Loneliness is one of those quiet experiences that doesn’t always make sense from the outside.

You can be in a relationship, surrounded by people who love you, and still feel like no one really sees you.

It’s not the same as being alone.

Loneliness is the feeling of being disconnected - from others, yes, but also from yourself.

When You Feel Lonely

For many people I see in therapy, loneliness shows up in subtle ways:

• A sense that conversations stay surface-level.

• Feeling emotionally distant from your partner.

• Keeping busy so you don’t have to notice the emptiness underneath.

• Wondering why you feel “off” when life looks full.

It’s the ache of not being met - not because others don’t care, but because somewhere along the way, you stopped showing your full self.

How We Lose Touch With Ourselves

In couples counseling and marriage therapy, this often becomes clear: we disconnect from each other when we’ve already disconnected from ourselves.

When you’ve spent years being the caretaker, the peacemaker, or the strong one - it can feel foreign to slow down and ask,

“What do I really feel?”

“What do I need?”

Listening to yourself can stir discomfort. But that’s where connection begins again - not by doing more, but by gently turning inward.

The Practice of Reconnection

Here’s what I often invite my clients to explore:

🌿 See yourself clearly.

Notice what’s alive in you - without judgment. What are you feeling today? Where do you sense it in your body?

🌿 Listen to yourself.

Instead of pushing your emotions away, try softening toward them. Maybe whisper, “I’m here.” This is the start of rebuilding safety inside.

🌿 Spend quiet time alone - with intention.

Being alone is not the same as being lonely. It’s the space where you can return to your own rhythm and remember who you are beneath the noise.

🌿 Let connection unfold slowly.

True closeness, whether in therapy, friendship, or partnership, asks for patience. It grows when we stop performing and start being real.

When You Need Support

If loneliness has been sitting quietly in the background of your days, therapy can help you begin to feel connected again - to yourself, your partner, and the world around you.

In my practice here in Fort Lauderdale, I often help individuals and couples explore the deeper layers of disconnection - and learn how to create secure, lasting connection again.

Whether through couples counseling, marriage therapy, or ketamine-assisted therapy, healing loneliness begins with slowing down enough to hear your own voice.

Loneliness isn’t proof that something is wrong with you.

It’s your body’s gentle way of saying, “Come back. I’m still here.”

When we learn to see ourselves, listen to ourselves, and stay with what we find - connection begins to grow naturally from there.

If you’ve been feeling disconnected - from yourself or your partner - this might be the right time to begin exploring what’s underneath.

I offer individual and couples counseling, as well as ketamine-assisted therapy virtually and here in Fort Lauderdale.

You can book a free consultation or reach out to learn more about what support might look like for you.