Codependency & People-Pleasing Therapy

Therapy for codependency and people-pleasing

If you constantly put others' needs before your own, struggle to say no, or feel responsible for other people's emotions, therapy can help you understand where these patterns come from — and build healthier boundaries without losing connection.

What codependency can look like

Codependency isn't a diagnosis — it's a pattern. It often develops in childhood, particularly in families where emotions were unpredictable, where you had to manage a parent's feelings, or where love felt conditional on being "good" or useful.

In adult life, it can show up as: chronic people-pleasing and saying yes when you mean no, over-giving in relationships while feeling resentful or empty, difficulty identifying your own needs or feelings, fear that setting boundaries will lead to rejection, staying in relationships that feel one-sided or harmful, basing your self-worth on being needed by others.

A self-check

Do you often feel responsible for other people's emotions? Do you find it hard to say no, even when you're exhausted? Do you feel guilty when you prioritise your own needs? Do you stay in relationships because you're afraid of being alone? Do you frequently feel resentful but unable to express it? Do you struggle to identify what you actually want? Do you feel anxious when someone is upset with you? Does your self-worth depend on being helpful or liked?

If several of these resonate, therapy can help you understand these patterns and start to shift them.

How therapy helps with codependency

We explore the origins of your people-pleasing patterns — often rooted in childhood attachment experiences. We work on developing a stronger sense of self, identifying your own needs and feelings, practising boundary-setting in a safe space, and understanding the difference between caring for others and losing yourself in the process.

Boundaries you can build

Boundaries aren't about pushing people away. They're about knowing where you end and someone else begins. In therapy, we practise what healthy boundaries look and feel like — in language, in relationships, and in your relationship with yourself.