You can learn to be more aware and better understand what you and your partner need in your relationship. We often get so busy that we take our relationships for granted. We stop checking in about what is happening in our partner’s life and when there are transitions, like having children and moving abroad, it is even harder to maintain the psychological health of a relationship.
Relationships require work and are bound to face challenges that could be large or small. Simple, everyday stressors can strain an intimate relationship, and major sources of stress may threaten the stability of the relationship. As long as each partner is willing to address the issue at hand and participate in developing a solution, most relationship problems are manageable. However, when you leave challenges that are unaddressed, it causes more tension, poor habits, and eventually the health of the relationship is in jeopardy.
In conflict or avoiding conflict, this is where most clients experience difficulties. By putting words to your feelings, it may feel hard at first. When you are able to voice your feelings, you are not going to be as reactive to your loved ones. When you are more equipped to deal with conflict, it is empowering because you will develop the ability to feel closer and more connected. In therapy, I help you to practice these skills because it takes time to learn how to listen, to validate someone’s perspective, and to learn how to bring up conflict. When you can do this in your relationships, you will have more intimacy and love in all your relationships.
