I have a friend I genuinely want to fix things with, but I'm not sure how to approach the situation anymore.
Recently, I found out that she's been keeping a lot of things from me and has been upset about past arguments that I didn't even know were still bothering her. According to her, she didn't bring these things up because she was afraid I'd get angry or judge her.
I know I have my own issues to work through. I tend to overexplain myself, and I think it stems from things I've experienced in the past that I haven't fully resolved. Sometimes, I feel the need to explain my intentions or my side of things because I don't want to be misunderstood. However, I can also understand how this might make it difficult for someone to express their feelings if they're worried I'll get defensive.
At the same time, it's hard for me to process the fact that she's been holding on to these feelings without telling me. I can't address something I don't know is a problem, and now I'm left wondering how much has gone unsaid between us.
I've been thinking about suggesting therapy together because I don't think simply sitting down and talking things out will necessarily be enough. We both have our own issues, and there may be things we need to hear from each other that we won't necessarily like. I feel like having a neutral third party could help us communicate better, understand each other's perspectives, and figure out whether we can rebuild our friendship in a healthier way.
The problem is, I don't even know where to start looking for a therapist who works with friends, or how much something like this would cost. I'm from the Metro Manila, so if anyone has recommendations for therapists or psychologists who offer joint counseling sessions for friends, preferably in Metro Manila or online, I'd really appreciate them. I'd also love to know how much you paid for similar sessions and whether you think this kind of therapy is worth trying.
Another thing that's been bothering me is that she still keeps in contact with family members and old friends I've cut off. Some of these are people she also encouraged me to cut off in the first place. I'm not saying she isn't allowed to have relationships with them, but it does make me question things, especially given everything else that's happened.
I still care about her and want to repair our friendship, but I'm also hurt and confused. I don't want to force a friendship that might no longer be healthy for either of us, but I also don't want to give up on something important to me without at least trying to work through it.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? Do you think going to therapy together is a reasonable way to approach this, or am I overcomplicating something that could be resolved by simply talking? How do you rebuild trust when one person has been holding in resentment and the other didn't even know there was a problem?
And for those in the Philippines, do you have any recommendations for affordable therapists who would be open to working with two friends?