Hey everyone! My name is Dr Derrick Benn. I’ve been learning Ed’s coaching techniques for about a month now in his Expert Coaching program. I joined this group because it focuses on relationships. I am a new therapist and relationships is what I specialize in amongst a few other services I offer. I came over here to learn more and better equip myself to help my clients experience healing in their relationships and marriages. As an added bonus I know I can pick up what can be helpful to my spouse and me as well. My goal for my marriage is being able to have the really hard conversations as a team and not contenders. My wife and I have been married for 17 years and we’ve been together for 22 years total! There is some childhood trauma there that we have shared with each other. She’s had a very traumatic past relationship and I am very proud how she has recovered from it. I know there are some barriers present in our relationship, stemming from both the childhood and past relationship experience that were traumatic. Thanks for the invite @Ed JC Smith! Ps: I will keep inviting others to join your coaching program/community whoever it might be a good fit for.

Consider this… Most of us carry scars from past relationships. Maybe someone betrayed your trust. Maybe you gave your all and still ended up heartbroken. Maybe you were made to feel like you weren’t enough. Whatever your experience, I want you to know this: Your past doesn’t have to shape your future. But if it goes unresolved, it will follow you into every relationship you enter. You might not notice it at first. But it shows up when something small goes wrong, and your instinct is to walk away… It shows up when there’s a disagreement, and suddenly you feel like pulling the plug on the whole thing… And I get it. I really do. It can be hard to trust again when you’ve been hurt. It can be hard to believe this one could be different when all you’ve known is disappointment. But here’s the truth: You might be treating your current or future partner as if they are your ex. You want to be in a connected relationship. But something inside of you is holding you back. And the person in front of you now or in the future, the one who shows up, who communicates, who cares… The one that’s trying to be in a relationship with you… You’re not letting them! And it’s not because you don’t care. It’s because your past has made you build walls instead of bridges. If this resonates with you, maybe it’s time to pause… and reflect. Let yourself be loved. Let yourself be chosen. Stop running from the very thing you've always wanted. You deserve the relationship you dream about. But first, you have to stop letting your past sabotage your present. If this resonates then let me know