at some point, I even started doubting if the child is mine,\u201d he admitted, his voice filled with insecurity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cAre you against their communication?\u201d I asked, trying to gauge his feelings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cOf course, who would like their wife spending time with another man?\u201d he said, his anger bubbling to the surface.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cNowadays, friendships between men and women are quite common, and if there\u2019s no hint of betrayal, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s worth stressing over,\u201d I said, hoping to calm him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cSo, you think she\u2019s cheating on me too?\u201d he asked, his eyes narrowing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know, it all seems like cheating to me,\u201d he muttered, more to himself than to me.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cJust because they communicate doesn\u2019t mean she\u2019s cheating,\u201d I reiterated, but Colin seemed to ignore my words, twisting everything to fit his narrative. People often do that, living in illusions rather than facing the truth. However, I couldn\u2019t understand what truth Colin was justifying.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
I glanced at the clock above the couch and realized our session was coming to an end. \u201cColin, I\u2019m afraid we need to wrap up,\u201d I said gently.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cMany think that, but it\u2019s rarely true. Shall I book you for another session?\u201d I offered, knowing he needed more time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cYes, please,\u201d he agreed, a bit of hope in his eyes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
We scheduled our next meeting for the following week, and I saw Colin out of my office. \u201cTake care,\u201d I said as he left. Colin just waved goodbye, his mind clearly elsewhere.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
I returned to my office and sighed heavily. Some clients drained all my energy, but I loved my job, and it was part of it. So, I sat back in my chair and prepared for the next client, ready to help them navigate their own struggles.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
A week later, Colin was due to see me again. All week, his case had lingered in my mind. I had a nagging feeling that he wasn\u2019t telling me everything.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cCome in,\u201d I called out when Colin knocked on my door. He entered the office, moving slowly. He sat on the couch, avoiding eye contact.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cSo, how have you been?\u201d I asked, trying to gauge his mood.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cSame as before,\u201d he replied, sighing. \u201cShe hardly talks to me. But she was very kind when Toby, that friend I mentioned, came over.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cI want to punch him,\u201d Colin said, clenching his fists.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Anger can be useful if managed well, but I wasn\u2019t sure Colin could handle it. \u201cWhat does your wife say about it?\u201d I asked, trying to understand more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
She says they\u2019re just friends. But who calls just a friend to be at the birth?\u201d he said, his voice rising<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
This was interesting. \u201cCan you tell me more about that?\u201d I asked, leaning forward.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cMy wife went into labor, but I couldn\u2019t take her to the hospital because my mother had an accident, and I was going to pick her up from the hospital. It was nothing serious, but she was shaken. So I told my wife to call my sister, who lives 20-25 minutes away, to take her to the hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cBecause my mother lives in a neighboring town, and the hospital was there too,\u201d Colin explained, a bit irritated.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cI see. Please continue,\u201d I urged him gently.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cInstead of calling my sister, she called Toby because he supposedly lives closer,\u201d Colin continued, his jaw tightening.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s why he was at the birth?\u201d I asked, trying to piece it together.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Colin confirmed, his eyes flashing with anger.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cHow did you find out about it?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cMy sister also came to the hospital and recorded a video for me. I saw my wife holding Toby\u2019s hand during contractions. When I brought my mother home, I asked my sister to FaceTime me. I saw Toby comforting my wife, doing everything a husband should do,\u201d Colin said, his voice trembling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you go to the birth after taking your mother home?\u201d I asked, sensing there was more to the story.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
So the mother comes first. That\u2019s always a problem, I thought. When men put their mothers first, the marriage won\u2019t last long. \u201cAnd you decided to stay with her?\u201d I asked, my tone neutral.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cYes, and when I came the next day and visited my wife, she wouldn\u2019t even let me hold our son. She said I didn\u2019t deserve it,\u201d Colin said, his voice cracking.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cHow did you react?\u201d I asked, giving him space to express his feelings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cI called her a cheater for having another man at our son\u2019s birth,\u201d Colin said, tears forming in his eyes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know, but it\u2019s the truth. And she humiliated me in front of our relatives by saying I didn\u2019t deserve to hold our son because I didn\u2019t take her to the hospital. I\u2019ve apologized a thousand times, but she still won\u2019t let me near our son,\u201d Colin said, his voice filled with despair.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
troubled relationships. But when Colin\u2019s case takes an unexpected twist, Kate finds herself breaking protocol and stepping into uncharted territory. What secrets lie behind Colin\u2019s fractured family, and can Kate uncover the truth? ...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3258,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n