A New Relationship Paradigm

In the advent of a post-pandemic world, the way in which we engage and experience relationships has fundamentally changed. In order for us to navigate life as we now know it, it's essential we do not deny or undermine the physical and emotional impact in which social distancing has had on our human psychology. 

As a society, we’ve endured the twists and turns that have come with the varying degrees of cultural, social, interpersonal and intrapsychic distancing over two years, whether it was the first stages of the pandemic when we were huddled in front of the TV awaiting our leaders to announce our fate, hearing the latest statistics, getting used to wearing a mask, the fear-mongering around keeping 6ft apart from one another, Googling the latest outbreak stats, quarantining due to fallible exposure signals… the list goes on. Meanwhile, our social, political and economic systems began to hemorrhage. 

It was just mid-September of 2022, a whole two and a half years after the very first national lockdown, that President Biden declared the pandemic was officially over. Businesses, schools, and offices were forced to re-establish themselves at speed, with very little consideration of the impact the previous two years have had on us both collectively and on a personal level. 

Today we are amidst an internalized, personal conflict where we are longing for a pre-Covid world that once existed, while part of us is settling with a new reality which has fundamentally altered our aptitude for relationship-building. This internal battle is materializing as increased stress, fatigue, confusion, chronic helplessness and unhappiness, further propelling society at large into a new relationship paradigm. 

The ‘new relationship paradigm’ is forcing us into a sense of self-enquiry. It is presenting itself as an opportunity to reconsider our relationship to loved ones, our relationship to work, our sense of self and our understanding of our role within a larger culture. It’s driving us to really seek out our deepest sense of purpose, but this can prove difficult to navigate without the support of others.

Examining the psychology

As health professionals, we have a responsibility to help both our clients and our colleagues understand what’s happening, to examine the consequences of over two years of social distancing and perhaps most importantly, to help our clients re-engage with a new sense of purpose in the world. 

At Footprint, we help our clients navigate this new relationship paradigm and the nuanced social challenges that come with it on a case by case basis, encouraging clients to form habits around connection, not “distancing”. This has seen us rise to the position of a top-tier private practice in Jersey City. In 2022 alone we provided over 5000 hours of therapy services, grew a dedicated team of 18 professional therapists and fully converted to a hybrid model of in-person and tele-health care, all while we fully renovated our 4,500 sq/ft office space! We can wholeheartedly say that our success is attributed to maintaining the highest level of care for our clients; a level of care based on meaningful connection, mutual respect, support and professionalism. 

As we look forward to the new year, I encourage you to keep in mind that your personal development is a process; a slow, steady process which can take many twists and turns, and we at Footprint are there to support you at whichever part of your journey you’re at :)   

Wishing all of you Peace, Love and Togetherness in the New Year. Contact our office today, we’re here to help.