21 Years and a New Phase: Rediscovering Our Bicultural Marriage
After more than two decades together, many couples quietly resign themselves to disconnection—assuming the passion, clarity, or joy they once had is gone for good. But as Frederick and Gloria Hansen from Copenhagen discovered, emotional distance doesn’t always mean the love is lost. Sometimes, it simply means the understanding has been missing.
They had been married for 21 years. A committed, bicultural couple, they shared a deep history—but also, like many long-term partners, a growing backlog of unspoken frustrations, unresolved conflicts, and cultural misalignments that had slowly built walls between them.
The Hidden Weight of Unprocessed Challenges
Over the years, Frederick and Gloria faced what many couples do in intercultural relationships:
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Differing communication styles
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Contrasting family dynamics
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Misaligned expectations based on cultural norms
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A tendency to “let things slide” until they quietly began to accumulate
These weren’t dramatic problems—just unresolved issues that subtly chipped away at their emotional connection. As they put it, the challenges had “accumulated over several years” and became harder to ignore.
A Systematic Approach to Healing
They turned to coaching not out of crisis, but from a desire to better understand each other and rekindle their connection. Through my Love Between Two Cultures® methodology, we worked systematically—unpacking long-standing patterns, exploring the role of culture in their communication, and addressing emotional roadblocks that had never been fully examined.
As Frederick and Gloria reflected:
“Through Teresa Ruiz Pedersen’s teachings, we realized it was possible to talk about things we hadn’t analyzed sufficiently and leave them behind to start a new phase in our marriage, where we better appreciate each other’s qualities.”
The process was not about assigning blame or digging into the past unnecessarily. It was about gaining insight and creating a space for each partner to feel heard, understood, and valued again.
Seeing with New Eyes
What shifted wasn’t just how they communicated—it was how they saw one another. Coaching helped them rediscover each other’s strengths, intentions, and vulnerabilities. They began to look through both a cultural and psychological lens, which offered clarity and softened their judgments of one another’s behaviors.
This deeper perspective became a turning point. Emotional safety returned, and from there, appreciation began to grow again.
“My highest recommendations for Teresa, for her interesting approaches, and for helping us see our relationship from both a cultural and psychological perspective.”
Not a Lack of Love—A Lack of Understanding
Frederick and Gloria’s story is a reminder that love doesn’t always fade—it just gets buried under years of miscommunication and misunderstanding.
“Often, it’s not a lack of love, but a lack of understanding.”
Their words speak to countless couples, especially those in bicultural marriages who struggle silently with differences that are never fully addressed.
A New Phase Is Possible
After 21 years, Frederick and Gloria didn’t end their marriage—they renewed it. They stepped into a new phase where appreciation, communication, and shared purpose are stronger than ever.
And you can, too.
🌍 Are you in a bicultural marriage facing quiet tension or emotional distance?
You don’t have to wait for a crisis to start healing. My Love Between Two Cultures® coaching program is designed to help couples rediscover connection, build empathy, and understand one another through a culturally sensitive, heart-centered approach.