What can you do if you don't like your friend's partner? 

On The Claire Byrne Show, psychotherapist Michelle Finn admitted it is always a difficult situation to navigate. 

However, she urged people to reflect on whether their dislike amounts to a “personality clash”, rather than a matter of fundamental importance. 

“Ask yourself some very tough questions like, for example, what does this person trigger in me?” she suggested. 

“Am I feeling left out? Am I feeling jealous? Or am I feeling even some some grief or some sadness that that friendship, which is often a really important attachment relationship, isn't as available anymore?” 

If a person does decide to confront their friend about their partner, Ms Finn suggested doing so in as gentle a manner as possible. 

“Ultimately, the more that we criticise our friends’ partners or anybody, the more defensive that they're going to get because they're going to feel criticised and they're going to feel judged,” she said. 

“So, it's really important to be very tentative about how you talk to your friend about this.

“For example, rather than saying, ‘I don't like him’ or ‘He's awful’ or ‘I can't believe you went for that guy’, get curious about what you're seeing in the relationship. 

“So, you might say something like, ‘I notice that you're really anxious when you're waiting for him to text you back’ or ‘I feel like we haven't seen each other as much, I'm just checking in how things are going for you.’” 

Main image: A couple arguing. Picture by: Alamy.com.