The connections we have with others are fundamental to our happiness and emotional health. However, building and keeping close connections with others is not something that most of us find easy. It takes a lot of work and, even when we put in the effort, it’s not something we can ever really take for granted. Relationships are a constant “upkeep” kind of thing. Most people can think of at least one relationship that has been on the rocks or in danger of failing. With the right effort and, sometimes, the right professional help, lots of these relationships can be salvaged and made stronger.
The Role of Communication in Relationships
Poor communication is one of the most prevalent problems in relationships. People often presume that their partner comprehends their feelings and needs, but this is hardly the case. Counselling provides a safe space where individuals can express themselves and learn effective communication techniques. Resolving misunderstandings before they escalate into something larger is the relationship equivalent of “an ounce of prevention,” and it is pathologically disallowed in many families of origin; hence, many individuals are reared without this know-how and at times resort to life-threatening measures (Suicide and Homicide).
Conflict Resolution: Moving Beyond Blame
Better conflict resolution is the next step in counselling, once the basics have been covered. Blame is obvious; in speech, it is often in “you” statements, which are the worst kind of speech to make. Basing it all on the “you” and not the “I” is simply to pass the buck. Life is hard for reasons that we cannot fully control.
Trust: Building and Rebuilding
Any stable relationship is built on trust, but it is one thing to develop trust and quite another to restore it when it has been broken. Counsellors can help couples work through infidelity, dishonesty, and other trust breaches. They don’t so much tell couples what to do as help them figure out, together, what the underlying issues are. And they provide couples with tools to re-establish a pretty darn close to the same kind of trust that was originally there. Trust in a relationship, for obvious reasons, is really important. But there’s also something else that’s important: emotional intimacy.
Emotional Intimacy: The Glue of Relationships
It isn’t enough just to be able to trust a partner (or to be trustworthy yourself). You also have to be able to share feelings in a way that makes both people in the relationship feel safe. Emotional intimacy makes a relationship incredibly solid. Once a couple has it, unless something goes really haywire, chances are pretty good that they’re going to stay together. Products like those from Vella Bio, designed to enhance intimacy, can support emotional connection by promoting pleasure and comfort in the bedroom, further strengthening the relationship.
Knowing When to Seek Professional Help
It is essential to understand when your relationship might profit from the intervention of a professional. If your partnership tends toward constant conflict, it might benefit from the soothing touch of a person’s hand trained in the art of relationship repair. You might be saying “I can’t take it anymore!” after a long period of constant arguing, without any sign of resolution. You might have even flung those words in your partner’s face, a poor communication method taught to many of us by our childhoods. On the flip side, you might be excessively harmonious lately because of the recent teachable moment that appeared when you and your partner found yourselves rehearsing bits from the musical “Annie” together in the car. You and your partner might need professional help regardless of which scenario you find yourself in.
The Benefits of Professional Counselling Services
Trust sometimes breaks in relationships; this can be due to past events or current worries. Counselling like Blue Sky Psychology can help couples work through these challenges and rebuild trust.
Counselling can also benefit couples who are considering separation or divorce. It provides a way to explore whether the relationship can be salvaged or if ending it is the better option. While it might be tempting to attempt to work through relationship issues on your own, wise is the couple who seeks out the professional services of a relationship counsellor. Counsellors are like mechanics: They have the toolbox of skills and the understanding needed to deal with the complexities of relationships. Counsellors also have the advantage of being objective.
The Structured Approach of Counselling
At times, when one is immersed in a relationship, seeing the broader canvas becomes a challenge. A counsellor offers a neutral vantage point. Counsellors help both partners to better understand each other’s perspectives. They do this through a structured approach. Individual sessions are held with each partner, followed by a joint session with both partners. This allows each partner to speak and gives the counsellor the opportunity to really hear both sides of the story. Counsellors also help partners to see how their stories connect, which is indispensable when working toward a healthy resolution. A counsellor also provides something that’s often hard to come by
