Rachel’s* story is a common one, shared by Jewish women across the world. And it’s not a bad one; but it does represent a situation that if left to fester could become a bigger issue. At Amudim, when we have the chance to preemptively offer guidance to help someone achieve a healthy and happy relationship, we consider that a win of no small consequence.
After dating within the traditional system for several months, Rachel got engaged and married a short time later. She had just finished graduate school and began working full time soon after the wedding.
Rachel called us seeking help with her fledgling relationship; she and her husband were struggling with communication and becoming comfortable enough to share their feelings. She realized that this was crucial to building a strong and healthy foundation, and was courageous enough to reach out, even though she expressed doubts about whether her problems were “legitimate” enough to warrant help. Our case manager reassured Rachel that she had made the right decision in asking for assistance with something as important as building a good marriage and partnership.
During intake, Rachel also mentioned that she was feeling overwhelmed by trying to find a work/life balance and with transition to married life. Our case manager recommended some ways through which Rachel could open a dialogue with her husband and provided validation and support for what Rachel was feeling.
Based on her case manager’s recommendation and encouragement, Rachel asked her husband if he would go to couple’s therapy with her to find the right building blocks for strengthening their relationship. Our case manager referred them to a therapist near their home whose specialty is helping newly married couples learn the essential tools of communication and mutual support. Rachel and her husband are currently attending weekly sessions. As they continue on this journey, we hope others reading this will learn from their example that creating a happy marriage takes time and effort and is worth seeking outside support to achieve.
If you or someone you know needs help, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Amudim is just a phone call away and here to help.
*Names and details have been changed for privacy purposes
Each week, Amudim fields calls covering a wide range of crises and addressing various human concerns, including addiction, depression, abuse, health and domestic emergencies and many others. We track the calls and breakdown of issues for many reasons, foremost of which is to consistently improve and strengthen our knowledge and ability to address community’s needs.